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Partners PhD grant effects Means

  • 09-05-2012 7:53pm
    #1
    brozio7
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 78 ✭✭


    Hi,

    I was wondering if anybody had come across this issue before?

    A bit of background first...

    Myself and my girlfriend are co-habiting and she stated this on a social welfare claim. My girlfriend is working a part time job (3 days a week) and was claiming casual workers benefit for the days she wasn't working. I'm currently enrolled in a science PhD and receive €1500 per month from Science foundation Ireland as a tax free stipend for this.

    All was well until my girlfriend was called in for meeting with the social welfare and she was informed that as my €1500 tax free grant is just over the threshold for a couple living together her payments have been stopped. If my girlfriend was to lose her job in the future she would not qualify for any benefits provided we live together..

    I was wondering if anybody had any similar experiences, I find it difficult to accept that my grant which is from a government body to support myself as I study should be deemed enough to provide for 2 people. I assumed as my income was non-taxable income that it would not effect my girlfriends claim.

    Just wondering if this has happened to anybody else or if we have any basis to appeal the decision of the social welfare??


Comments

  • #2
    wmpdd3
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,626 ✭✭✭wmpdd3


    That doesnt sound right, is she on jsa? Even so, a partner 'earning' 380 per week wouldn't reduce her to no payment. Is she under 25?


  • #3
    cee_jay
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,920 ✭✭✭cee_jay


    I think the only student grant that doesn't affect means is the maintenance portion of the Local Authority Grant. Any other grant is seen as income into the household.
    As it is not earnings from employment, it is seen as cash income, and would therefore be assessed on a euro per euro basis.
    €1500 per month = €346 per week means, which would be in excess of the family rate of €312.80 per week.
    If you are not happy you can appeal a decision to the Appeals Office. But have a look on citizens information website for more information on how means are calculated.


  • #4
    brozio7
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 78 ✭✭brozio7


    cee_jay wrote: »
    I think the only student grant that doesn't affect means is the maintenance portion of the Local Authority Grant. Any other grant is seen as income into the household.
    As it is not earnings from employment, it is seen as cash income, and would therefore be assessed on a euro per euro basis.
    €1500 per month = €346 per week means, which would be in excess of the family rate of €312.80 per week.
    If you are not happy you can appeal a decision to the Appeals Office. But have a look on citizens information website for more information on how means are calculated.

    Yeah sadly, that seems to be the situation. My girlfriend has been into the citizens advice folks who were very helpful but they say the only way an appeal will be successful is if the social welfare made a mistake in calculating the means which it looks like they have not.

    Cheers for the responses!


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