can i apply to get more money on my grant?

jem92

so i got a grant and i'm only getting about €170 a month, that was okay until the restaurant where i worked closed down last week, but my mum worked there too so now we both are left without a job.
i don't think i'm gonna be able to survive on €170 a month and i have most of my loan spent on my accomodation and don't wanna depend on my dad, and also there aren't many jobs in my town where i could only work weekends.. so i was wondering would i be able to write to the vec and enquire about more money, or will i be wasting my time?

investment

jem92 wrote: »

so i got a grant and i'm only getting about €170 a month, that was okay until the restaurant where i worked closed down last week, but my mum worked there too so now we both are left without a job.
i don't think i'm gonna be able to survive on €170 a month and i have most of my loan spent on my accomodation and don't wanna depend on my dad, and also there aren't many jobs in my town where i could only work weekends.. so i was wondering would i be able to write to the vec and enquire about more money, or will i be wasting my time?

If your old man has money, your wasting your time:rolleyes:

jem92

well he doesnt have a lot.. he can't pay bills and pay for me..

kthnxbai

Well, there is a form you can fill in for change of circumstances. However, depending on what grant you get etc., it might not be of any use.

You say you get about 170 a month, so are you on the full non-adjacent rate? The only way to get more than that is if your parents have been receiving some form of social welfare for a while. This is the special top up rate. That said, my mother is on BTEA and my father has his own business, but receives a small amount from the social welfare (from his stamps, think it's unemployment benefit, not the assistance one) because he earns so little, yet I am still not entitled to the top-up. I get a measly 104 quid a month and my bus costs 82!

Oh, also, the total reckonable income has to be below about 22 grand to get the top-up. That's the lowest bracket I think. It depends on the number of dependent children, etc etc.

Have a look here: http://www.studentfinance.ie/mp9522/change-of-circumstances/index.html

If you're already renting somewhere, could you look for work wherever that is? Would there be more jobs there?

jem92

thanks a million i'm gonna give this a go now.. hopefully i get something sorted out..
thats crazy money for a bus.. !! it's hard surviving on just your grant especially when theres no jobs around..