Full-time course fee while on social welfare?

legendary.xix

I know of someone who is on social welfare and is signing up to do a full-time course for a year. People on social welfare are supposed to get 75% of the fees reduced of the course fee. The person I know on social welfare has been adivsed they need to have a medical card to qualify for the 75% reduction on course fees. Can this be right? Why is a medical card necessary when taking on a course and being able to pay the social welfare fee?

MickShamrock

I'm on social welfare and have just completed my first year in college as a mature student. I get hit with the full fees - registration and tuition. The only way I am in college is thanks to a loan from the local credit union. I don't get the grant as I am studying the same level I studied when I went to college before.

CoolGirl101

If you are on SW you are eligible for maintenence grant, and then your fees are paid for, even if you are getting BTEA.

MickShamrock

CoolGirl101 wrote: »

If you are on SW you are eligible for maintenence grant, and then your fees are paid for, even if you are getting BTEA.

Not true in my case.

RoyalMarine

same with my situation.

Im on BTEA, but since i lived at home for 2 months during the summer, they vioded my ability to apply as a mature student for the fee's, and wanted my parents income details etc.

complete and total bs if you ask me... sure where do students live during the summer when they're not in college!

MickShamrock

RoyalMarine wrote: »

same with my situation.

Im on BTEA, but since i lived at home for 2 months during the summer, they vioded my ability to apply as a mature student for the fee's, and wanted my parents income details etc.

complete and total bs if you ask me... sure where do students live during the summer when they're not in college!

I know. Some parts of the system are stupid! I'm a mature student but the only benefit I get is the BTEA. Not much use when I'm stuck with loans to cover the fees.

Annasopra

CoolGirl101 wrote: »

If you are on SW you are eligible for maintenence grant, and then your fees are paid for, even if you are getting BTEA.

not now; you can get BTEA but not a maintenance grant as well

RoyalMarine

think thats bad?

i was in a level 7 course in LYIT.. 4 year inc addon for honours.

I got in just in time for the BTEA + grant payments.

all was great for the year, then i got a transfer to a 3 year level 8 honours degree course in waterford.

close to home,
1 year less college,
seems like a better course tbh

so i accepted the transfer....
rang the social welfare office, they said no problem, payments resumed..
rang the grant office, sorry, since you changed course, you cant receive both anymore...
I spent about 4 months reading and verifying it, and it turns out there is no rule on this matter... some godshíte in dublin in their support center just decided to close my claim for the grant and that was that..

talked to over 10 td's during and before the election, not one of them really tried to help me.. talked to them after, didnt even get a phone call back..

the system is archaic, flaud, run by unethical and rude staff in some places around the country, and overall, they give grants to students who have no interest in staying in college, and just end up drinking every penny during the first semester.

it should be heavily monitored, grades, attendance, CA results, exam results.. but no.. they dont do anything right these days..

legendary.xix

Why should having a medical card be necessary when on social welfare to get a reduced fee for a course? I can't see the logic behind it...

zeds alive

MickShamrock wrote: »

Not true in my case.

Same in mine , I had to borrow to cover my fees.

CoolGirl101

Johnnymcg wrote: »

not now; you can get BTEA but not a maintenance grant as well

I was told, if you are on BTEA you cannot get the grant in full, but if you apply, they will still cover your fees...or do SW do that now?

RoyalMarine

if your on BTEA, then you apply to the VEC for them to cover your fee's.

but expect a twist of shíte when they assess your income if your dependant on your parents...

MickShamrock

RoyalMarine wrote: »

it should be heavily monitored, grades, attendance, CA results, exam results.. but no.. they dont do anything right these days..

Don't be silly! That would only make sense! :pac: