Post here if you need assistance filling out the grant form!

setlikejelly · 14-07-2011 4:06pm

Hi everyone,
This is my 1st time aplying for grant. I sent it in today and want to know when a decision will be made.

Paul Tergat · 14-07-2011 4:08pm

quick question here

Im English but have been here for 7 years now.... is my birth cert enough (its obviously a UK one) or do I need my passport also/instead of. If the passport is needed do I need to get it stamped or will the passport itself be ok?

Documentary evidence for nationality
We need documentary evidence as proof of nationality. The documentary evidence should
include at least one or more of the following:

a long form Irish birth certificate if you were born on the island of Ireland before 1 January 2005;

a certified copy of your passport; (This is a document which has been stamped and signed as being a true copy of the original by a member of the Garda Síochána or a Commissioner of Oaths. The person certifying the copy must provide his or her name, address and telephone number.)

eirampun · 14-07-2011 5:42pm

I did Irish Leaving Cert and an Irish degree several years ago
Do I need to find my old CAO number? Applying through PAC

Thanks!

missmaw · 14-07-2011 6:41pm

Hi all,

I am applying as a mature dependent candidate. My father is self employed. Have his a/cs, notice of assessments etc. The guidance notes asks for set of a/c etc that end between Jan and Dec 2010. My Dad's tax year runs from 1st of Apr to 31st March of Following year.
The thing is, there is a decrease of about 7 grand between his March 2010 and March 2011 accounts. Should I say in F16 that there has been a change in his income and supply the a/cs running from Apr 10 to March 11?? I think these set of a/cs are a better reflection of his earnings for 2010, but that's not up to me to decide :rolleyes:
Also I have been on jobseekers for the last two months, should I also say there has been a change in my income and get a letter from SW???

Thanks again

Annasopra · 14-07-2011 7:44pm

setlikejelly wrote: »

Hi everyone,
This is my 1st time aplying for grant. I sent it in today and want to know when a decision will be made.

Not sure - maybe september/october

RoyalMarine · 15-07-2011 12:48am

missmaw wrote: »

Hi all,

I am applying as a mature dependent candidate. My father is self employed. Have his a/cs, notice of assessments etc. The guidance notes asks for set of a/c etc that end between Jan and Dec 2010. My Dad's tax year runs from 1st of Apr to 31st March of Following year.
The thing is, there is a decrease of about 7 grand between his March 2010 and March 2011 accounts. Should I say in F16 that there has been a change in his income and supply the a/cs running from Apr 10 to March 11?? I think these set of a/cs are a better reflection of his earnings for 2010, but that's not up to me to decide :rolleyes:
Also I have been on jobseekers for the last two months, should I also say there has been a change in my income and get a letter from SW???

Thanks again

yes to both. thats very important info as they do assess a person on last year's income, but they also take into account this years due to change in circumstances. with high job loss / incomes falling, the change of circumstances is looked upon.

kate747 · 15-07-2011 10:04am

Will they send me some sort of confirmation or will I have to wait until they've made their decision?

Calleja · 15-07-2011 10:40am

Hi, I've two questions about applying for the grant;

1. I'm almost finished an MA course that I didn't receive a grant for (I didn't apply) and am considering another MA. I know I'm not progressing to a different level but since I didn't receive the grant for the original MA, could I get it for the second?

2. If I were to do a phd and a year of that was abroad, would i get the grant for that year abroad, even if it wasn't a necessary part of the phd?

I've been checking the scheme outline for 2011 and i think the answer to my second question is no, not sure about the first. Thanks.

RoyalMarine · 15-07-2011 12:39pm

kate747 wrote: »

Will they send me some sort of confirmation or will I have to wait until they've made their decision?

once your application is submitted they will review it in due time and respond back to you if they require more information or if its been accepted.

noah45 · 15-07-2011 4:11pm

What is the case with me getting a grant while the parent i live with is co habiting with someone?
On her own my mothers wages would allow me to qualify for a grant but will the 'partners' wages come into it?

RoyalMarine · 15-07-2011 4:13pm

noah45 wrote: »

What is the case with me getting a grant while the parent i live with is co habiting with someone?
On her own my mothers wages would allow me to qualify for a grant but will the 'partners' wages come into it?

yes, the partners wages will come into it.

Paul Tergat · 15-07-2011 5:35pm

when will they generally pay the fees part of the grant and similarly when do they pay out the maintenance part of it?

Annasopra · 16-07-2011 12:57am

Calleja wrote: »

Hi, I've two questions about applying for the grant;

1. I'm almost finished an MA course that I didn't receive a grant for (I didn't apply) and am considering another MA. I know I'm not progressing to a different level but since I didn't receive the grant for the original MA, could I get it for the second?

