Mature Student Grants etc

odhranmahony

Hi there,

I've been searching through threads and I'm not 100% confident on the answer so was wondering if someone can help me.

I am currently 22 and looking to return as a mature student. I am in full time work at the moment and won't be eligible to apply as a mature until 2018. Should I leave my full time job and not work in 2017 in order to be eligible for a grant as a mature student?

I have been reading through all the material here but just want to be sure.

Many thanks in advance.

CZ 453

odhranmahony wrote: »

Hi there,

I've been searching through threads and I'm not 100% confident on the answer so was wondering if someone can help me.

I am currently 22 and looking to return as a mature student. I am in full time work at the moment and won't be eligible to apply as a mature until 2018. Should I leave my full time job and not work in 2017 in order to be eligible for a grant as a mature student?

I have been reading through all the material here but just want to be sure.

Many thanks in advance.

It depends on how much you earn and where you live? Do you live at home with your parents? Do you cohabit?

https://susi.ie/eligibility/applicant-class/

odhranmahony

At the moment I live in rented accomodation and not at home. I am 21 turning 22 in September. I am from Kerry and work in Kerry.

I was wondering if the best course of action is to leave my job and not work in 2017 so that when I am means tested I would get a grant. I don't come from a rich background but parents used to own restaurant so the government automatically assumes we are loaded. That's why I can't afford college right now.

Pulling this quote from CitizensInformation

"To be assessed as an independent mature candidate you must also live separately from your parents from 1 October of the year before the year of entry to the course. If you are an independent student, you are assessed on your own income (and that of your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant, if applicable)."

Can I live with another family member such as a grandparent?

I know you may not have all the answers but all info is appreciated as I want to get out of where I am

CZ 453

odhranmahony wrote: »

At the moment I live in rented accomodation and not at home. I am 21 turning 22 in September. I am from Kerry and work in Kerry.

I was wondering if the best course of action is to leave my job and not work in 2017 so that when I am means tested I would get a grant. I don't come from a rich background but parents used to own restaurant so the government automatically assumes we are loaded. That's why I can't afford college right now.

Pulling this quote from CitizensInformation

"To be assessed as an independent mature candidate you must also live separately from your parents from 1 October of the year before the year of entry to the course. If you are an independent student, you are assessed on your own income (and that of your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant, if applicable)."

Can I live with another family member such as a grandparent?

I know you may not have all the answers but all info is appreciated as I want to get out of where I am

The grandparents income will be taken into account also. You'll have to show you are renting if you want to be assessed as independent(bills, etc).

The income thresholds are here:
https://susi.ie/undergraduate-income-threshold-and-grant-award-rates/

odhranmahony

The year I would be in college would be 2018/19 so because they only look at the previous year (2017) I would assume because I don't have full time work and live not with my parents that I would be treated as an independent and only my income would influence it.

So if I leave my job in December of this year and don't work in 2017 and then go to college in September of 2018 when I would be 23 turning 24.

CZ 453

odhranmahony wrote: »

The year I would be in college would be 2018/19 so because they only look at the previous year (2017) I would assume because I don't have full time work and live not with my parents that I would be treated as an independent and only my income would influence it.

So if I leave my job in December of this year and don't work in 2017 and then go to college in September of 2018 when I would be 23 turning 24.

You'd have to prove you are living independently. You'd need utility bills with your name on them or a rent book(registered with PRTB).

odhranmahony

Oh I see what you're getting at now..

Might just pop into the citizens information place here when I have a day off during the week to try suss it out.

Thanks for the help nonetheless!