Leave college to go on dole ?

Mister Jingles

I'm need to find out if I am able to leave college (one year plc) and claim social welfare ?

Long story short, due to the grant **** up with SUSI and Revenue I am no longer able to support myself, nor are my parents able to support me. It will be another few months before I will be ''awarded'' my grant and am unable to support myself for that duration. I am meant to be in college right now but instead have had to stay off and will have to do so for the remainder of the week as I have no travel expenses or lunch money.

RADIUS

Ask your college for help from the Student Assistance Fund before giving up. They can in some cases help you with some funds to tide you over.

Mister Jingles

Asked already, they've nothing.

wmpdd3

Did you apply for the student assistance fund? It was awarded last week but you may still be able to apply.

Some award are around €500 and its awarded again in March.

If you are living at home, your JSA will be means tested. Full income details of everyone living in the house will have to be submitted.

Also if you are under 25 the max you will be awarded will be €100 per week.

You have to prove you are actively looking for work.


You will have to pay for letters from the college saying you are de-registered.

It will be hard to prove that last year your family could support you , but this year they cant...

JSA could take up 10 weeks or more to come through. Add in Christmas and the grant would probably be awarded first.

You will lose the grant back money if you leave college.

Stick it out.

Zillah

wmpdd3 wrote: »

It will be hard to prove that last year your family could support you , but this year they cant...

Who said the family supported them last year?

Stick it out.

That's very easy to say, but who is going to pay for food and travel...you?

wmpdd3

No, but neither will the dole.

As OP is doing a PLC and is not on BTEA, the poster is probably 1 year post LC and under 25.

I was supported for 7 months by the LSAD hardship fund when I first started college. I got a job in Limerick and borrowed £30 per week to cover rent and food. I was a stone lighter but I survived first year. My grant came through in June.

Mister Jingles

wmpdd3 wrote: »

Did you apply for the student assistance fund? It was awarded last week but you may still be able to apply.

First I've heard of this. Not even the counsellor mentioned that one to me.
I'll look it up.

wmpdd3 wrote: »

You will have to pay for letters from the college saying you are de-registered.

If this is true then what a disgrace !

wmpdd3 wrote: »

JSA could take up 10 weeks or more to come through. Add in Christmas and the grant would probably be awarded first.

Probably the case, however the time frame for the grant is so unpredictable.

wmpdd3 wrote: »

Stick it out.

Possible but tbh, if I had known that this was going to be the case I wouldn't of bothered applying to college this year and instead went on the dole.

Zillah wrote: »

Who said the family supported them last year?

True, since I turned 18, between 5th & 6th year of secondary school there was never any sort of income coming into the household for me as my childrens allowance was cut off, however it was easier to manage at that time (after CA was cut) as I was in walking distance from my school and that was over 18 months ago, where as now I'm a 45 minute walk or maybe longer from my current college.

Zillah wrote: »

That's very easy to say, but who is going to pay for food and travel...you?

People have told me to stick it out, considering that it's only a year course and that I'm already approaching half way through the year soon. Saying that most of them aren't short of a few quid and are able to go on the piss most weekends.

Anyway I'm going to ''stick it out'' till after chirstmas and see what the situation with the grant is and that. Thanks for the replys.

Crazyteacher

Contact the credit union and show them evidence that you are awaiting your grant and they may be able to give you a small loan to keep you going .

Secondly, contact St Vincent De Paul and see if they can help with the travel costs/food problem. There was a programme on during the week and they have been assisting students waiting on the grants.

Also, leave in your cv with the big name stores , hmv, boots, argos,river island etc. All need seasonal workers this time of year , you could save a bit to keep you going to college or they may end up keeping you part time in the new year( if you are any good

Try everything but leaving your course. Contact the students union of Ireland , and your local TD's. Don't let them get away with what's happened. Prove how determined you are!

wmpdd3

Possible but tbh, if I had known that this was going to be the case I wouldn't of bothered applying to college this year and instead went on the dole.

This I aggree with!

I can imagine when you are in the middle of the most expensive time at home you could regret even applying to college.

But never let the Grant office win, (of what ever they are calling it this year)

If there are less people in college, they will hire less people to process the grants.

Once you get it one year, its much easier to apply for the next few years.

Really college is only from the middle of Jan until the middle of May and a few exams after that. Atleast you are within walking distance and not spending your food money on a bus, you will be so glad that you did it, come May.

Give a morning in the college going to each place telling them you need help, dont ask dont get!!

Its €10 per letter in the WIT, so far this year we've paid for 5 just for the Social Welfare and 1 for grant. Keep all the receipts, in case the letter doesnt say what the Social asked for.

xeresod

Mister Jingles wrote: »

as I was in walking distance from my school and that was over 18 months ago, where as now I'm a 45 minute walk or maybe longer from my current college.

You're still in walking distance - 45 minutes is only between 2 and 3 miles (depending on the lenght of your legs!)

ShaShaBear

xeresod wrote: »

You're still in walking distance - 45 minutes is only between 2 and 3 miles (depending on the lenght of your legs!)

Well given the weather conditions, I would in my humpy be walking for 45 minutes to get to college, and given how utterly dangerous it is these days, I certainly wouldn't be walking 45 minutes to get home! It's practically dark now at 5, in a few more weeks, it'll be twilight by 6PM when the OP would get home! :eek: