Unfairly Refused Student Grant

dyl10

Today I recieved a letter back from Dun Laoghaire CoCo refusing my grant application stating that I was €200 over the limit.

I applied under a change of circumstances as one of my parents had to go on long term sick benefit half way through last year.(Which seems to me to be valid grounds for not considering last years P21 at face value)

The income DLR CoCo assessed my family at seems to be nearly €10k above what I would have calculated with a simple equation of: fathers pay slip x52 + Mothers Illness benefit x52. No overtime is earned in my family and that is the entirety of our income, so I'm left perplexed.

This is my first application so I'm a bit new to this. It would great if someone could steer me in the right direction.

1. Do the change in circumstances described above seem like valid grounds?

2. I was under the impression that social welfare payments/HSE payments weren't factored into the income limits. I take it I am incorrect in this assumption?

3. What would be the best way to proceed with appealing this, would a serious phone call to DLR Co Co be the first step?

Any help would be hugely appreciated, thanks a lot.

Annasopra

Yes - ring them tell you wish to appeal - explain why you want to appeal then ask them to send you an appeal form

p28559

ringing is a waste of time....first appeal is to the council asking it to review its decision based on what you feel is assessed incorrectly...2nd appeal if they dont change their decision is to the dept of education.

all the income that is negated is listed in studentfinance.ie

snappieT

dyl10 wrote: »

2. I was under the impression that social welfare payments/HSE payments weren't factored into the income limits. I take it I am incorrect in this assumption?

The following Social Welfare and HSE payments are excluded in the calculation of reckonable income: Child Benefit; Family Income Supplement; Disability Allowance (where paid to the candidate); Blind Pension (where paid to the candidate); One Parent Family Payment (Means-tested) (where paid to the candidate); Guardian's Payment (previously known as Orphan's Pension); Foster Care Allowance; Domiciliary Care Allowance; Carer's Allowance.

dyl10

Thank you so much for the help, all.

Peace out

wuzzik

We had a similar problem last year. You need to get your Dad's payslips for the year to date and project the income to the end of the year and confirmation of your Moms entitlements from Social welfare. The "benfits" that are taken into account have changed so check on whether her benefits are taken into account. Sit down and write a letter outlining the new family income and hand in the payslips with the letter and you should be OK. The payslips should show that there are no overtime payments.

Good luck