Proof of independent living for SUSI

rawn

My partner has been living with me and my dad since last summer. When he applied for his SUSI grant for this September he applied as an independent adult, so they are looking for proof of independent living since October of last year. All of the utility bills are in my dads name, my partners name obviously isn't on any rent agreement or lease, and they won't accept any of the documentation we provided with his name and address on it (bank statements, social welfare letters etc). Their only suggestion is that he reapply as a dependent on his parents but he hasn't lived at home for 12 years!! Any advice on what we do from here?

cee_jay

Thread moved to Student Finances as you will probably get more advice here.

Moon Indigo

Hi, I have much the same issue and am still struggling to find proof of independent residency. This may or may not help but I if you can get a letter from a government or Co.Council that may help. This could be any correspondence in my case it was that I had previously received a grant from..and was independent .. but could be anything really as far as I am aware that relates to your residency at the address ( being on the council waiting list ..) I am not sure this will help at all but if you can think of some way this could be possible it might be an avenue to explore. Overall I have found Susi helpdesk to be really nice so maybe have a think and see if this is something you could do.

rawn

Thanks for the reply! We're at our wits end. They won't accept anything that we have given so we've had some affidavits drawn up (not yet signed) stating he is independent from his parents and that he is living with my dad. No guarantee they'll accept that though! But he managed to get his name put onto a utility bill but the only catch is they won't send us out anything until our next bill on the 21st of August which will be too late! We messaged SUSI on Facebook to ask them to keep his claim open til then, so hopefully that will sort it , Barring that we've also written to our local TD (no response!) and will write to the Minister for Education if needs be. Such an annoying situation, they're so infuriatingly inflexible!

Moon Indigo

I completely understand the frustration and all that comes with it. I am without a utility bill as well and because of this I found/find myself in this limbo even though I have been at my current address for several years.

It seems your going in the right direction and I agree the inflexibility just does not seem to account for the fact that everyone does not fit into the same neat box.

My advice is gather everything you can. I am sure you already have but anything you can that proves your partners living situation. Contact your local TD again.

Keep calm as hard as that might be and just keep focused and remember there is always an appeal process if needs be. There is usually always away around things or another way to move things on. A TV licence, a rent agreement, like I said a Co.Council letter, Social Welfare.. do all you can. I am still waiting to hear and if I find out anything else that might be any help I will let you know.

Best of luck!! You can get there just keep breathing!