Financial support college

Irishsteven91

Hey,

Wondering if anyone knows any financial support or services that may be available for mature students so long story short never went to college as had weight issues lost 20 stone now have the confidence to go back to do my dream and get my degree got accepted and was working part-time to pay my way through and am going to get the grant which is 70 a week but now due to covid I have now lost my job and don't know what to do desperately looking for a new part-time job, but as a mature student I wouldn't be able to live on 70 a week especially with driving up and down to college, any one know other financial supports available

Wanderer19

If you're claiming social welfare and was made redundant recently then you should be entitled to swap your payment to the back to education allowance.
Also, a lot of institutions are changing to online learning so the travel costs may not be as much as you expected.
Congratulations on getting into your course, and the weight loss, which is an amazing achievement, best of luck x

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/5afe0f-operational-guidelines-back-to-education-allowance/#:~:text=Purpose,to%20meeting%20the%20qualifying%20conditions.

Irishsteven91

Wanderer19 wrote: »

If you're claiming social welfare and was made redundant recently then you should be entitled to swap your payment to the back to education allowance.
Also, a lot of institutions are changing to online learning so the travel costs may not be as much as you expected.
Congratulations on getting into your course, and the weight loss, which is an amazing achievement, best of luck x

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/5afe0f-operational-guidelines-back-to-education-allowance/#:~:text=Purpose,to%20meeting%20the%20qualifying%20conditions.

Thanks for the info was speaking to them and have to be on social welfare for 12months to get it

mikhail

Irishsteven91 wrote: »

lost 20 stone now have the confidence to go back to do my dream and get my degree

Well done. That's remarkable.

Check with the university's student support staff (student councillors or just the admissions office) and with the students' union. Both may be able to point you in the right direction.

Wanderer19 wrote: »

Also, a lot of institutions are changing to online learning so the travel costs may not be as much as you expected.

That'll be the case this coming year, but I wouldn't bank on it over a whole degree.