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Grant Application Confusion

JayC5 · 2009-07-04 14:07:04

Hi, wondering if anyone could help me out with the below: Basically I've been accepted into a fulltime degree course starting this September as an Independent Mature Student applicant. So, I've been going through the grant application forms and hit a few stumbling blocks. A bit of background first: My parents passed on a…

04-07-2009 02:07PM

#1

JayC5

Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 333 ✭✭

Join Date: January 2007

Posts: 190

Hi, wondering if anyone could help me out with the below:

Basically I've been accepted into a fulltime degree course starting this September as an Independent Mature Student applicant. So, I've been going through the grant application forms and hit a few stumbling blocks.

A bit of background first:

My parents passed on a small family property to myself by way of a once off tax free gift I believe a couple of years ago. (let me also add that my family are a humble working class family and the furthest point from Beverly Hills cash-flashers). I, in turn sold the property and used a substantial amount to clear some debts that I had hanging over me. I then intended using the remainder to eventually finance a full-time college degree.

This brings us to the application:

As an independent mature student it seems that I have to declare any gifts between parent and candidate when applying for the grant (does this mean in the preceding year only or is it any gift received ever...?). Also I noticed a 'Disposal of Assets' section which I assume the sale of any property I may own would come under. I supposedly must add either or both to the amount of 'reckonable income' which would put me out of reach of any grant aid whatsoever.

I understand the reasoning behind the declaration but it's not like I'm rolling in cash like Tom Cruise here! - I'm living alone and will have no financial support for the next 3 or 4 years which is why the grant would have gone a long way to helping me with bills. Also with the supposed reintroduction of fees next year I'll be scuppered by them also...!

Whats even more annoying is that if I lived at home I would not have to declare the receipt of any gifts from a parent - it seems a tad unfair to be honest. What if I had received this 'gift' five years ago for eg should it still impact on my adult life now, or what if I was living at home when I received this gift? It all seems a bit flawed to be honest.

I could just not declare it but I don't want to risk any legal problems as if I get fined that's college completely out the window for me and I've waited way too long for this. Am I missing something here or will I just have to swallow the harsh medicine of adult life and get on with it? I've been working fulltime for the past 12 years of my life so I have paid my dues in terms of being exploited in sh*t desk-jockey jobs and taxation.

All opinions are greatly welcome. Let me reiterate - this is not born out of greed I'm just assessing the next four years with self-preservation in mind - and it all hangs by a financial thread...

J

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