Special Rate Grant - will I qualify in year 2?

colossus-x

Hi

I am in full time third level education in year 1 of 4 (mature student). I was awarded the Maintenance grant but not the special rate as I was on SWA which is not a qualifying payment but did meet all the other requirements. I was told today that I would get the top-up next year automatically (to my surprise). Is this possible? Could a grant award change from year to year. Should I re-apply again in the hope that I would get more money? Anyone heard of such a situation. Gut tells me it sounds too good to be true but I do not know for certain. So if your certain about what's possible or not please do let me know.

pandamoanium

Sorry but what's SWA?

Yeah, you can be reassessed as to your circumstances during your studies. I haven't heard of anyone going from non-top-up to top-up, but you are able to be reassessed so I'd say it's true!

SWA.

colossus-x

Hmm sounds good but not conclusive. In the meantime I've called the Mayo higher education authority (HEA) and the girl on the phone said she had no idea as she was new but would call me back - but didn't. Thats over two weeks ago. As I said I heard the upgrade was automatic but that doesn't sound right - a reassessment like you mentioned Myth seems much more likely!

Best to get back onto her!

colossus-x

Ok well I did get back to them today and the chap I spoke to said that since I wasn't on a qualifying payment from the outset ie the SWA then that meant that I could not get the top-up in the future. I didn't interrogate him any further about it to see if there was any way around it as he knew exactly was I was getting at. I'm on to my local TD so - it's worth a try.

Damn straight, keep up the pressure.

colossus-x

Finally months after initially getting in touch with my local councilor thanks to her she swung it for me. They agreed that technically I should have been in receipt of Disability Benefit (which was a qualifying payment) rather than the SWA to begin with and since there exists a "change of circumstances" rule it is by that route I will receive the full special rate grant. I just heard the news and I'm over the moon - it's gonna make a real difference to me over the 4 years! So thanks all for your help and advice!!

50.50.50

how long were you on the SWA?
I got 3450 this year mature student non adjacent. going on for masters 2009. I earned 400euro in total and got social welfare payments for 5/6months. was your situation similar?
the jump would be much appreciated if i was on the 6k.

colossus-x

Sorry if you read the my first post you will realize the my issue had nothing to do with how long I was on anything and that your question has nothing to do with this thread.

But if you really must know I was on it two years.