Grant? anyone hear yet?

amtaxi

Just wondering if anyone has had a reply re their grant application yet - I'm due to start in a couple of weeks and don't have the registration funds!

Trish2007

I only posted my grant application on tuesday and had a phonecall yesterday about it. They were just querying some of the information so Im hoping it wont take 3weeks to process it now because I dont have the money either. This was Limerick county vec

Sad Professor

Nope. I expect I'll probably have to foot the registration bill myself. Or maybe the college will wait. Anyone have any experience with UCD in this regard?

amtaxi

I'm starting in UCD also - I emailed them to ask about this as KKC told me initially that it could be October, this was their reply:

All students pay the student levy and if you will be in receipt of a grant you will be expected to show your grant offer letter in October to the Fees Office. The grant authority will cover the registration charge.

However I understand that until this is done you do not get student card and will not have access to services without one i.e. library

Sad Professor

amtaxi wrote: »

]However I understand that until this is done you do not get student card and will not have access to services without one i.e. library

Ah crap. The admissions desk would probably still let us in but we wouldn't be able to get books out. But there's no way I'd be able to go a month like this. Plus, no student card means no travel card means full bus fare.

I guess I'll have to pay it. Anyone know any nice loan sharks? :P

isuppose25

If I have to pay the 1500 in sept, Does anyone know how long it takes to get the registration money back if you havn't received a letter from your grant authority?

Do colleges give students a chance to get sorted out with various forms and documents required for the grant application?

Sad Professor

isuppose25 wrote: »

If I have to pay the 1500 in sept, Does anyone know how long it takes to get the registration money back if you havn't received a letter from your grant authority?

I'd like to know this too. But given how eh, efficient they are at processing the grants in the first place, I'd say - a while.

amtaxi

According to KKC you get your registration fee back with your first installment cheque sometime in Oct

isuppose25

amtaxi wrote: »

According to KKC you get your registration fee back with your first installment cheque sometime in Oct

Well thats not too long to wait i suppose, is anyone else finding the whole grant application really annoying and a big pile of hassle?

Sad Professor

I just came across this on studentfinances.ie. I got a bit of a fright:

http://www.studentfinance.ie/mp9386/undergraduate-courses-of-not-less-than-two-years-duration-in-colleges-in-list-1/index.html

Students enrolling in undergraduate courses will be charged a Student Services Fee for each year of the course. This charge is separate from tuition fees. It is possible, if you meet the qualifying criteria, to have the Student Services Charge paid on your behalf or refunded to you (up to a current maximum of €825) through the maintenance grant schemes.

€825 is what the registration fee was 2007 so I guess they just forgot to update this bit... for two years in a row... I hope.

is anyone else finding the whole grant application really annoying and a big pile of hassle?

Yeah, it's a pain. I sent mine away over a week ago. I'm terrified I'm gonna wake up one morning and find they've sent it back because I missed something.

ayapatrick

Sad Professor wrote: »

Yeah, it's a pain. I sent mine away over a week ago. I'm terrified I'm gonna wake up one morning and find they've sent it back because I missed something.

after putting it of till now, i only started filing this morning!:eek: really annoying!

KittyeeTrix

isuppose25 wrote: »

If I have to pay the 1500 in sept, Does anyone know how long it takes to get the registration money back if you havn't received a letter from your grant authority?

Do colleges give students a chance to get sorted out with various forms and documents required for the grant application?

I paid the registration fee last year in September and I didn't get it back until the following April. This was with the Galway council:mad:

No way in hell am I paying it this year and it will take even longer due to the higher numbers availing of adult education


Take what they say in these Councils with a pinch of salt.
I had my application in since Early july last year and paid the reg fee when I registered in Late August I think it was, but still had to wait almost 8 months to be re-imbursed.... even though I got my 1st grant installment in October and the 2nd one in January!!!!!!
I have no idea why it took sooooo long to be given back the reg fee but as far as I know it was the same for everyone else.....
Tread carefully especially if ye are borrowing it from someone i.e a family member and have promised it back to them when it comes with your 1st installment....

isuppose25

fluffyorganic1 wrote: »

I paid the registration fee last year in September and I didn't get it back until the following April. This was with the Galway council:mad:

No way in hell am I paying it this year and it will take even longer due to the higher numbers availing of adult education


Take what they say in these Councils with a pinch of salt.
I had my application in since Early july last year and paid the reg fee when I registered in Late August I think it was, but still had to wait almost 8 months to be re-imbursed.... even though I got my 1st grant installment in October and the 2nd one in January!!!!!!
I have no idea why it took sooooo long to be given back the reg fee but as far as I know it was the same for everyone else.....
Tread carefully especially if ye are borrowing it from someone i.e a family member and have promised it back to them when it comes with your 1st installment....

