SUSI - Should I appeal it?

LedZeppelin

I'm a student at NUI Maynooth having just completed 1st year of a Digital Media course. I was awarded a grant from my local council for the year 2011/2012.
As I met entry requirements etc it was possible for me to transfer into 2nd year of a Computer Science course at NUIM, so I did.
Because I've changed course I had to apply to SUSI instead of my council.

17th July 2012 - SUSI inform me I am eligible to progress to next stage of assessment, so I sent out my supporting documents (birth cert etc).

27th August 2012 - SUSI send me a letter telling me my application has been cancelled because "you are entering second year of your course having already had a grant from another awarding authority. As we are only processing first time applications or applications from students changing course, you must contact the relevant authority regarding your renewal application."

In my application to SUSI I made it clear that I was not continuing in my course from 2011/2012 and that I intended on carrying on with another level 8 course.

I have been in touch with my local council and Dept of Education (both say SUSI should handle my application). SUSI say I can make a fresh application or make an appeal, both of which will take weeks.

I'm terrified this won't be sorted by the time college rolls around, and I can't afford to pay fees without this assistance.

Should I send the appeal (takes at least 30 days to process according to the girl in SUSI I spoke to) and hope for the best or keep at them and hope they can change it in time for college

saltyporridge

You can't appeal as such because they cancelled your application instead of issuing a decision. Get on to your old grant authority and ask them to contact the Department of Education on your behalf to confirm that SUSI should process your application. If you could get written confirmation of this send it into SUSI and ask them to reactivate your original application at the date you first submitted it.

LedZeppelin

Yeah I have since been in touch with the Department of Education who said they will contact SUSI on my behalf and see what they can do.
Now it is a matter of waiting I guess.
Just worried as the deadline for grant applications is Friday so I hope I don't need to reapply to either system

saltyporridge

Sorry missed that you'd been in contact with the Dept in your first post. They should be able to sort SUSI for you. It would be very unfair if they reject you as a late application after cancelling your original application in error. I would ask that they honour your first application date - it seems unfair that you'd go to the back of the queue because of their mistake. Good luck!

LedZeppelin

SUSI still haven't gotten back to me. Two of my friends are in similar positions but their local councils decided to handle their grant for another year despite the fact they are changing courses! Why the heck can't they just help me.

I'm going to South Dub Co. Council to try get some answers face to face. I swear they make it hard to get this money on purpose

saltyporridge

Get back on to the Department of Education tomorrow. It probably wouldn't be a bad idea to contact the council as well and get them to confirm that they are definitely not the grant body for your new course. Strictly speaking it is SUSI that should process your application. SUSI are being run by the city of Dublin VEC - It seems that you're in Dublin and i'm sure one of the local councillors also sits on the VEC committee so I'd get onto them ASAP. I know it might be a roundabout way of doing it but it should get things moving.

Annasopra

Tell SUSI if they don't sort this out you will bring it to the ombudsman

lulufinn90

i would suggest you contact your local TD preferably one of the opposition.
also keep a record of everything.

my local authority have made countless errors with awarding my grant so i know how it feels to be messed around and no body taking accountability
keep everything written down and also any corespondance should be sent by registered post on your side. it might cost a bit but it keeps them on their toes. they havent messed up my application since i started to question everything and contacted a TD.

dealing with the grant authorities is more stressful than the exams themself

LedZeppelin

Thanks for the responses! The Dept. of Education got back to me and said that SUSI are obliged to handle the application.

So after a lot more phonecalls and inquiries, I was told by SUSI to submit a new online application to them and state in the 'additional notes' section that my previous application was cancelled despite having changed courses etc.

So I sent in the application, 2 days before the deadline thanks to their delayed responses which means my grant payments will no doubt be late!

I know from last year that my grant covers my fees as well, so do you reckon I would still be able to register for college despite not having confirmation I've been awarded the grant yet? After all, the delay was due to SUSI's error not mine