Student grant applicants to be told of changes to reporting income

Student grant applicants will be given clearer information this year on the ability to report reduced incomes, after hundreds had to make appeals that could have been avoided.

As reported by the Irish Examiner, significant numbers of those who appealed grant refusals were students whose family circumstances had changed. The grant process requires information on income for the previous year but applicants can point out if there has been a fall in income in the year they apply.

Latest figures show that 5,275 of around 59,000 students to make applications have appealed decisions by Student Universal Support Ireland (Susi) to refuse grants. Department of Education secretary general Seán Ó Foghlú told the Dáil Public Accounts Committee on Thursday that the fact that 3,264, or 61% of those appeals, succeeded has raised a flag and Susi has been asked for a report on the reasons.

Part of the high success rate was down to the fact that 24% of the students whose appeals were upheld had used the process to notify changes in circumstances, an option they could have availed of when applying first day.

The Irish Examiner learned that, instead of being just an option to report changed circumstances in their initial online application, this year’s applicants will have to tick a box stating whether or not there have been changes, to help avoid them having to make appeals later because they were not aware of this facility.

Around 35,000 students have now received grants or had their college fees paid, out of 37,000 expected to benefit. There are still 14,216 students whom Susi says have not supplied all requested documents or who have been asked for more information.

An independent review of Susi for its parent body, City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee, is examining the delays and backlogs which saw fewer than 25,000 students paid grants or fees before Christmas, despite promises that it would make the process quicker and easier for students.

Around 300 completed applications were being processed by Susi this week and more than 2,000 are due to be paid once banking details are supplied.

Susi said that, based on contact so far with half the 10,000 students who have not sent in any requested documents, 80% did not go to college and their applications are now closed.