2. If I were to do a phd and a year of that was abroad, would i get the grant for that year abroad, even if it wasn't a necessary part of the phd?

I've been checking the scheme outline for 2011 and i think the answer to my second question is no, not sure about the first. Thanks.

Im fairly certain the answer to q1 is no but I'll doublecheck it tomorrow

ash xxx · 16-07-2011 11:13am

+1 to Mango Salsa.

I did a Level 8 degree in 2004 which I wasn't grant aided by nor did I apply for one at all, I then went back to do another Level 8 degree in 2009 and was told that as I was not progressing, even though I had never received a grant, I would not be eligible for a grant for my new degree.

Unless the rules are different for Level 9's but I severly doubt it.

To your second point, no you would not be eligible for a grant for that year abroad if it was not a necessary part of the course.

Perplexed22 · 16-07-2011 11:45am

mango salsa wrote: »

Im fairly certain the answer to q1 is no but I'll doublecheck it tomorrow

The answer is no - even if no grant was paid for the first MA you can't get funding for a second one.

With regard to a PhD year abroad - no funding is available for postgraduate courses outside of the Republic and Northern Ireland.

Perplexed22 · 16-07-2011 11:48am

noah45 wrote: »

What is the case with me getting a grant while the parent i live with is co habiting with someone?
On her own my mothers wages would allow me to qualify for a grant but will the 'partners' wages come into it?

Unless your mother's partner is your legal guardian you are not obliged to put their details on the application form as they have no obligation to support you.

If you do, a letter from her partner confirming that there is no legal guardianship is generally acceptable instead of evidence of income.

JC2009 · 16-07-2011 3:12pm

Hi everyone

Glad to see it's not just my brain melting from the application form, what a mare!!!! Anyhoo it will all be worth it in the end it's just getting the bloody thing finished! So my question is, I'm applying as a Mature Independent Candidate so would a P60 & P45 suffice for both myself & hubbie (also unemployed :-( ) or do I also need the P21 for 2010's income. Does P60 not give the same info (I've always thought one required a degree to understand a tax form tbh)??? I've been unemployed since last Oct so will qualify for BTEA so I'm only after the part of the grant that covers fees and Student Contribution so I assume given our financially fecked situation that I will qualify despite working up to start Oct 2010.

ash xxx · 16-07-2011 4:48pm

JC2009 wrote: »

Hi everyone

Glad to see it's not just my brain melting from the application form, what a mare!!!! Anyhoo it will all be worth it in the end it's just getting the bloody thing finished! So my question is, I'm applying as a Mature Independent Candidate so would a P60 & P45 suffice for both myself & hubbie (also unemployed :-( ) or do I also need the P21 for 2010's income. Does P60 not give the same info (I've always thought one required a degree to understand a tax form tbh)??? I've been unemployed since last Oct so will qualify for BTEA so I'm only after the part of the grant that covers fees and Student Contribution so I assume given our financially fecked situation that I will qualify despite working up to start Oct 2010.

Yes you would need a P21 for both you and your husband. This details total income for the previous tax year. So basically, its to ensure that you aren't sending in just one P60/P45 when you may have had multiple jobs in the year and only declaring for one. They're pretty easy to get, you can apply online via the PAYE anytime system if you have it set up or ring your local tax office and they will be able to send you it.

Hope that makes sense.

noah45 · 17-07-2011 1:36pm

Perplexed22 wrote: »

Unless your mother's partner is your legal guardian you are not obliged to put their details on the application form as they have no obligation to support you.

If you do, a letter from her partner confirming that there is no legal guardianship is generally acceptable instead of evidence of income.

I understand what you are saying, but will my mother not have to send in a bank statement with the grant form? and this will show her partners name on the account=so thay will know that he exists.

He has no obligation to me at all so it would seem unfair if I lost the grant due to his presence.

Anyone know?

Perplexed22 · 17-07-2011 2:21pm

noah45 wrote: »

Perplexed22 wrote: »

Unless your mother's partner is your legal guardian you are not obliged to put their details on the application form as they have no obligation to support you.

If you do, a letter from her partner confirming that there is no legal guardianship is generally acceptable instead of evidence of income.

I understand what you are saying, but will my mother not have to send in a bank statement with the grant form? and this will show her partners name on the account=so thay will know that he exists.

He has no obligation to me at all so it would seem unfair if I lost the grant due to his presence.

Anyone know?

There is no reason why your mother needs to send in a bank statement with your application. It is you, not your mother, that has to prove residency. If you decide to send one anyway just include a covering letter confirming that her partner is not your legal guardian and that should be acceptable.

