Student Grants Question..Fraud?

corkvisitor197

Hi all, visitor to UCC here.

I have a question for you, I know a <snip>UCC student who previously got his first bachelors degree, worked for a while, and now went back to school for a second degree. <snip>

He is now back in school for his second degree, <snip hearsay>

I know the irish government gives tuition waivers to low income students, but I thought that was only for first degrees...not second. Sorry but am I missing something here? Don't know if I should report it or not because it doesn't seem fair to the rest of the students who pay their tuition or students who are actually from low income families and need that help.

Plautus

corkvisitor197 wrote: »

Hi all, visitor to UCC here.

I have a question for you, I know a <snip>UCC student who previously got his first bachelors degree, worked for a while, and now went back to school for a second degree. <snip>

He is now back in school for his second degree, <snip hearsay>

I know the irish government gives tuition waivers to low income students, but I thought that was only for first degrees...not second. Sorry but am I missing something here? Don't know if I should report it or not because it doesn't seem fair to the rest of the students who pay their tuition or students who are actually from low income families and need that help.

The Irish Government pays tuition for everyone for the first undergraduate degree. Means testing is used to assign maintenance grants for both first and subsequent undergraduate/postgraduate programmes and fee waivers for subsequent postgraduate programmes.

There's not nearly enough information there (at least in what you've provided) to decide whether or not he's claiming assistance fraudulently. <snip> If you're planning to report him because of some grudge, I'd re-consider your motivation.

The only odd thing is the fact that it's a second bachelor's degree, but it could just as easily be some variety of conversion course or course which is eligible for relief under a government/university-sponsored scheme. Furthermore, the first undergraduate course, if it was a Level 7 (Ordinary) degree may not preclude him being eligible for certain financial assistance if this course is a Level 8 (Honours) programme.

His college enrolment data is linked to his PPS number and shared with relevant government departments, so it's highly unlikely that all concerned do not know that this is his second undergraduate degree.

As for him asking you not to spread it around - I also don't like my affairs being broadcast by anyone except myself if I so wish.

corkvisitor197

Thanks for the reply, been very helpful. Not intending to broadcast his personal info but keep this as private as possible.

<snip>

Nonoperational

If he <snip> then there's no way he should be getting any grant. I'm doing a similar thing and it's costing me over €13k per year tuition, not to mention rent and living expenses.

PhatPiggins

He probably qualifies for the back to education grant

Plautus

PhatPiggins wrote: »

He probably qualifies for the back to education grant

Indeed: if he enrolled for the first undergraduate before the age of 23 there are different rules for mature students who return (and who would also be assessed separately from their parents when they're not living at home.) They can receive such a grant.

There may also be other rules governing the graduate entry route to medicine (which seems to be the course in question here.)

This is something you'd want to be quite sure of before you go blowing a whistle OP.<snip>

If he <snip> then there's no way he should be getting any grant. I'm doing a similar thing and it's costing me over €13k per year tuition, not to mention rent and living expenses.

Depends on his circumstances, they're not likely to be identical to yours.

spurious

Editing out a large amount of personally identifiable information here.

If you want to discuss grant arrangements, do it without identifying people. You do not know everyone's individual circumstances, so what seems to be the case may not be.

If you want to report someone, go and do it.

Nari85

Lets say you report him. The first thing he will do is sign onto the dole. I wonder what will cost the state more, him on the dole for the next five years or him trying to better himself in full-time education.

corkvisitor197

Back to Education grant, yes that sounds right. I just want to make sure I have my facts straight before I bring this up to the welfare office (or are there other places anyone can recommend?).

>snip<

Other students with the same degree told me they paid some tuition……so I just don’t get why this individual is getting away without paying anything. >snip<

hoodwinked

im not 100% sure of the following but

i dropped out of my degree, i had health certs, and what was deemed a serious medical condition by the college, im now back as a second chance student and have been awarded a grant under second chance after showing medical certification that confirms i was too unwell to continue in education.

as a second chance/mature student i qualify for btea, so i only get my fee's paid,


in my class is another mature student who has a degree already, they are on btea also, and also has a grant to pay their fee's just their fee's,

as a mature student you can choose between full grant or college fee's paid and btea. the fee's are paid by local authority and then either the local authority pays the grant or the btea is paid by the social welfare,

most people choose the btea option as the grant would be (est) €1,000 annually where btea is €188 a week. so depending what he is on, he may be perfectly entitled to it.

but as far as i know you are allowed claim under a range of options second time around.

corkvisitor197

Thanks for the reply. The part that confuses me is this. >snip<

blankblank

corkvisitor197 wrote: »

Thanks for the reply. The part that confuses me is this. >snip<

He/she is going back to education so yes they can qualify, the previous degree is irrelevant.

invinciblePRSTV

What has this guy done to you OP to warrant such attention on your part?

blankblank

invinciblePRSTV wrote: »

What has this guy done to you OP to warrant such attention on your part?

Was just thinking the same.

If you have an issue with this persons finances perhaps you should confront them before reporting the issues and instigating an investigation into somebody who potentially has nothing to hide, causing undue stress at what I am sure is a stressful time in their life. If after this confrontation you still feel he/she is defrauding the system then by all means report away.

Also, giving such specifics on boards is inappropriate,

hoodwinked

corkvisitor197 wrote: »

Thanks for the reply. The part that confuses me is this. >snip<

Would that still qualify for the back to education grant at all....even though the first degree was in something advanced

as previously mentioned no it does not matter if the first degree was in something advanced or not, its irrelevant as they have decided to return to education for whatever reasons.


also to add, the local authority are hard enough to get money/grants off of when you are entitled, i highly doubt they'd have got it fraudulently!

rebel girl 15

To be very honest, I'm not at all comfortable with the amount of info being given about a person without their knowledge - you are most certainly narrowing down the people to a very identifiable number of students, which is not right at all. I'm locking this, and editing out a lot of info here which could be used to identify that person. OP, you were warned by another moderator not to put identifiable material on this thread