Marie Sherlock (Dublin Central, Labour)
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584. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the grounds on which a SUSI grant recipient can change their status from dependent to independent; and the documentation required as evidence of that. [40283/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The objective of the statutory based student grant scheme is to provide additional assistance where parental income is below a certain threshold or, in the case of independent mature students, where the level of income of the student and his or her spouse warrants additional assistance by way of a grant.

For student grant purposes, students are categorised according to their circumstances either as students dependent on parents or a legal guardian, or as independent mature students.

If you were 23 or over on 1 January of the year when you first enter/re-enter further or higher education, you will be classed as an Independent Student. You must have been living independently from your parent(s) or legal guardian(s) from the October in the year prior to your first point of entry/re-entry into further or higher education and will be required to provide evidence of this. The documentation required can be found here: .

Applicants who do not meet the criteria to be assessed as an independent student for grant purposes, or who cannot supply the necessary documentation to establish independent living for the required period, may still apply to SUSI to have their grant eligibility assessed as a dependent student. The relevant information, including details of parental income, would be required by SUSI to determine grant eligibility as a dependent student.

This classification will continue to apply for the duration of their studies. In general applicants may be reclassified from Dependent or Mature Dependent Student to Independent Student if:

• They re-enter further or higher education after a three-year break in studies. This means they have not attended a course leading to a major award at levels 1-10 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) for three full years, or
• They move from further education (PLC course) to Higher Education (undergraduate course)

1. The previous year to the point of entry (any month not later than October); AND
2. The point of entry year (any month not later than their point of entry).

• A Local Authority lease agreement or a letter confirming rental under the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) or any Government Housing Scheme/Arrangement. Private Housing Lease Agreements will not be accepted;
• A letter on headed paper from a Rental Agency confirming their tenancy;
• A letter confirming the receipt and period of Rent Allowance, Mortgage Interest Supplement or Housing Assistance Payment (HAP);
• A Utility bill or statement of top-ups for pay as you go utility meters in the applicant’s name, for example; landline telephone (SUSI does not accept mobile telephone bills), fixed broadband, gas, electricity or cable/satellite television bill/home heating bills/Waste bills/Mortgage Statements/Property Tax Letters.
• If the utility bills in the household are in a spouse's name, a marriage certificate with the utility bill must be provided.
• If they are co-habiting we will accept utility bills in their partner's name covering the relevant period together with correspondence e.g. bank statement/Statement of Liability (formerly P21) issued to the applicant at the same address and covering the relevant period).
• Official documentation posted to the applicant at their address and relating to their residence there.