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Special Rate Grant

  • 07-08-2014 2:00am
    #1
    Young Blood
    Closed Accounts Posts: 393 ✭✭


    I've applied to SUSI for a postgraduate grant (free fees and no maintenance) and I'm trying to figure out which rate I should qualify for, if any.
    • As of 2013, I am classed as Independent Mature Student because I haven't lived with parents.
    • In 2013, I received a total income of 10,000 euro from part-time work and social welfare.

    The above would indicate I'm onto a winner however the criteria for qualifying for the 'special rate grant' states that you must be on Jobseeker's Allowance for 391* days which seems strange.

    I was on jobseekers allowance by Dec 31st but it was not for a continuous period of 391 days. It was six months with a break of about 6 weeks in Oct-Nov.

    Does this mean I won't qualify for the Special Rate Grant? How much funding should I receive towards my fees if I qualify?

    I am confused becuase I am not sure how free fees are assessed since the maintenance grant for post-grads has been discontinued!

    Thanks
    wrote:
    Special rate awards
    There is a special rate of grant available for eligible students. The conditions to qualify for this rate are as follows:

    Student must qualify for the ordinary rate of grant.
    Total reckonable income must not exceed €22,703.
    On the 31st of December of the previous year to application, the reckonable income must include an eligible long-term Social Welfare payment as prescribed under the scheme.
    Eligible special rate payments
    Child dependent increase (CDI) may be deducted from an eligible payment to bring reckonable income under the threshold for special rate. This deduction cannot be made on disregarded payments as this income is already excluded from the reckonable income.

    Social Assistance Payments
    1. Blind Pension.
    2. Carer’s Allowance.
    3. One Parent Family Payment.
    4. Deserted Wife’s Allowance.
    5. Disability Allowance.
    6. Farm Assist.
    7. Jobseeker’s Allowance (where held for 391 days or more)*.
    8. State Pension (Non-Contributory).
    9. Guardian’s Payment (Non-Contributory).
    10. Pre-retirement allowance.
    11. Widow’s,Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partners (Non-Contributory) Pension.
    Social Insurance Payments
    12. Carer’s Benefit.
    13. Deserted Wife’s Benefit.
    14. Invalidity pension.
    15. Incapacity Supplement.
    16. Occupational Injuries Death Benefit (Orphan’s pension).
    17. Occupational Injuries Death Benefit (pension for a widow or widower).
    18. State Pension (Contributory).
    19. Guardian’s Payment (Contributory).
    20. Jobseeker’s Benefit (continuous for at least 12 months)*.
    21. Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partners (Contributory) Pension.
    22. State Pension (Transition).
    Designated Programmes
    23. Back to Education Allowance (Second Level and Third Level Options).
    24. Back to Work Allowance (Employees).
    25. Back to Work Enterprise Allowance.
    26. Community Employment Scheme.
    27. Rural Social Scheme.
    28. Tús Initiative.
    29. FÁS Training Programmes, including Apprenticeships.
    30. Part time job incentive scheme.
    31. Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS).
    Others
    32. Foster Care Allowance where paid in respect of the applicant.
    33. Family Income Supplement (FIS).
    34. In receipt of payments under the FIT (Fastrack to IT) initiative equivalent to a social welfare payment.
    35. Participants on a training course approved by a Government Department,
    State Agency or Area Partnership and who were in receipt of an eligible
    payment prior to progressing to the programme.
    36. Grant aided employees in Community Services Programmes (formerly
    social economy enterprises).
    37. In receipt of payments under the Senior Traveller Training Centre
    programmes.
    38. Aftercare Allowance

    *Combine periods of Jobseeker’s Allowance and Jobseeker’s Benefit and other eligible payments for purposes of meeting 391 days.

    Periods spent on JobBridge can be combined with periods of obseeker’s Allowance and Jobseeker’s
    Benefit provided a period of Jobseeker’s Allowance or Jobseeker’s Benefit comes directly before and directly after the period spent on JobBridge

    The Department of Social Protection Illness Benefit or Maternity Benefit can also be used to combine periods of Jobseeker’s Allowance and Jobseeker’s Benefit provided a period of Jobseeker’s Allowance or Jobseeker’s Benefit
    comes directly before and directly after the period of Illness Benefit or Maternity Benefit.

    http://www.susi.ie/Special-rate-awards.aspx


Comments

  • #2
    Annasopra
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,157 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    When did you do your undergrad?

    You might not get designated as an independent mature student depending on your answer.

    You dont get "free" fees for a postgrad grant. You get 2000 or upto 6270.

    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



  • #3
    Young Blood
    Closed Accounts Posts: 393 ✭✭Young Blood


    Joeytheparrot wrote: »
    When did you do your undergrad?

    You might not get designated as an independent mature student depending on your answer.

    You dont get "free" fees for a postgrad grant. You get 2000 or upto 6270.

    From 2010-2013


  • #4
    Young Blood
    Closed Accounts Posts: 393 ✭✭Young Blood


    Joeytheparrot wrote: »
    When did you do your undergrad?

    You might not get designated as an independent mature student depending on your answer.

    You dont get "free" fees for a postgrad grant. You get 2000 or upto 6270.

    From 2010-2013


  • #5
    Annasopra
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,157 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    Yikes - not necessarily looking good.

    Were you designated as an independent mature student in 2010?

    I presume you know about the three year rule?

    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



  • #6
    Young Blood
    Closed Accounts Posts: 393 ✭✭Young Blood


    Joeytheparrot wrote: »
    Yikes - not necessarily looking good.

    Were you designated as an independent mature student in 2010?

    I presume you know about the three year rule?

    I only grasped it now! No I wasnt!


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  • #7
    Annasopra
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,157 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    Young Blood wrote: »
    I only grasped it now! No I wasnt!

    Oh dear

    That means you cannot change status to independent mature student until 2016.

    You can apply for the grant based on your parents income.

    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



  • #8
    Young Blood
    Closed Accounts Posts: 393 ✭✭Young Blood


    Joeytheparrot wrote: »
    Oh dear

    That means you cannot change status to independent mature student until 2016.

    You can apply for the grant based on your parents income.

    Oh great, at least I'll get the back to education allowance. IThe course I applied for here is 6,500 and the same one in Northern Ireland is 4000. I think I might go for the north because of I get 2,000 euro grant at least I will onle have 2,000 to pay which seems more manageable than 4,500.


  • #9
    Annasopra
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 41,157 ✭✭✭✭Annasopra


    Young Blood wrote: »
    Oh great, at least I'll get the back to education allowance. IThe course I applied for here is 6,500 and the same one in Northern Ireland is 4000. I think I might go for the north because of I get 2,000 euro grant at least I will onle have 2,000 to pay which seems more manageable than 4,500.

    Huh? Why would you get BTEA?

    It was so much easier to blame it on Them. It was bleakly depressing to think that They were Us. If it was Them, then nothing was anyone's fault. If it was us, what did that make Me? After all, I'm one of Us. I must be. I've certainly never thought of myself as one of Them. No one ever thinks of themselves as one of Them. We're always one of Us. It's Them that do the bad things.

    Terry Pratchet



  • #10
    Young Blood
    Closed Accounts Posts: 393 ✭✭Young Blood


    Joeytheparrot wrote: »
    Huh? Why would you get BTEA?

    Sorry I was sure I qualified but the SWO today informed me that its not to be the case. Better just do a Springboard instead.


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