Hi, OMG 8 months is way too long to have to wait, i couldn't afford to be hanging around for it for that length,.

Do you know when you got a letter from the council last year stating that you were approved for the grant? was it early/mid september, or was it even later?

Why dont the colleges delay the payment date to maybe early/mid october? this would give the vec's a chance to process all applications and let people know one way or the other.

How are payments issued? is it through a cheque via the bursers office or do the pay direct into bank accounts?

OH the joys of going back to college!!!

KittyeeTrix

isuppose25 wrote: »

Hi, OMG 8 months is way too long to have to wait, i couldn't afford to be hanging around for it for that length,.

Do you know when you got a letter from the council last year stating that you were approved for the grant? was it early/mid september, or was it even later?

Why dont the colleges delay the payment date to maybe early/mid october? this would give the vec's a chance to process all applications and let people know one way or the other.

How are payments issued? is it through a cheque via the bursers office or do the pay direct into bank accounts?

OH the joys of going back to college!!!

If I remember correctly I got a letter sometime in late Sept......
The grant is paid by cheque and you collect it in the college. NUIG have a page on their website which is updated to show which Councils grants are ready to be collected. You just check that periodically during October and then head up with your id to sign for it....

Verbal_Kint

i put mine into galway county council 2 weeks ago and asked in the office today when i can expect to hear back and they told me not to expect it before i have to start college. this is a balls i was hoping to use the grant application letter to get a grant advance from the bank if they even do those anymore but at least its a sort of collateral.

ayapatrick

Verbal_Kint wrote: »

i put mine into galway county council 2 weeks ago and asked in the office today when i can expect to hear back and they told me not to expect it before i have to start college. this is a balls i was hoping to use the grant application letter to get a grant advance from the bank if they even do those anymore but at least its a sort of collateral.

last year i was dossin for the year so i done a plc and i got a grant for it, found the letter i got today to say i got it and it was october dated. and i had it in early! im goin sendin it in tomorrow for this year. id say all payments wont be made until october?

Sad Professor

I'll be very surprised if I hear anything before late-September. I was left waiting about two months for a PLC grant a few years ago as well.

arlone

got it last week, think Dublin City Council are pretty good to get back to you pre-registration.This year the grants will be paid directly into your bank account.

ayapatrick

arlone wrote: »

got it last week, think Dublin City Council are pretty good to get back to you pre-registration.This year the grants will be paid directly into your bank account.

i got a grant for a plc last year and it was paid into my account?

boobox

Heard Two days ago.

christina_x

omg, im actually thinking i might not get to college...
i need to know before i go to college that i have the grant, i cant wait until october...
i had my grant form in a few days after i recieved it in the post, and am sending the form away tomorrow that says i got my offer.
So see for the registration fee, do we pay that and then get it back?
i really hope i hear from the VEC before that... im a twin, double rent, double fees, i might be the cause of my daddys heart attack

Verbal_Kint

keep ringing them and tell them your situation. it hasn't worked for me yet but it cant hurt. they may process it to keep you quiet:)

girlbiker

Boobox did you hear you got accepted? I have only got a letter saying I have proceeded to the next stage...

Verbal_Kint

First Im hearing of a letter saying you proceed to next stage.

What county council is that?

dotsflan

i got a letter to say i got it!!!:D

Knifey Spoony

girlbiker, how long were waiting before you got the letter that you have progressed to the next stage? I am reapplying for the grant this year and it will be four weeks this week since i have sent the form off and i have heard nothing back. Just wondering are they really slow acknowledge that they have got the form? I know last year it took them two weeks to acknowledge it.

girlbiker

Umm the letter I recieved was dated August 8th aroundabouts and I sent off all the forms about two weeks before that...

