Job loss taken into account in student grants process

FAMILIES who have lost their jobs since January will have their change of circumstances taken into account when applications for student grants are assessed, authorities have insisted. The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) claimed last week that many households might still be ineligible for maintenance grants because local authorities or vocational education committees which handle grant applications had to make decisions based on 2008 incomes.

But the Higher Education Authority (HEA) said that job losses will be considered by grant-awarding authorities, once the relevant information is provided.

"The income assessment is based on earnings in the previous calendar year but obviously if someone has a change in their circumstances, like redundancy, it's going to impact on their financial situation," a HEA spokesperson said.

"If anyone's circumstances, or those of their family, change during the college year, they should notify the council or VEC and provide the supporting information."

The same may apply to self-employed people whose incomes have suffered significantly since the start of the year, as may be the case with thousands of people who rely on the construction industry for work.

The Central Applications Office (CAO) has already offered college places to more than 8,700 people who are not awaiting Leaving Certificate results next week, including almost 1,800 who received offers last Friday. These include applicants in the mature student category on courses which have reserved certain numbers of places for such students, and people applying with results from school leaving examinations overseas or with further education qualifications.

More than 50,000 people are awaiting their Leaving Certificate results next week and most of those will be hoping for success in Round 1 of college place offers from the CAO on Monday, August 18.

But those hopeful of qualifying for a college grant can apply in advance.

Students from households with an income below €51,380 will have their €1,500 student registration paid by the state, while those with 2008 earnings below €47,205 also qualify for varying levels of maintenance grant.

The full grant of €3,420 is payable to students at college at least 24km from home – or €1,370 if studying nearer to home – and with household earnings below €41,110.

An additional €3,270 is payable if income is below €22,308, with the top-up reduced to €1,310 for any student at college within 24km from home.

The grant payments will be the same as they have been for the past two college years, despite an 11% rise on third-level education costs in the past two years.