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Extremely confused about BTEA + Under 23 + tuition grant

  • 23-08-2010 7:05pm
    #1
    MarcHilton
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18 ✭


    Hey there. Myself and my girlfriend have lived together, independantly of parents/guardians since December 2009. I am 22 years of age and she is 19, 20 next month. We have both been on Jobseekers Allowance since last year. We applied to and got accepted to FETAC courses starting in September, applied for and were accepted to recieve Back To Education Allowance. Now, our biggest problem is the fact that my course comes with a €480 Student Services and Tuition Fee, and hers comes with a €250 one. As we were informed we were not eligible for a maintenance grant since the ridiculous change recently to the scheme, we had NO IDEA we still had to use that exact same form to apply for the free fees and tuition grant. So, now in a scramble to attempt to fill out the forms, we have hit yet another ridiculous speed bump. Apparently, unless we're above 23 years of age, we cannot apply as a mature applicant and MUST provide detailed documentation regarding our parents/guardians income. Now, I am, shall we say rather estranged from my father. There is no way in hell I could get a pen from him, nevermind documented evidence of his income, which is next to nil either way as he is unemployed. She on the other hand, has contact with her father, but equally there is no way he can get such details in such a small amount of time as he is self employed. Are we literally looking down the barrel of a gun here, with no possible way of doing this and paying our fee's, the €730 worth which is due in 10 days? Is there any way around this? How on earth could they not have catered for such a situation as this, what about folks who do not have ANY contact with their parents and are under 23? This is crazy..

    Thanks in advance for any help.

    Marc and Sara


Comments

  • #2
    Annasopra
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,214 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    I think that you can get some of legal statement to state that you are independent. Maybe ring the county council and ask them will they accept any documentation to show that you are independent. I really dont have a clue how this works of if anyone has done it succesfully. Also maybe ring USI

    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



  • #3
    Annasopra
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,214 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    Also when I went to my local employment service provided through Bray Partnership they told me that Bray Partnership might be able to give a small grant to pay the registration fee - If you live in an area where there is a partnership company they may be able to offer this

    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



  • #4
    MarcHilton
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18 ✭MarcHilton


    Thanks for your replies. We live in Glasnevin, Botanic Road to be exact and I'm not really sure if such a thing exists here. I'm not even sure where our local authority is, I've never had cause to contact them before now. This is all a bit confusing but your post has at least given us some hope. Going to head to the Citizens Information Office on O'Connel Street tomorrow to see if they have any answers.


  • #5
    Annasopra
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,214 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    As far as I can tell you live in the Dublin City Council area

    and also the The Tolka area partnership

    http://www.fcp.ie/home.htm

    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



  • #6
    Agent_99
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 918 ✭✭✭Agent_99


    You should be able to apply for registeration fee from the Your Co Council, you are not entitled to the Grant but may get the initals fees paid. Check with them! you need to have your application in by 31th August so be quick :)


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  • #7
    MarcHilton
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18 ✭MarcHilton


    Agent_99 wrote: »
    You should be able to apply for registeration fee from the Your Co Council, you are not entitled to the Grant but may get the initals fees paid. Check with them! you need to have your application in by 31th August so be quick :)


    I don't mean to be rude.. but did you read my post? Everything you just said there is in it! :pac:


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