Its Dublin City Council, it basically was a reference number in case I wanted any info on my application progressing..

I hope there is good news waiting for me at home when I get there.

Verbal_Kint

what council did you just get the acceptance letter from?

it would be better if everyone who is giving news would also include what county council they are talking about.

girlbiker

Verbal_Kint wrote: »

what council did you just get the acceptance letter from?

it would be better if everyone who is giving news would also include what county council they are talking about.

Shhhhhhh

I agree though.:)

Verbal_Kint

I'll keep it down:

So it just seems to be Dublin thats sending out acceptance letters?

ontour

I have applied four weeks ago tommorrow, haven't recieved anything in the post from them yet. Heres hoping I hear something this week. It really makes me wonder how long the people who are applying around now will have to wait.

girlbiker

ontour wrote: »

I have applied four weeks ago tommorrow, haven't recieved anything in the post from them yet. Heres hoping I hear something this week. It really makes me wonder how long the people who are applying around now will have to wait.

Yes I know people who are only applying now, I tried to get my ass in gear and send it off early because I need the letter before registration, hope it pays off.

Anyway fingers crossed for everyone!

manutd4life

i sent mine in on wednesday to dublin co.co. and havent heard anything since

Sad Professor

Anyone hear anything back from South Dublin County Council yet?

billy the squid

Limerick City Council wont be sending out letters for a few weeks.

It is best to contact the fees office of your college if you have applied to this authority, the college I applied to (UL) said that if you applied for a grant and are likely to get it then you don't need to pay the 1500 euro, but you have to bring the letter to the fees office when it arrives.

bethm24

PLEASE can someone tell me this.

I am sending in my grant application and the person on the phone told me i would need an ESB bill OR Gas bill to prove my address. Obviously i dont have that as I dont own the house!!!!! she was horrible and said id have to go under my parents income. she didnt even ask me were my parents alive!!! ? What did other people do to prove address, why cant a letter from my landlord do? or a random letter? Ive lived independently for years!!! she said ONLY those type of bills (and ones since oct 2008!!!!) would suffice and nothing else!!!! im a mature student and now it looks like i cant go to college

Advice ?????

Sad Professor

bethm24 wrote:

PLEASE can someone tell me this.

I am sending in my grant application and the person on the phone told me i would need an ESB bill OR Gas bill to prove my address. Obviously i dont have that as I dont own the house!!!!! she was horrible and said id have to go under my parents income. she didnt even ask me were my parents alive!!! ? What did other people do to prove address, why cant a letter from my landlord do? or a random letter? Ive lived independently for years!!! she said ONLY those type of bills (and ones since oct 2008!!!!) would suffice and nothing else!!!! im a mature student and now it looks like i cant go to college

Advice ?????

Yeah, you need to provide proof of independent residence to be assessed as an independent candidate. They usually want a utility bill or a letter from the tenancy board. Do have a lease?

Lots of people run into difficulty here. It's really up to the authority whether they are willingly to accept anything else as proof. Random letters, as you say, from landlords aren't enough because they could easily be faked, I guess.

RoyalMarine

so what could someone do in this situation? surely they cant turf you out on just this.
what if someone was subletting, with no bill's in their name, no contract's with phone's etc.
just paying rent to their friend/landlord etc?

bethm24

this is silly. i live at the address . i dont live with my parents, i have not for years. the bills only go to the landlord. i contribute payment. i dont have bills in my name:( like they can call to the house and interview the landlord if they wish? but how would i go under my parents income (only my father, my mother is dead. he is poor!) if i dont live there? this country and its stupid rules piss me off. no i dont have a lease, i just pay the rent to the landlord. he lives in house too. he gives me rent reciepts. he thinks this is all rediculious that i need bills. :mad:

I wonder what i will do?!

billy the squid

TV licence? asked my authority if they would accept a TV licence as my ESB is pre-paid and they said yes.

bring the letter from the landlord as well, it might come in handy if they ask you for evendence of what rent you are paying.

bethm24

no , the tv licence is named with the landlord aswell . i have nothing really sufficent. i did a big clean up during the summer and shredded all things that i did have , things that are coming in for this year are no good , and my shredded documents are no good. i didnt expect to be going to college this year

KiLLeR CoUCh

bethm24 wrote: »

no , the tv licence is named with the landlord aswell . i have nothing really sufficent. i did a big clean up during the summer and shredded all things that i did have , things that are coming in for this year are no good , and my shredded documents are no good. i didnt expect to be going to college this year

A bank statement? Any tax documents with your address on them? I gave a credit card statement for mine because that's all I had.

