Third Level Grant

[Slim]

My son is at university. we cannot get the Higher Education Grant as both my wife's and my incomes are above the minimum level for the grant. He has now come home with the story that he could get the grant next year if he lives away from home. I have told him that it is not that simple. He lives away at college, which we fund of course.

Is it possible that if we paid the rent on a place for the summer break that he could qualify for any allowance? I am not interested in defrauding the state.

 

[onq]

How would paying the rent reduce your income to make your family eligible for a grant or allowance - am I missing something?

 

[gipimann]

I think the reasoning is if the student moves away from home, then he wouldn't be assessed on parental income and might qualify for a grant on that basis.

Slim, there is some information on the 2011/12 grant system here:

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/e...emes_for_students_on_third_level_courses.html

My reading of the paragraph on Means Test is that it's where a student is living on October 1st of the year prior to entry on the course that determines how the student is means-tested. So in your son's case if he started college this year, his residence was determined based on where he lived on October 1st 2010.

 

[Slim]

I think the reasoning is if the student moves away from home, then he wouldn't be assessed on parental income and might qualify for a grant on that basis.

Slim, there is some information on the 2011/12 grant system here:

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/e...emes_for_students_on_third_level_courses.html

My reading of the paragraph on Means Test is that it's where a student is living on October 1st of the year prior to entry on the course that determines how the student is means-tested. So in your son's case if he started college this year, his residence was determined based on where he lived on October 1st 2010.

Yes, I read that. He was living away at his college flat on 1st October, 2011. If he keeps on the flat over next summer, might he qualify for a grant in his own right for term 2012/2013?

ONQ - it is related to the terms of the new 3rd level grant scheme, see link in gipimann's post.

Thanks all.