Mature Student Grant rate drop

lesserspottedchloe

Hey, just wondering how many of my fellow mature students out there are dealing with a huge drop in their grant rate this September?

I havn't recieved an official figure yet but am expecting mine to drop from 6600 to just 3300...

This will severely affect my third year in college and squash any hopes I had of going on work experience with a decent company.

They shouldn't be allowed to do this to students who are halfway through a course.

Has anybody out there managed to hold onto the full amount?

millivanilli

I feel your pain. My grant has been cut from around €3000 to just €1250. I wasn't on the top up grant but the €3000 used to mean I could pay rent and then I work part time to support myself. But my hours have been cut back in work and on top of it all I had a baby in June so this final year will be a nightmare I really have no idea how I'll manage. It was so sly how they did it as well just sneaking in the new rules. I agree its so unfair to cut it by so much when you're already in the middle of your course. We can all accept some cuts but a cut of this much is excessive and unfair

ripo

This is going to cause real problems, and a lot of students will have no alternative to leave college in their final year.

I'm not sure, but I think mature students on a grant on before 2010 may be able to keep their old grant rates.

'This Scheme applies to students or tuition students who wish to apply
for a grant in respect of attendance on an approved course, in an approved
institution, in the academic year 2011/12, other than a person attending a course who was, prior to the coming into operation of section 6 of the Act and this Scheme, awarded a grant to attend their current course under a prior scheme''. http://www.studentfinance.ie/downloads/Student%20Grant%20Scheme%202011.pdf


I emiled the VEC, and will find out for you.

If you want to keep your Non-adjacent grant you have to live 45k from your place of study! Hell... If mine is cut I wll move out of Dublin too, cheaper and I get the full grant!

Annasopra

ripo wrote: »

I'm not sure, but I think mature students on a grant on before 2010 may be able to keep their old grant rates.

I'm fairly sure they don't and that is why USI is taking the Govt to court

ripo

mango salsa wrote: »

I'm fairly sure they don't and that is why USI is taking the Govt to court

OMG your right, this new change applies to everyone, mostly the disadvantaged!!! good discussions about this http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=74436044

B1977

ripo wrote: »

OMG your right, this new change applies to everyone, mostly the disadvantaged!!! good discussions about this http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=74436044

This was first posted on 18th May.Students need to contact their local politician and e-mail Mr Quinn regarding this.It has to be highlighted

B1977

ripo wrote: »

This is going to cause real problems, and a lot of students will have no alternative to leave college in their final year.

I'm not sure, but I think mature students on a grant on before 2010 may be able to keep their old grant rates.

'This Scheme applies to students or tuition students who wish to apply
for a grant in respect of attendance on an approved course, in an approved
institution, in the academic year 2011/12, other than a person attending a course who was, prior to the coming into operation of section 6 of the Act and this Scheme, awarded a grant to attend their current course under a prior scheme''. http://www.studentfinance.ie/downloads/Student%20Grant%20Scheme%202011.pdf


I emiled the VEC, and will find out for you.

If you want to keep your Non-adjacent grant you have to live 45k from your place of study! Hell... If mine is cut I wll move out of Dublin too, cheaper and I get the full grant!

You have to have proof of address from October 2010 for your distance to be 46km

ripo

B1977 wrote: »

[/B]

You have to have proof of address from October 2010 for your distance to be 46km

they vec indicate on their website, and in the grant publication doc, that a change in circumstances may be considered , including a change in address. so in the 2011/2012 academic term you can inform them that you changed address outside the 45k zone and they should change the grant level.

If it is as you say, pending of the address in October, I suggest everyone that can, move now, so you can get the full grant for the remainder of your time at college which should result in the full rate the year after, and so on.

I have emailed, and phoned many VEC dept, and can you believe many of them dont really know what is going on themselves.

lesserspottedchloe

Just giving an update on my grant situation :rolleyes: I recieved a letter yesterday informing me that I have been approved for the full non-adjacent, mature grant rate and top-up even though I live within walking distance of the college...how is this possible? Has anybody else been approved the full rate in these circumstances?

This is a massive relief for me as the hunt for suitable part-time work is still ongoing.

Hope everyone else gets good news and the legal action on the 8th is successfull!

hattoncracker

Hi guys,
Just wondering if anyone else has applied for a grant and been told that they only qualify for fees.
I'm an independent mature student, I've a part time job, have never been on the dole in my life, and plan on working my way thru college. (I'm in UL.)
Last year I did a PLC course, and I got a full grant for the year, but first they declined me and I had to appeal it. This year all I'm getting is my fees back.
There's a document posted which outlines all the information about the rates, and how much you can earn before you're entitled, etc. But I'm pretty sure I earn less than that.
Now I don't know if anyone knows but the CDVEC Grants Department no longer take phone-calls, only Mon, Wed, Fri between 9.00 and 12:30, and even then if it rings out you're expected to leave a vmail and wait for them to call back. I emailed them and all I got back was a link to the studentfinance website. They are extremely hard to deal with, and I can't wait til next year so I can apply to Limerick VEC.

Can anyone PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAASSEE shed some info on how much these cut off rates are, because I'm totally befuddled and I don't plan on having to start another war with them, I'm in desperate need of it as I'm not getting paid as much as I did last year and I'm skipping lectures at the moment to get a few extra quid at the end of the month!

Thanks a mill!