Sad Professor

KiLLeR CoUCh wrote: »

A bank statement? Any tax documents with your address on them? I gave a credit card statement for mine because that's all I had.

Did they say they'd accept a bank statement? It's hardly proof of independent residence.

bethm24

Why would a bank statement not be sufficient? sure hardly someone gets there statements sent to an address they dont live at? i have statements but not for that time (oct 2008) . i dont like to leave those kind of things around, i had an incident once where someone tried to use my credit card number, which they obviously found in a bin or something. so since then i shred everything:mad:

RoyalMarine

bethm24 wrote: »

Why would a bank statement not be sufficient?

i think because everyone gets statements regardless.
when i lived at home i got them. my 18 year old brother gets them.

a utility bill such as esb or gas in YOUR name kinda shows you control the house as if it was your parents, then the bills would be in their name most likely.

Sad Professor

Yeah, the reason they want a utility bill is to see that you are independent. A bank statement doesn't prove this.

Tbh, bethm24, you are really at the mercy of the local authority. They don't have to accept anything else as proof if they don't want to, and that person you spoke to didn't sound very flexible. There's a few of stories from applicants on here who were rejected because they couldn't produce sufficient proof. I remember hearing someone on Liveline complaining about it as well not so long ago.

Get together as much documentation as you can (statements, anything with your address on it from last year, get them reissued if you have to), as well as proof of your father's address. Also try contacting your local councillor or TD, as RoyalMarineComm suggested on another thread, and see if they can help.

If all fails, get something in your name now (before October) and apply next year.

bethm24

ya they make you feel actually like a criminal and as if you are lying! its horrible! i didnt realise it was going to be this bad, i accepted the course late so have not had much time to prepare. closing date is monday :mad:if its all bad and i dont have enough evidence then its crazy cause i live there how else can ya prove it ! youd swear it was alot of money its only 3000 and something . yes the person on the phone was not a bit flexible so if she is the one assessing it then im not going to get it:(

Malgosia

Hi Bethm24, I know exactly how you're feeling. I spoke to person in County Council(on the phone) and she told me it has to be utility bill. I have the confirmation letter that I opened gas board account 27th of November 2008 but she said it has to be OCTOBER.I think I'll send them bank statements and all those gas bills from october.
Well, there is something else, I got the place in college for postgrad diploma but I'm not Irish-I finished 5 years studies at University in my country and the person on the phone asked me to translate all subjects which is 10 pages! I thought that certificate is enough I don't have enough time to complete all documents-do you think I should send them all what I have now and then send them the rest next week?
Thank you for your time
Malgosia

bethm24

Hi malgosia,

The best we can do is send in all of what we have and hope for the best. Some of the staff on the phone can be very narky, maybe they are very busy , but ive known people to get grant before who didn’t have all these exact information they say they are looking for. So hopefully we will be ok. Its like they don’t want people to get a grant because it is hard to have an ESB bill in your name when you don’t own the house! So to me that does not make sense that they will ONLY accept this!!!
Yes send them in all documents (your certificate) see what happens and if they need more, then you can send in the other stuff they require or whatever, To be honest I don’t think exam results is THE most important thing they look for when deciding if you should get the grant. You did them, you have evidence, not in the language they want , but what can you do about that, so just send it in, and wait and see, they might not even require anything else, hopefully it will be ok.

Verbal_Kint

I got a call from the office of a TD I contacted today and they told me the county council have processed my application and sent me a letter. they wouldnt tell the TD's office if I got it. I will hopefully know in the next couple of hours but they were telling the TDs office that I didnt prove residence even though I signed an affidavit and got the people I was living with to sign a letter saying we were all living there full time.

fingers crossed

ontour

Good Luck Verbal Kint, heres hoping you get good news:D. This grant worry really puts a damper on things :mad: