Student Grants Campaign

Labour Youth is campaigning for an increase in student grants, an extension of eligibility criteria and for grants to be paid on time.

In early 2006 members of Labour Youth together with student activists and UCD student union occupied Dun Laoghaire Rathdown council offices in protest at the late payment of grants to students. This action was taken in conjunction with an ongoing campaign been pursued by Labour councillors who are tabling motions on grants at councils.

 

UCD students and members of Labour Youth occupy Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Council offices in protest at late payment of grants

Information about student grants and eligibility

As it stands, the grant is vastly inadequate when compared to the cost of living, especially in Dublin, and excludes thousands of students who experience very real financial difficulty during their time in college. One of our ongoing campaigns is for the widening of bands and an increase in the level of the grant. It's also high time for an end to the disgraceful manner in which the grants are distributed and how late they arrive from some Local Authorities. Students are left without their grant payments in some cases until the last week of term, which defeats the entire purpose of "maintenance".

As it stands, the grants scheme applies to the following..

Students who are starting an approved course for the first time in the academic year in question.
Mature students, who in the academic year in question are either entering in order to complete an approved course at undergraduate level for the first time or entering in order to pursue or complete an approved course at postgraduate level for the first time.
Students who have attended but not successfully completed an approved course and are returning following a break of at least five years in order to pursue an approved course at the same level in the academic year in question.
Students who have entered an approved course in Ireland prior to the 1996/97 academic year and are now entering an approved course outside of Ireland, for the first time in the academic year in question (i.e., 2005/2006). *NB maintenance is only provided in such instances.

A grant can also be obtained for the completion of one course of post-graduate study within Ireland. Candidates apply through their local authority. The closing date this year was the 31st of August but most local authorities will accept an application that is not received on time and may, at its absolute own discretion, treat such an application as if it had been received on time.

Labour Youth members in UCD organise a co-op that sells fair trade cofee and tea at student friendly prices in protest at rip off campus

How to Apply for a Grant

The process regarding applying for a grant can often be confusing and time-consuming. A 5 step guide to the basics of applying for a grant can be found here http://www.ucdsu.net/newswire.php?story_id=616 or can be picked up from the SU General Office.

Basically, the Local Authority in question will determine whether or not you are eligible for a grant by running a means test. If you are under 23 years of age, you will be assessed on the basis of both your income and your parent's income. If you are over 23, and living away from your parents since October 1st of the year preceding your year of entry into the course, you will be assessed on your own income and, if married, that of your spouse.

Reckonable Income Limits for purposes of the ordinary Maintenance Grant are below. Reckonable income means ...

A) All amounts received or receivable by an individual without reference to his/her residence or domicile, from both Irish and foreign sources, which are liable to Irish income tax, Irish Capital Gains Tax or Irish Capital Acquisitions Tax, or which would be so liable but for exemptions and reliefs contained in Irish legislation, and

B) Corresponding amounts received or receivable by individuals resident in another E.U. member state which are liable to Income Tax, Capital Gains Tax, Inheritance or Gift Taxes of that state, or which would be so liable but for exemptions and reliefs contained in the legislation of that State.

 

Students Oranise a Boycott of rip off campus outlets. This campaign was initiated by Labour Youth members

The following Social Welfare and Health Board Payments should be excluded in the calculation of reckonable income:

- Child Benefit

- Family Income Supplement

- Disability Allowance (where paid to the candidate)

- Blind Pension (where paid to the candidate)

- Means Tested One Parent Family Payments

- Orphan's Pensions

- BTEA

- Foster Care Allowance

- Domiciliary Care Allowance

- Carer's Allowance.

*Full Student Service Charge is paid where income is at or below this level.

Where two or more children (or the candidate's parent) are pursuing a course of approved study in third level or further education, the reckonable income limits may be increased by increments which, for the 2005/06 academic year are as follows: -

€4,295 where there are two such children
€8,590 where there are three such children and so on by increments of €4,295

In a nutshell, the reckonable income limits are the most you or your parents can be earning before you are ineligible for a grant. So for example, if you're living at home and your parents have less than 4 children, reckonable income must be less than €35,485 if you are to receive a grant.

Ordinary Maintenance Grant Rates

.
Non-Adjacent Rate
Adjacent Rate

Full Maintenance
€3,020
€1,210

Part Maintenance (75%)
€2,265
€905

Part Maintenance (50%)
€1,515
€605

Part Maintenance (25%)
€755
€305

(The adjacent rate of maintenance grant applies to a grantholder whose normal residence is l5 miles or less from the college which s/he is attending. The non-adjacent rate of maintenance grant shall be payable in all other cases, including the case of all mature candidates who qualify, having been assessed either as a dependent or independent mature candidate.)

"Top-up"grants for disadvantaged students (Special Rates)

Disadvantaged students who meet a number of conditions can qualify for "top-up" grants.

Applicants must qualify for the ordinary maintenance grant for the academic year 2005/2006 and total reckonable income in the tax year January to December 2004 must not exceed 15,626 euro net of Child Dependant Allowances and standard exclusions.

For students, including mature students, who are assessed on parent(s)/guardian income, their parent(s)/guardian must, on 31 December 2004, have been:

Claiming long-term social welfare payments, or
Claiming Family Income Supplement or
Participating in designated programmes (e.g., FÁS training programme).
For students who assessed on their own income, on 31 December 2004, the student must have been receiving an eligible (long-term) social welfare payment (including long-term Unemployment Assistance), or Family Income Supplement or participating in a designated programme.

Special Rates of Maintenance Grant for 2005/06

Grant
Standard Grant
Top-Up Amount
Total Grant

Adjacent Rate
€1,210
€935
€2,145

Non-Adjacent Rate
€3,020
€2,335
€5,355