You have to prove residency for three of the past five years. If you've just done your leaving cert send in your junior cert results too. If you've been working send p60's for three of the past five years or proof of claiming social welfare if you've been unemployed. If you've been in other education send results or a letter from your school.

Hope this helps

noah45 · 17-07-2011 2:47pm

Thanks for reply perplexed, does she not have to send in bank statement alog with her p60 and p21 to prove no savings or something from bank to show this?

Perplexed22 · 17-07-2011 4:15pm

noah45 wrote: »

Thanks for reply perplexed, does she not have to send in bank statement alog with her p60 and p21 to prove no savings or something from bank to show this?

If your mum doesn't have interest from savings she should tick No to the question about it in Section F of the form (I can't remember the exact question no.) and that's enough. If she did (for argument's sake) have savings then she should ask her bank or building society for a certificate of interest for 2010 and send that in instead of her statement. If she earned interest on a joint account with her partner only 50% of the interest should be assessable for your grant if her partner isn't your legal guardian.

jubella · 17-07-2011 7:39pm

Hi,
I'm applying for a grant this year - it is the second year of my current course but my first time getting a grant for this course. I already received a grant for the first year of a different course. I e-mailed the grants section of my county council and they sent me out a reassessment form.

I'm looking at it now and I see they ask for my student number, and it's like it's a way to identify me from their records, but my student number is different now to when I received a grant before.
Do I need to fill out the original form again? Or will this one do?
I just don't want to send it out only to have it sent back to me and have to do everything again!

katiemaloe · 18-07-2011 11:41am

Hi, I live in Clonee, Dublin 15. Does anyone know should I apply to City of Dublin VEC in Ballsbridge or County of Dublin VEC in Tallaght?
Thanks

Annasopra · 18-07-2011 11:53am

katiemaloe wrote: »

Hi, I live in Clonee, Dublin 15. Does anyone know should I apply to City of Dublin VEC in Ballsbridge or County of Dublin VEC in Tallaght?
Thanks

County Dublin VEC I think

The administrative area covered by the VEC reaches from Balbriggan in North County Dublin, to Dundrum in South County Dublin and Lucan in West County Dublin , it is unique in that it covers three Local Authority areas, Fingal, South Dublin and Dun Loaghaire / Rathdown County with the exception of the old borough of Dun Laoghaire.

Kelix · 18-07-2011 1:11pm

I live in Clare but we don't have a committee, do I apply to Limerick county? But I went to secondary school in Limerick City so should I apply there?

Annasopra · 18-07-2011 1:14pm

Kelix wrote: »

I live in Clare but we don't have a committee, do I apply to Limerick county? But I went to secondary school in Limerick City so should I apply there?

Apply to Clare county council or Clare VEC

Kelix · 18-07-2011 1:17pm

theres no option for either of them in the drop down box

Annasopra · 18-07-2011 1:22pm

Kelix wrote: »

theres no option for either of them in the drop down box

only some county councils/VECs accept online applications. You will have to download the form, print it out and post it to either the VEC or county council

Blue Smarties · 18-07-2011 1:34pm

Hi All ,
I'm going into my 2nd year in UCC , do i need to send a course acceptance form ?? and what about the CAO number ?? And in section 2 , I have not recieved a qualification yet , the form assumes I have either droped out or have yet to enter the course ??
Any help would be greatly appreciated ??
Thanks in adavnce

kathola · 18-07-2011 2:57pm

Section F, Part 5 ... what exactly does this mean?

Like.. I've started college now so obviously my income has changed...? My dad has also had pay cuts.. is that what it wants to know?

Did you have a permanent change in circumstances in relation to reckonable income since 2010?

Annasopra · 18-07-2011 3:51pm

kathola wrote: »

Section F, Part 5 ... what exactly does this mean?

Like.. I've started college now so obviously my income has changed...? My dad has also had pay cuts.. is that what it wants to know?

Did you have a permanent change in circumstances in relation to reckonable income since 2010?

The guidance notes might help

http://www.studentfinance.ie/downloads/Guidance%20Notes.pdf

Darius.Tr · 19-07-2011 6:06pm

Hey I'we got some problems finding my mom's P60 form...She's working seasonal job(not working during winter time) so she never got P60, would submiting P45 and P21 be enough ?

Perplexed22 · 19-07-2011 6:48pm

Darius.Tr wrote: »

Hey I'we got some problems finding my mom's P60 form...She's working seasonal job(not working during winter time) so she never got P60, would submiting P45 and P21 be enough ?

