MAKING CENTS: Students should learn now if eligible for a grant

Don’t assume you are not entitled to a grant, just because you are on the higher level of income tax. While the maximum grant is for those whose reckonable household income is less than €23,000, there is still considerable support for households with much higher incomes.

For example, where the household income is €39,875 or less, an undergraduate student (who is attending a college more than 45km from home) may be entitled to a grant of €3,025 per annum, plus the annual student contribution charge (currently €3,000). Students who attend a college within 45km of home are awarded a lower level of support.

The maximum income amount rises for families with more than four children and households with income of more than €60,000 may still be entitled to some support, depending on individual circumstances.

SUSI provide a simple eligibility reckoner on their website, susi.ie. This will give potential applicants an indication of whether they are entitled to support.

Preparation is key! Check out the below to get ready for your 18/19 SUSI application. ✅ pic.twitter.com/qhZchuOAe0

— @susihelpdesk (@Susihelpdesk) April 6, 2018

The levels are the same for all income types, but PAYE earners have the advantage of simple verification of income. For some categories of applicant, there may be a considerable amount of paperwork. This is true for those who pay tax other than through the PAYE system, such as farmers, the self-employed, and those who have rental or other income. The closing date is months away, but if you fall into one of those categories, it may take time to pull together the documentation SUSI require.

For the 2018/19 academic year, your application will be assessed on gross income, from all sources, for 2017. For those with self-employment/ farming/rental income, SUSI will look for a full set of trading accounts for 2017, plus the self-assessment statement that you receive from Revenue after submitting your annual return. If you have yet to make a tax return for 2017, you need to do so, before you will be able to complete the grant application. If the family has experienced a drop in income since the start of 2018, you can apply for this to be taken into account by emailing support@susi.ie and including ‘change in circumstances’ in the subject line.

We are now open for applications for the 2018/19 academic year. See https://t.co/Xj3rAEas9G for the latest updates. All information regarding the grant process can be found here: https://t.co/ZDchF9nFsN. #SUSIOpenDate pic.twitter.com/DCNHkg9g1a

— @susihelpdesk (@Susihelpdesk) April 5, 2018

Funding is also available for students who wish to study outside Ireland. Fees do not form part of the SUSI grant funding for students pursuing courses outside the Irish State, but the maintenance grant is available.

The course chosen must be full-time and of at least two years’ duration and must be be provided by a publicly funded educational institution in another EU member state.

Every year, SUSI receive thousands of applications after their summer closing date. These will still be processed, but late applications can often lead to delays in arranging the payments and students may struggle with the up-front costs of starting college, if they are still waiting on the grant to come through. There is no need to wait to apply, even if students think they may change their mind on what course they will do.

Leaving Cert students should have completed their CAO applications by now. They should go ahead with the application based on their first-choice course and adjustments will be made, if they end up changing their minds or being offered a different course.

Students are also free to work part-time and/or during the holidays, as they can earn up to €4,500 whilst in education, without any effect on grant eligibility.

Applications are processed online at susi.ie

There are guides to completing the application and further support is available on Facebook, or by emailing support@susi.ie.