Special Rate Maintenance Grant

Hiya..

I was offered a place today in a MA course in NUIG.. I have a week to accept the offer. A big part of whether I accept or not will be financial reasons..

I have been unemployed (receiving jobseeker's benefit since last June). I have been living at home with my elderly father since. I was wondering if anyone here knows would that qualify me for the Special Rate Non-Adjacent Maintenance Grant. It is means tested I know. One other issue is that the house is under my brother's name who also lives here. So, whose income is calculated. Me, My father, both or what? I am confused about whether I am eligible or not!

I received the full Maintenance grant before when studying my undergraduate degree. In light of changed circumstances should i be eligible for the Special Rate..

There is a BIG Tuition Fee involved too and I know the grant would cover up to 6,xxx. Would this figure be added on to the Full Maintenance + Special Rate Grant too..

I am torn between taking up this offer and going off abroad!! I really hope I can get this answered definitely before I decide to accept.

Any help would be great..

Regards,

Saram..

Hi, I think to start with it depends if you are a mature student? if you are it is your income and any partner you live with that is means tested, but NUIG will have a mature student advisor who can answer your questions so it should be your first port of call.

Have you already inquired about the maintenance grant? I believe you would qualify if your income ( or any partners ) income for the previous year was less than €18000 but that figure could have gone up.

I am a mature student yes. Thanks for the info there. I will call the Mature Student Advisor tomorrow. A little bit more confident I will be entitled for the Grant..

Cheers..

The county council in your home county(the place you were living last October) will be the people you apply to for a grant - check the education links on their website. The earnings cut offs for grants for next term probably won't be available until later in the summer but information on whether you are a mature student and how they operate means tests should be. There should also be a number to contact the Grants Office. Also check out
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/c...n/fees-and-supports-for-third-level-education there is a lot of good info in there. Best of luck!

Oh it is sooo complicated..

I called my own VEC and as the answer was inconclusive (well they weren't sure about whether I was eligible or not) I called up the Student Support Unit in Offaly. I received very good information there but even so it all very very confusing..

According to the Student Support Unit..I will receive the Top Up Grant but only if I can show to the VEC a change of circumstances which I will have along with my application..

I would not qualify usually as the income range is 20,147 Euros (including me and my father, as i am living with him) ...That is for the year 2008. You need to be in receipt of JSA for 391 days as of 2008. As I was abroad before last June...and receiving JSA s since my income would be counted as such 52 * 197= 10,244. Then I would have to add my father's income (pension) which is 52 * 230= 11,990. Of course, that would put me over the income limit to receive the Special Rate Top Up Grant 11,990+10,244= 22,234

However..the man who I was speaking to said that If I send forth a Change of Circumstance statement from the Social Welfer Office along with my application for the Grant..then only my father's income will be calculated as I will be no longer in receipt of JSA.. The change of circumstances statement will be the important one as it will show that I am no longer in receipt of JSA due to being a student.

On that grounds I will qualify for the Special Rate Top Up Grant (only father's income will count) --- A little bit confused...I certainly am!! But, I've never spoken to a person who seemed so sure about what he was talking saying (especially regarding grants)