Susi grant denied

Car1818

Hi. Im just hoping somebody can help me please with info regarding college fees. I have applied to college as a mature student. Susi have denied my grant for my 1st year as I have attended college 8 years ago and had to drop out over health reasons. I have been on illness benefit and recently switched to job seekers benefit and will be accepted on to Back to education in september through the social welfare. My problem is I have no savings and fear I will not be able to attend college in September over the susi grant not coving my fees. Is there another option for me to cover them? All info appreciated. Thank you

DeeAvery

That doesn't sound quite right, you sound like a second chance student to me. You should appeal SUSI's decision. Its unlikely someone who qualifies for BTEA wouldn't get SUSI to pay the student contribution and/or tuition fees.

To qualify as a second chance student you:
have previously attended but not completed a course,
have had a 5-year break in studies since leaving that course, and
are returning to attend an approved course at the same level

Squatter

Car1818 wrote: »

Hi. Im just hoping somebody can help me please with info regarding college fees. I have applied to college as a mature student. Susi have denied my grant for my 1st year as I have attended college 8 years ago and had to drop out over health reasons. I have been on illness benefit and recently switched to job seekers benefit and will be accepted on to Back to education in september through the social welfare. My problem is I have no savings and fear I will not be able to attend college in September over the susi grant not coving my fees. Is there another option for me to cover them? All info appreciated. Thank you

Did you notify SUSI at the time when you dropped out of college? If not, then you may a have a problem as they only allow people one bite of the cherry, so if you got Fees and a First Year grant and didn't tell them that you had dropped out due to health problems, you may be ineligible for the same grant again. If you told them at the time then you may be OK.

Call in to your Local Citizens Information Office asap. They have a hotline to SUSI appeals so should be able to contact them and see what the story is.

Car1818

I have been approved from the social welfare for BTEA. It is an approved course. Im shocked that the will not approve the fees for me. When I attended College 8 years ago susi covered the fees and less than half a student grant p/m for me.
I had notified them my cicumstances and reasons for dropping out. My btea will cover my payment every week and was under the impression that I would automatically qualify for the Susi grant as I am independant living in my own house and also been acceped for BTEA. I thought that because btea has been approved Susi would cover the fees. I have been on to the college and also Susi all day and am absolutely up the walls. I dont know what other option I have as I cannot afford the fees myself.

Stheno

Car1818 wrote: »

I have been approved from the social welfare for BTEA. It is an approved course. Im shocked that the will not approve the grant for me. When I attended College 8 years ago I had notified them my cicumstances and reasons for dropping out. My btea will cover my payment every week and was under the impression that I would automatically qualify for the Susi grant as I am independant living in my own house and also been acceped for BTEA. I thought that because btea has been approved Susi would cover the fees. I have been on to the college and also Susi all day and am absolutely up the walls. I dont know what other option I have as I cannot afford the fees myself.

did you get the grant for the year you dropped out?

Car1818

Stheno wrote: »

did you get the grant for the year you dropped out?

Yes. Susi covered the fees and I got less than half the grant for the months I attended.

Messyhead

Hi,
I was in a really similar situation to yours, although I had completed a course, but around 20 years ago. I got BTEA as the case officer could see it would help me progress and that I was so passionate about doing the course and had wanted to do it for a long time. But SUSI wouldn't budge and I went through the whole appeals process, and even though on some comparison charts it showed my previous course as equivalent to level 7 on theirs they had it as level 8 (so therefore they didn't see the new course as a progression.) However you might have more chance than me as you weren't able to finish your previous course and it's definitely worth pursuing as I've heard that often people get refused on their first application but get it on appeal.

But anyway, what I really wanted to say is that if you are stuck it might be worth contacting St. Vincent de Paul as they have a fund specifically for education. That's what I did in the end and although they didn't give me all the fees they helped out and it made the difference of being able to do the course when I thought I wouldn't be able to. Feel free to pm me if you want more details.

I really feel for you because I remember that horrible moment of getting the answer from SUSI when I had really thought I could get the grant because of getting BTEA.

Messyhead

P.S. Also loans, although i know it's scary to get in debt!

Time

What does this eligibility tracker tell you firstly - https://susi.ie/eligibility-reckoner-app/reckoner.html

Secondly can you give the exact wording from you're letter.

Squatter

Car1818 wrote: »

I have been on to the college and also Susi all day and am absolutely up the walls. I dont know what other option I have as I cannot afford the fees myself.

Did you do what I advised you to?

"Call in to your Local Citizens Information Office asap. They have a hotline to SUSI appeals so should be able to contact them and see what the story is."

If not, then get your skates on.