Supports available while on PPC

Dandelion6

Hi, I've looked at other threads on this subject but I'm not sure how relevant they are now with all the budget changes and I find studentfinance.ie unclear - can anyone clarify what supports will be available to someone starting at Blackhall this September and how/when to apply for them?

I'm a mature student, Irish citizen/resident, parents live abroad and have not supported me for years, if that makes any difference.

blueythebear

Dandelion6 wrote: »

Hi, I've looked at other threads on this subject but I'm not sure how relevant they are now with all the budget changes and I find studentfinance.ie unclear - can anyone clarify what supports will be available to someone starting at Blackhall this September and how/when to apply for them?

I'm a mature student, Irish citizen/resident, parents live abroad and have not supported me for years, if that makes any difference.

Ideally, your employer should be paying fees or paying you a certain amount during Blackhall but most don't.

There's the local authority education grants which you apply for via your COunty Council, same deal as the grants in College.

Payment of the fees is tax deductable so you can claim income tax back on the fees if you have paid income tax in the same year.

Finally, there is a DSBA Grant for persons in dire need and I think that the Law Society also have a fund for similar cases. You receive details of these with the PPC I Pack when you apply. You would have to apply for these directly and I have no idea how difficult it is to get any assistance that way.

Strictly

Up to the last budget if you were an "Independent Mature Student" you got the Maintenance grant of approx 1,000 per term i.e first part in Sept and the 2nd part in Jan the following year and the third part when you went back to do PPC2. That was the non-adjacent rate of grant. Since the Budget "Independent Mature students will no longer have automatic eligibility for the higher non-adjacent rate of Grant". The new amount is about €600 per term.
Have a look at the Dublin City Council Higher Education Grants Section you should find something there. You will have to have all your paper work in order. The sooner you start getting it the better! Also if you get the Grant they pay a portion of the Fees but you have to come up the balance which is about €4,300 for PPC1.

Strictly

I forgot to mention if you have already got a Grant for a Post Grad course I dont think you will get one again:eek:

NoQuarter

Strictly wrote: »

I forgot to mention if you have already got a Grant for a Post Grad course I dont think you will get one again:eek:

Unless the post grad was a masters in law or a law related field.

This is all working on last years criteria so this could all be changed now and there was particular talk of doing away with post-grad grants for this year.

All in all you could qualify for up to 6200 approx in fees and 6000ish in maintenance assuming you live outside 45km from blackhall, if not you can still get up to 6000ish fees and 2500ish maintenance.

Thats the best you will do unless your employer pay for you and again, that is all on last years terms, they change every year and sometimes drastically.

Dandelion6

NoQuarter wrote: »

This is all working on last years criteria so this could all be changed now and there was particular talk of doing away with post-grad grants for this year.

Yes that's what I heard, have they actually been done away with though?

chopser

NoQuarter wrote: »

Unless the post grad was a masters in law or a law related field.

This is all working on last years criteria so this could all be changed now and there was particular talk of doing away with post-grad grants for this year.

All in all you could qualify for up to 6200 approx in fees and 6000ish in maintenance assuming you live outside 45km from blackhall, if not you can still get up to 6000ish fees and 2500ish maintenance.

Thats the best you will do unless your employer pay for you and again, that is all on last years terms, they change every year and sometimes drastically.

I thought that the government had eliminated all post graduate maintenance grants?
What other grants do you know off that are available? I have not gotten a grant before and will be living in Dublin city centre, a county away from my family. Thank you.

NoQuarter

As I said, that is 2011/2012 criteria, I havent heard if the post grad grants have been definitely done away with yet. Basically you guys need to wait until the summer when the scheme for 2012/2013 is released and then you will know where you stand.

Strictly

Normally any changes in the Grant are made in the Budge or the Finance Bill which is the last budget and this Finance Bill. There was mention of 6,000 for the Maintenance Grantt in a previous post, as far as I am aware the Grant was €3k spread over PPC1 and PPC2. There was an extra amount of Grant if you were on Job Seekers for at least the previous 12 months and they are very strict about that. If your family home is out side Dublin and outside the 45 Klm limit that does not come into effect if you are claiming the Grant as an Independent Mature Student. As far as I know if you are living in Dublin you are not outside the limit. My friend is applying for PPC2 at the moment. She is an Independent Mature Student paying 500 per month rent and she is not too hopeful of getting the €1k Grant she has been told by friends that she will only get the €600. Her firm do not pay the Fees but may pay a reduced salary while she is there!