It would be better to get a letter from her employer explaining the seasonal natire of her work and submit her last few pay slips with the 2010 P21(assuming she's working there again now that it's summertime). If she isn't then send the P45.

atom2 · 20-07-2011 12:11pm

Blue Smarties wrote: »

Hi All ,
I'm going into my 2nd year in UCC , do i need to send a course acceptance form ?? and what about the CAO number ?? And in section 2 , I have not recieved a qualification yet , the form assumes I have either droped out or have yet to enter the course ??
Any help would be greatly appreciated ??
Thanks in adavnce

Hi, if your a review applicant you dont need to fill in your CAO number.

MessiahMan · 20-07-2011 3:09pm

Excuse me if this has been asked before but I'm finished my degree going on to do a masters. In the "Course Acceptance" form they ask for the "CAO Course Code", will I give the PAC number (since it is a postgrad) or just leave it?
P.S I think this is a brilliant service as filling out the forms without any help can be very stressful!

moonlighting · 20-07-2011 3:10pm

iam just waiting for my p21 now. i went online last week and requested it on the paye website. how long does it take iam waiting a week now. i also got my mother to get one aswell and am waiting on that

Cardor · 20-07-2011 3:12pm

Hey.. I posted off my application last week and today I received all my documents back but I wasn't told whether or not I was accepted.. does this mean I've been accepted?

RoyalMarine · 20-07-2011 5:18pm

Cardor wrote: »

Hey.. I posted off my application last week and today I received all my documents back but I wasn't told whether or not I was accepted.. does this mean I've been accepted?

no, that means they have processed your application and have sent your documents back to you after making copies of them for your file.

Annasopra · 22-07-2011 6:02pm

Cardor wrote: »

Hey.. I posted off my application last week and today I received all my documents back but I wasn't told whether or not I was accepted.. does this mean I've been accepted?

No - You might not get accepted until October - They are very busy and its a slow process

Moon Indigo · 22-07-2011 7:16pm

Im already panicking but more so now! I sent in all my documents etc to Kildare KCC and although I sent them by registered post really worried they didnt get them. Some people seem to be getting forms back already :eek:! I did phone and asked but since I applied online with the form not sure if thats what they said they got as opposed to the actual documents. How long does it usually take before they sent documents back to you or let you know they got anything? I'll have no nerves or hair left from worry by the time I get to college!

Applegoat · 23-07-2011 2:30am

Moon Indigo wrote: »

Im already panicking but more so now! I sent in all my documents etc to Kildare KCC and although I sent them by registered post really worried they didnt get them. Some people seem to be getting forms back already :eek:! I did phone and asked but since I applied online with the form not sure if thats what they said they got as opposed to the actual documents. How long does it usually take before they sent documents back to you or let you know they got anything? I'll have no nerves or hair left from worry by the time I get to college!

sent all mine in about 3 weeks ago and haven't heard a peep, or gotten any documents back, wouldn't worry tbh. It tends to be a pretty slow process

pittsburgh · 24-07-2011 10:23pm

guys just did my grant online with the dl vec.

just asking what checklist i need to give into them

birthcert
parents income (p60)
my p45
bank account ( to show i live at home)
copy of passport

what else would i need?!

how are you meant to prove you lived in ireland 3 of the last 5 years?!

thanks

ontour · 24-07-2011 11:17pm

Does anyone know if your sending in a renewal how long will it take to hear if you have been reassessed plz:(:confused:?

Darius.Tr · 25-07-2011 12:18am

pittsburgh wrote: »

guys just did my grant online with the dl vec.

just asking what checklist i need to give into them

birthcert
parents income (p60)
my p45
bank account ( to show i live at home)
copy of passport

what else would i need?!

how are you meant to prove you lived in ireland 3 of the last 5 years?!

thanks

I got a letter from my school saying that I was in school from 2007 till 2011...i hope that will do.

nimrodsson · 25-07-2011 3:25am

Apologies if this info is staring me in the face - but on the student finance site, and on the applciation form/guidance form i can't seem to find any exact info about maintenance grant etc - sure, on the home page of student finance it mentions changes to eligiblity for the non adjacent grants etc - but where does the general info about this topic, not just the changes? I can't seem to find anything about it. For instance, i wouldn't know if i have to apply for a maintenace grant and a fees grant separetely or not. I'm assuming that the grant form is an 'all in one' situation - but really i'm looking for the document that tells me that! Also, i'm trying to figure out how much is awarded for maintenance. Thanks in advance.

timeforachange · 25-07-2011 3:44pm

I have a bit of a problem with my grant application that I'm really hoping someone here might be able to help me with.

