Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 September 2020
35. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider changing the criteria for calculating SUSI grant eligibility to include whether a parent is in receipt of the working family payment. [22386/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe student grant is a contribution towards the cost of attending college. The scheme provides for different levels of maintenance support, depending on means. Grants are also provided at adjacent and non-adjacent rates and there are provisions for a number of income disregards. The higher non-adjacent rates are intended to provide additional support to those students who may be living away from home.
Under the terms of the student grant scheme, Family Income Supplement (also known as the Working Family Payment) is treated as an income disregard and is therefore not included in the calculation of reckonable income.
Furthermore, unlike other social protection payments which are paid to individuals, the Working Family Payment is a payment deemed to be paid to a family. In recognition of this, the SUSI scheme contains provisions which allow this payment to be recognised for the purposes of meeting the eligibility criteria for the special rate of grant, which is the highest maintenance grant support available.
This ensures that those students most in need receive supports commensurate with their needs. In this regard, SUSI has advised that 5,090 students qualified for the special rate of grant in 2019/20 by virtue of having a Working Family Payment.
Students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund assists students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Information on the fund is available through the Access Officer in the third level institution attended. This fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.
