3rd Level Grant

Can anyone offer me some advice on applying for grants. I have a son starting (hopefully) college next Sep. However, I am divorced from his father and have never received any maintenance payments in the past 15 years. I have remarried in recent years and would not qualify for a grant if I add my husband's income to mine. Does anyone know if his income has to be declared too. I support my children myself and don't ask hubby for contributions to my family and I don't want the financial burden of supporting my son to take from my household contribution. This would result in cutbacks for my husband and our younger children. I will have a second child start at college next year (my own again) and that will really be hell paying rent for two children in Dublin. Thanks for any help you can give!

Have you tried CitizensInformation for information?

Hi Clubman,
Yes I have tried there and the VEC sites and downloaded the information form. It says that spouses income should be shown and if divorced to provide a copy of the decree. There is no mention of any special circumstance that would remove the onus on the stepfather to provide financial assistance.

headache said:

It says that spouses income should be shown and if divorced to provide a copy of the decree. There is no mention of any special circumstance that would remove the onus on the stepfather to provide financial assistance.

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Isn't that the answer to your question so?

can you or your child go to the father and request his assistance? Neither the state or the stepfather should have to pay for this, backdating maintenance for 15 years should see him through 4 years of college.

If you have received no maintenance payments, you will need to fill in a Maintenance affadavit stating this and return this with your grant application. This affadavit is normally enclosed with all of the documentation you receive with the grant application form. You should get it completed and signed by a Peace Commissioner.

However, the income of both yourself and your husband now are taken into account when assessing eligibility for the grant. How you arrange your finances within the household is a private matter, but nevertheless if your combined income is relatively high, you may not be entitled to the grant. It is worth noting that, for every extra child you have in college, the income limits go up by around €4,500 per child. Also note that a sliding scale of grants apply - there is not just one income limit.

Contact your local VEC or County Council (who administer the grants) directly if you have any specific queries like this, they are normally fairly helpful.

Hi all,
Thanks for your comments. I agree that my ex should be made to pay however, due to circumstances beyond my control (mostly terror), that is not an option. My hubby and I are not big earners. The VEC limits allow for a PAYE couple to earn maybe €656 per week net (per 2006) but we have nothing like that. We are self employed and have both got big loans against our business that are disregarded for the purpose of the grant and our drawings are quite low to meet our obligations. Anyway, it doesn't matter now. I thought perhaps someone might have made a petition on this before.
Thanks again for your help

Hey Headache, How about your children (from first relationship I take it) contacting their dad themselves and asking for assistance. I appreciate this may be hard for them but they are nearing adulthood and as long as you and their stepdad guide and support them in this it may work out well.
Good luck.
Another point I would make is if they really don't know what they really want to do let them get a job and go to college later. My parents preasurised me into going to college and I am now doing something totally unrelated and regretting the years I had to spend in college.