Why does parents income count for a mature student living at home?

dlofnep

I'm confused by this. If someone is living at home, is a mature student, earns their keep and so on - Then why does someone's parents income count when applying for a grant? Do they think that all parents are giving us pocket-money or something?

I can't fathom why it counts. I've got the grant for the first 3 years of college, but all of a sudden due to my mother getting a part-time job, I might now have to cough up these fees (which I don't have).

What's the logic behind this? Are they just looking for ways not to give out the grant and keep people out of college?

ontour

I think its nuts aswell. What 23 year old is gonna get money off there parents. It could affect me this year aswell as it will go on my fathers income. Yet I will not be asking my parents for money as Im 24 and I refuse to. Its madness that your not atomatically classed as independent at 23. Its a joke asking for all your parents bank details etc.

oldyouth

Because 3rd level education is a lifestlye choice, that's why. If, as an adult, you do not fund it yourself, why should the State if there are resources within your family

eightyfish

dlofnep wrote: »

What's the logic behind this?

Well the main expendature for any student living away from home is rent. Do you pay rent to your parents?

There's a lot in the grant scheme which doesn't make sense to me. For example, for mature students having to be over 23 on the 1st January in the year they enter - ignoring the classification by the gov. of students only being able to fend for themselves when they reach 23, but I don't understand why the 1st of January is used? The majority of students will be entering college in September, and since the grant deadline is the end of August each year I don't know why they don't move the date until the end of August too. I know it'll cause the same problems but the age thing just gets me... why be so strict about age when it was almost a year before you enter college?

The utility bills! Oh, another one which annoys me.

The residency clauses - why 24km (used to be 15 miles I think)? Within the larger cities that's nothing. If I live 25km from a college, why should I get more than someone from 1 km up the road?

The residency from 1st October the previous year - why this date specifically? Surely (shirley) it matters that you're independent going to college, not before right? And picking a date again from a year before again seems quite vague. Perhaps you just moved out of your parents house in the last two months? How are you any less independent now compared to if you moved out the previous October?

I could be here all day listing off some of the problems... all you have to do is look at posts on this board to be honest to get a good cross section of problems with the grant scheme. I've been considering for some time to list all the problems people experience on this board and send it to TDs and other people each year, never seem to have the time to do it though.

dlofnep

oldyouth wrote: »

Because 3rd level education is a lifestlye choice, that's why. If, as an adult, you do not fund it yourself, why should the State if there are resources within your family

What resources within my family? You've absolutely no idea what you are talking about. I've worked all my life, and my parents do not give me a dime. I pay rent. 3rd level education is not a lifestyle choice, it's almost mandatory to get any sort of a decent job to pay for the hectic prices in this country. Why should my parents income affect my ability to get a grant?

eightyfish wrote: »

Well the main expendature for any student living away from home is rent. Do you pay rent to your parents?

Yes I do, and I've already told the grant office this. It doesn't count apparently. No idea why. I've paid rent to my parents since I've been 18. I'm 26 now, 27 this December.

eightyfish

dlofnep wrote: »

Yes I do, and I've already told the grant office this. It doesn't count apparently. No idea why. I've paid rent to my parents since I've been 18. I'm 26 now, 27 this December.

In that case I have sympathy.
The other way of looking it is that the rent isn't taxed as it would be with a normal landlord, so it's not a legal renting arrangement (and probably not as much as the €600ish per month that it would cost for accomidation). I can understand both sides of the argument.

dlofnep

It's not as much, but I'm not asking for the full grant. I'd be happy if they even just paid the fees for me. I don't mind keeping a tight budget, that's part of being a student - but I logistically don't have 1500 for reg fees, and I feel that I'm being ostracized for living at home, despite paying rent. Why would I want to move out when I have my own room, and the college is only 5 minutes out the road? It makes no sense.

dnside

It is nonsense, it encourages students to leave home, costing the state far more in extra payments, higher grants, even in some cases rent allowance.This is the formula to avoid fees.
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055619289&page=2

oldyouth

dlofnep wrote: »

What resources within my family? You've absolutely no idea what you are talking about. I've worked all my life, and my parents do not give me a dime. I pay rent. 3rd level education is not a lifestyle choice, it's almost mandatory to get any sort of a decent job to pay for the hectic prices in this country. Why should my parents income affect my ability to get a grant?

You are an adult, you DECIDE if you want further education or if you want to get a job. I am not disputing for one minute that a degree doesn't give you an edge but that is not an issue for the State or me as a taxpayer. It IS a lifestyle choice whereas primary and secondary level education is a right as a citizen of this great country

dlofnep

oldyouth wrote: »

You are an adult, you DECIDE if you want further education or if you want to get a job.

I have both a job and a pending degree. Can't I have both?

oldyouth wrote: »

I am not disputing for one minute that a degree doesn't give you an edge but that is not an issue for the State or me as a taxpayer.

Actually it is an issue for you as a taxpayer, because you will pay for it. Much like, I payed for someone else's while I paid tax prior to starting college. That's what happens in a state supported country. Someone can't afford healthcare? We pay for it. Someone can't afford college? We pay for it. It ensures that everyone has an equal opportunity in life.

It is up to the state to ensure that there is an educated workforce to cater for high-spec jobs. The same workforce that will create billions in the economy in real wealth by paying tax in high-earning jobs. So yes, it is an issue for the state.

You just can't seem to fathom the realities of why someone who can't afford an education, should receive state support. I think you'd be better served living in America, where everyone cares about themselves and couldn't give a monkeys if someone died because they couldn't afford to go to the doctor.