Basically I was working until mid Oct 2010, when I started a new job. However this new job is a bit complicated and although I don't really class myself as being self employed because I don't have a business or anything, it is in fact technically self employment. This means that I have to organise my own taxes etc.
Now I earned about €3600 in 2010 through this new self employed job.

Because I never really realised I was self employed and because I really have very limited knowledge on taxes etc. I just kept putting it out of my head because somebody had told me that a tax year runs from Oct-Oct. So I am only getting around to registering myself to be able to pay my taxes now.

This is all above board, however my problem now is that I called my County council to enquire about how to prove my income for 2010 when there is about €3600 that I earned but have no payslips etc. for so no official proof. The lady told me to just get a P21 and send that in and when I explained to her that because I haven't organised my taxes for the last few months of 2010 those earnings wouldnt be on my P21, she told me not to worry about it that all they are concerned with is the earnings on my P21.

So as far as I can see all I can do is send in my P21 and not mention the last few months of 2010's self employment, as this is what she told me to do.

My problem is that if I do this then I'm thinking that the €3600 will end up being counted in my grant when I go to reapply next year for the second year of the course. And I have just worked out my income for 2011 and if I was to include those two and a half months of 2010 in my 2011's income then I would be very close to the cut off point for my grant. I'm just very worried that maybe if the cut off point was changed next year in the budget etc. I might miss out on my grant next year because of it.

However, this year I am well within the boundary and have no problem at all declaring this €3600 euro, only for the fact that I have nothing official to prove it!

This whole thing is wrecking my head so I'm really sorry if this post is hard to understand,as to be honest I'm finding the whole thing a little hard to understand myself but I'd be really appreciative to anyone who can try understand what I'm on about and help me with this!

In short I guess I'm saying that theres €3600 that I earned at the end of 2010 that I cannot officiall prove. The person in Co. Co. told me to leave it out. But I'm worried that when I go to apply next year for the grant for the second year of my course that this €3600 will then be counted and I'm worried this will push me over the boundaries for next years grant!

Thanks to anyone who has struggled through this post with me!!

timeforachange · 25-07-2011 3:45pm

nimrodsson wrote: »

Apologies if this info is staring me in the face - but on the student finance site, and on the applciation form/guidance form i can't seem to find any exact info about maintenance grant etc - sure, on the home page of student finance it mentions changes to eligiblity for the non adjacent grants etc - but where does the general info about this topic, not just the changes? I can't seem to find anything about it. For instance, i wouldn't know if i have to apply for a maintenace grant and a fees grant separetely or not. I'm assuming that the grant form is an 'all in one' situation - but really i'm looking for the document that tells me that! Also, i'm trying to figure out how much is awarded for maintenance. Thanks in advance.

Is this info here any help to you?
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/education/third_level_education/fees_and_supports_for_third_level_education/maintenance_grant_schemes_for_students_on_third_level_courses.html

Annasopra · 25-07-2011 3:49pm

pittsburgh wrote: »

how are you meant to prove you lived in ireland 3 of the last 5 years?!

http://www.studentfinance.ie/downloads/Student%20Grant%20Scheme%202011.pdf

Documentary evidence for residency for 3 out of the last 5 years
This may be one or more of the following:
• evidence that the applicant sat the Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate exams in
Ireland, or equivalent school exams in the EU, EEA or Switzerland;
• a letter from a school principal in Ireland, the EU, EEA or Switzerland confirming the
applicant’s attendance at a school;
• social welfare statements or equivalents from the EU, EEA or Switzerland;
• utility bills;
• registration with the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB), or equivalent from
the EU, EEA or Switzerland;
• if the applicant is a non-EEA national, a letter from the Department of Justice and
Equality confirming the period of lawful presence in Ireland. Periods of unlawful
presence cannot be considered

Annasopra · 25-07-2011 3:51pm

nimrodsson wrote: »

Apologies if this info is staring me in the face - but on the student finance site, and on the applciation form/guidance form i can't seem to find any exact info about maintenance grant etc - sure, on the home page of student finance it mentions changes to eligiblity for the non adjacent grants etc - but where does the general info about this topic, not just the changes? I can't seem to find anything about it. For instance, i wouldn't know if i have to apply for a maintenace grant and a fees grant separetely or not. I'm assuming that the grant form is an 'all in one' situation - but really i'm looking for the document that tells me that! Also, i'm trying to figure out how much is awarded for maintenance. Thanks in advance.

All in one - information/rates here

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/education/third_level_education/fees_and_supports_for_third_level_education/maintenance_grant_schemes_for_students_on_third_level_courses.html

Post here if you need assistance filling out the grant form!

Comments