82,000 students lodge SUSI grant claims

Student grant applications are significantly up on this time last year as 82,000 people have lodged claims to ensure being prioritised for payment.

However, Student Universal Support Ireland (Susi) refuses to provide figures on how well it is progressing applications, almost three months after they started to arrive.

The deadline for applications to Susi was midnight last Thursday, but it wasextended until midnight Monday after some applicants could not use the online application system for two hours on Thursday night.

The closing date is still almost a month earlier than in 2012, when start-up problems led to long delays in assessing app-lications and making payments.

Susi is aiming to make first payments by late October, but it will be giving priority to students who applied by Monday night.

In the past week, around 17,000 first-time applicants — out of an anticipated 70,000 — have lodged claims with Susi. This brings to 59,000 the number who are applying for the first time — more than 50% higher than this time in 2012.

With another 23,000 renewal applications from students who got a grant from Susi in the past college year, the organisation is pleased with the rate of claims to date. Only 2,000 to 3,000 additional applications came in since Friday, but 82,000 of the total 90,000 applications expected this year have now been received.

“Our online application system opened a month earlier, allowing for this high number of applications to come in earlier this year. This will allow Susi[/url] to manage the flow of its assessment work in the next three months to deliver a more timely and efficient service for students,” said head of operations, Alan Murphy.

However, Susi refused to answer questions on the number of applicants who have had their initial assessment completed, returned requested documents, or been approved to get a grant once they register in college.

“Susi can confirm that application processing is on target but it is not reporting on the details at this time,” a spokesman told the Irish Examiner.

The system opened in mid-May, a month earlier than last year, and Susi says it aims to conduct first assessments within three to four weeks of receiving applications. After initial assessments, students who appear to be eligible — based on income and other details — are sent a checklist of the documents they must return.

The sharing of information with Susi from this year by Revenue Commissioners, the CAO, Department of Social Protection, and Department of Education should mean far less time and correspondence is needed to meet the requirements.

Susi also claims to have improved communications systems this year, with one of the biggest subject of complaints in 2012 being difficulties getting through to its helpline.

Students and their families should now be able to check the status of an application online, removing the need for many queries.

It is not necessary to have been offered a college place before applying for a grant, but payments will only be made to successful applicants after registration on a course is confirmed.