Seriously Confused!

Aurellia

I can't follow this whole grant thing. And i don't know where to go or what to do and diff gov depts are giving me diff ans!

I'm studying to be Accounting Technician under IATI - i did the first year through FAS and the second year is run through the Community College in a town 33km away. (adjacent rate)

Currently i work two days a week in an acountants, i get OPFP and a small rent allowance. At the moment this employment is only for the summer.

I understand i can't get the grant & BTEA. I also read on student finances that the course has to be two years in duration (does this mean the first year i did in Fas Counts or that i have to be doing two years from Sept 2012?) and they don't give Student Assistance Payments to PLC/Further education courses. So do i even apply for the grant? Then whats the difference between special maintenance grant and standard?

Do i swop over to BTEA & keep my RA as DSP officer has told me i can't have RA and study? If i swop over to BTEA , next May i'll be a "new applicant" back on OPFP and i'll be subject to new guidelines i understand from SW officer- thus being cut off the following year.

I'm really in a panic, as i'm worried about finances over the winter. I couldn't get through to the SUSI number friday and this is distracting me all weekend.

Can someone advise me where i should be going? Applying to? Am i better off going down the BTEA & Ra Route, or sticking on the OPFP and keeping up p/t work & study.

Thank you

Muir

If you are currently on RA, you can stay on it while studying. There seems to be a lot of confusion about this and people are constantly being told different things, but I know a number of people who have had RA while studying.

Apply for the grant. You can apply to have your fees paid by the grant even if you get BTEA, so it wont hurt to throw in an application to SUSI so get working on that.

Working while studying can be difficult. It could be an idea to go to you local citizens information center and they should be able to advise you on the best route for you.

Aurellia

Thanks Muir. It's diff being a single working mum but I went back last sept , and it was a good routine & budget got us to school & college! So I dont fancy working too!

I'll tackle this tomorrow with grant & ill ring my Citz info too. And yes there seems to be conflicting info that uve to switch from opfp to btea in order to retain ur RA as apparently you technically can be studying & receive Opfp but u can't be studying & in receipt of RA too unless it's BTEA..... They are all SW ?!

Muir

I'd say that's pretty hard, well done on doing it! Working & college would probably be a bit much though, being a mother is a full time job in itself.
Hope you've managed to get it all sorted out =]