quick question re student grant

breadhead

Hi,

I am applying for student grant 2011/12. I hope to apply as an independent mature student. I was working in UK until last month and finished up as I accepted the postgraduate place. I moved into my family home last week and signed on as well.
Will this impact my application? Should I move out?
I was going to wait until September to move to the city where the course is.

Many thanks for advice. I know its a tricky area and I dont want to screw it up with a few weeks at home.

RoyalMarine

since your in a situation where you JUST moved in, I would move out ASAP otherwise they will clasify you as a mature dependant and assess your parents income.

Clashmore

I recieved a independant mature student grant last year and despite not having lived at home in over 10 years I had to jump through hoops and send in tons of paperwork to prove I wasn't living at home, as a result of this I didn't get my first installment until march. Also you need to able to prove that you have been living out of home(i.e bills in your name or post sentin your name to your address) since October of the previous year so for you thats October 2010. You also need to apply for your grant in the area you are living in not the area you are going to college in. You should have a look at www.studentfianance.ie as you can download the student grant forms and there are guidlines for filling the forms in.

HTH
Clashmore

breadhead

Thanks for replies.
In a quandry now I stopped paying rent in UK on July 4th.
I only plan on staying at home for 2-3 weeks as I am going to go abroad before this month is over.
Is there any other option you can think of or should I just rent a place for this month? Can I pay my parents/someone else rent? Can I apply from my old UK address and back date to July 4th?

I understand the requirements Clashmore and I believe I fulfill them all except for these 2-3 weeks.
Could I explain this anyway in the additional notes section?

Thanks again.

Annasopra

If you are only staying there 2-3 weeks I don't think it's a problem at all

RoyalMarine

agree with johnnymcq, since your living away from home since last october - july, then it wont be a problem. they want bills to prove you were paying your own way NOT in your parents home from october 2010 - july 2011.

if you have bills for these dates, then you should be just fine.

Perplexed22

OP I think you might have another problem. You have to be able to prove residency in Ireland for 3 of the 5 years immediately before starting your course (usually through submission of P60's/Social Welfare Statements/evidence of being registered in education). How long were you in England?

breadhead

Hey,

Thanks again for the replies.
I was in the UK for 14 months and was in Ireland for 3 of the last 5 years
Hopefully it will be ok me staying here the next 2 weeks. I will make a not in the additional section. I have all my rent receipts and work details from the past year but no bills as my rent was all inclusive.
My landlord has written me a letter just to say that rent was inclusive of all bill so I hope that will be sufficient.

Perplexed22

If you've proof you were working in the UK your UK tax/work documents may have your UK address on them and details of the length of time you were there - this should be acceptable proof of independent address and if your parents address is here in Ireland you should be ok - make sure you give your parents home address on Page 6 of the form though.

It might be a good idea to call or email the grant office you're applying to before you send in the application to double-check what's acceptable (I'd email and include a printout of any reply with the application) to avoid confusion/delay later on.

Perplexed22

p.s. I'd move in with a mate/anyone with a different address to your parents asap and get the address on your signing on claim changed immediately

achmairt

rent receipts or letter from landlord won't be accepted. You need official letters/bills sent to you at your address in october 2010.
If you got a grant before under your parents you need to be three years out of college to apply as a mature student.

breadhead

All I have is rent receipts and no official bills as it was all inclusive.
I have post and work related documentation which I will have to include as its all I have. It was great not having to deal with bills during the year so I hope its not going to be a problem now.