Special rate refused as husband is not dd's dad

lisasmersie

We have been refused special rate of grant based on the fact that the FIS being paid to the family is paid in my husbands name and he is not either her biological father or legal guardian. The sickening part is she was born within another marriage and was never able to be either adopted or him becoming her legal guardian. I have appealed to the very end and as SUSI hasnt technically broken a law , we have been caught in red tape and as a result even though our annual income is 18,500 then the FIS which is non reckonable , he isnt her dad. im sick with worry and im in contact with political parties so basically im looking for anyone else in the same boat as i would like to take this issue to the government and lobby for an amendment for families such as ourselves.:mad:

Annasopra

lisasmersie wrote: »

We have been refused special rate of grant based on the fact that the FIS being paid to the family is paid in my husbands name and he is not either her biological father or legal guardian. The sickening part is she was born within another marriage and was never able to be either adopted or him becoming her legal guardian. I have appealed to the very end and as SUSI hasnt technically broken a law , we have been caught in red tape and as a result even though our annual income is 18,500 then the FIS which is non reckonable , he isnt her dad. im sick with worry and im in contact with political parties so basically im looking for anyone else in the same boat as i would like to take this issue to the government and lobby for an amendment for families such as ourselves.:mad:

It's arguable. Have you contacted the Ombudsman?

lisasmersie

Yeah i have and i have a form here to lodge a complaint i just need to find out if its susi or the department i am complaining about, after all susi are only following legislation from the department, the only thing is you cant complain about the law as far as i Know. I was thinking however its the fact they are discriminating in using different assessment methods than the social welfare and its on the basis of a social welfare payment that special rate is paid. Social welfare in all departments including single parent benefit is paid to parents, step parents and legal guardians so y should the department view us differently. Also if me and the current husband were to separate and dd chose to stay with him he can claim one parent and then she wouldnt get any grant as he isnt counted she would be classed as an independant student therefore cant be as she is 18. So many flaws in the clause. Its disgusting, and they need to fix it fast.
I also have contacted the equality tribunal as they definately have indirectly discriminated against us and families like us and they have given me the links needed to apply to them too and also have said it may be something they can represent me on if it fits the criteria.
If this bill is passed on the rights of stepparents, same sex couples and surrogates then perhaps i wont face the issue again in three years time with my twins but it doesnt solve my immediate problem. and stupidly as i never regarded my husband as anything other than her parent as did the social etc i never thought that the guidance notes applied to us where they said parent or legal guardian in long term receipt of payment

Digital Society

Without reading this too much can you not get maintenance from the father? Is that what SUSI expect you to do?