Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
2067. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will include illness benefit as an eligible long-term payment for the special rate of maintenance grant (where held for more than 24 consecutive months); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38837/23]
View answerThe special rate of grant in the student support scheme has, as a matter of long-standing policy, been targeted at applicants who are the dependents of people receiving long-term welfare payments, where the relevant eligibility criteria are met.
This policy position was first articulated by the 2001 McNamara report which considered how to target resources most effectively to support access to higher education. The rationale for the special rate is that it is targeted at those who are "most in need", which the report identified as child dependents of people receiving long-term social welfare payments, where other necessary conditions are fulfilled. The review of the student grant scheme found that around 30% of SUSI recipients over the five years previous to the report were in receipt of the special rate.
These criteria are aligned with the Department of Social Protection's schemes. In this regard, Illness Benefit is defined by that Department as a short-term payment for insured people who cannot work due to illness. This is why it is not included as an eligible payment for the purposes of the special rate of maintenance grant.
Depending on the individual's circumstances it may be appropriate for them to have their welfare payment reviewed by the Department of Social Protection. It may be established that an alternative long-term payment should be awarded, such as Disability Allowance or Invalidity Pension. Both of these payments are eligible payments for the purposes of the special rate of grant. In such circumstances, the application of the person in question may be reviewed by SUSI under the change of circumstances provision of the Student Grant Scheme.
