Alternative financial aid to SUSI?

bluugirl

If anyone could give me any advice that would be very appreciated as I don't know how much more worrying I can take.

I don't qualify for a grant, even though my family have to pay a large mortgage, incur large childcare expenses for my sister while my parents work and medical expenses when my dad is sick. Even though they work it's very low paid factory work, it's not enough to get me through college without some help. I also have to pay rent every week. I have been trying since I was sixteen to get work but haven't succeeded once. Can anyone please tell me if there is any other way we can get some assistance, otherwise my college fees the past two years will have been nothing but a waste of money if I have to drop out in a few weeks.
It's just so sickening to see my friends who are in families that have paid their mortgage, and have work themselves since they were 16 and have no other childcare or medical expenses get a grant and spend it all on new clothes and going out at least twice a week. The only reason I was able to get from SUSI in the past was that I don't get it because we get some money to have coilte trees on our land, but my mam says this is very minimal?
I'm sorry that this is so long but it's really taking it's toll on me as my parents get angry with me every week for never being able to get a job, asking how are my friends able to get work.

Annasopra

What college do you goto?

Have you tried the student assistance fund?

bluugirl

NUIG. Yes, I've heard nothing back about it yet, though.

Annasopra

Ok well maybe go and have a chat with the NUIGSU welfare officer and see if they can help

Cathyht

Hi Bluugirl
If you live in a smaller town, which it sounds like, surely your parents could help you get a job of some description. Really it's who you know in a small town that gets student jobs. So if they're angry, they should look at what they can do to help through people they know. Can you move to a bigger town or city where there are more job opportunities, stay with friends temporarily and get a part time job there. Or put fliers around for babysitting, helping elderly people for a few hours/keep them company, lawn cutting, dog walking, my daughter does that all the time. You can put ads up in Tescos and most large shops, go door to door. You only need a few people to ask you weekly and you've got an income.

I don't know if you can appeal the decision of the grant, if you have applied, get them to consider net income rather than gross income, it's worth a try.

Also I was thinking maybe some charitable organisation could help, St Vincent de Paul, or some religious organisation may have a bursary for students in need. You could appeal to a local council??

If the worst comes to the worst and you have to leave college now, maybe you can continue your studies part time in a distance/evening/ weekend course. If you're over 23 you would be eligible for the BTEA if you have been signing on for 12 months I think it is. Look into all the options without feeling you've reached the end of the road, there is always a way to do it.

Bozacke

I'm sorry, this clearly illustrates what's wrong with this country! SUSI is a complete scam! Apparently more than half of the students get something from SUSI, although I also can't get anything and I'm certain my family income is less than probably 75% of the other students. The problem is, people who are self employed can lie about their earnings and PAYE workers get nothing. I know of people who get grants despite their family owning big farms and they all drive new cars and then people who are struggling like the OP are refused.

Nicole.

Bozacke wrote: »

I'm sorry, this clearly illustrates what's wrong with this country! SUSI is a complete scam! Apparently more than half of the students get something from SUSI, although I also can't get anything and I'm certain my family income is less than probably 75% of the other students. The problem is, people who are self employed can lie about their earnings and PAYE workers get nothing. I know of people who get grants despite their family owning big farms and they all drive new cars and then people who are struggling like the OP are refused.

Exactly, my mother is a PAYE worker and we have a second property which we bought during the good times with the help of a mortgage (everything was promised, no results) now we are facing a situation where that property is only breaking even but SUSI consider this 'income' because it was a personal choice of ours to have a second property. Nonan himself has said this when a TD questioned him on whether or not mortgages should be considered. The recesssion and the promises of the bankers etc should be made held accountable by the government and in turn SUSI, a lot of people have a second property which they make no money from or infact owe on it but are not taken into consideration whereas someone who earns a business different rules apply, their profits are taken into account.

KetchupKid

We don't even have a 2nd property, just a 1st property and it's not breaking even, but in serious negative equity with a very large mortgage since also bought at the peak. We can barely pay the mortgage and now with 2 children in college and we are just slightly above the limits and we get nothing! Last year when my I started college, we just missed it, but we thought we would get the grant this year because my sister just started because there's an additional increment applied, but we just missed it again because Enda & Company raised the bar again. My parents had to put their mortgage on hold and we are in serious austerity. It just makes me sick to see all the wasters getting drink and cigarette money and I can't even get €1 of my fees paid!:mad:

Cathyht

I think the ones who introduce Austerity, should be the first to take a cut. Enda Kenny is on over 200k a year before expenses, huge expenses. How can he understand Austerity, or the soul destroying choices people are making trying to study with no money?

When you look at the jobs given out in Government Depts, State, Semi State organisations, the nice cushy numbers, and the endless Boards of everything from Banks, M.S., Horses to Gaeltacht etc. And all those research groups, and 'Advisors' on over 120k a year. You will see these cushy jobs occupied by past or present Government members, or their families. Even in recession these politicians and their families are well insulated, their cronies insure they get every job when they graduate and every grant going while they study.

But the ones paying for these spongers, they are the ones who 'feel the pinch', who get no grant, whose children have to emigrate for employment. The Government then mentions our brain drain, and invests millions in yet another Board to examine this and work out how to stop it!!!!

Enda Kenny talks about austerity and he is one of the highest paid leaders in the EU. The spin doctors shove this Green Shoot nonsense down our throats in an effort to kickstart the country, yet top economists say our economy has contracted this year. How could it expand when we are taxed to the hilt and spending every penny just keeping a roof over our heads.

The Grant should be determined on NET income, after mortgages, after all these new taxes and charges introduced every 6 months or so. USC, Bin charges, Household charge, increase in tax rate, increase in Health Insurance, SUGAR TAX!! Petrol price hike etc. Next comes the Water meters, another utility bill. Who is going to spend money to keep the economy going, who has this infamous 'feel good factor' with the constant number crunching to keep food on the table. This is exactly the same story as Charlie Haughey in the 80s telling us to tighten our belts while he was buying islands and drinking chateaux Petrus. We are between the Devil and The Deep Blue Sea, none of the parties has an allegiance to Irish people.