Know your rights: Applying for a student grant

Know your rights: Applying for a student grant

Question

I just started college. Can I still apply for a student grant?

Answer

You can apply for a student grant if you are taking an approved course and meet the income and residency criteria.

These include:

§  Your family’s means must be under the specified threshold for the previous tax year (2020). If you or your family have had a change of circumstances during the current tax year, your changed circumstances may be taken into account.

§  You must have been ordinarily resident in Ireland for three of the last five years.

§  You must be an Irish, UK, EU, EEA or Swiss national. You may also be considered for a grant if you have refugee status, subsidiary protection or leave to remain in Ireland.

 

Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) awards student grants.

You can use SUSI’s eligibility reckoner to see whether you meet the criteria for student grant funding.

To apply for a student grant, you complete an application form online.

Applications to SUSI close at midnight on 4 November 2021.

If you are refused a grant or are approved a grant at a rate that you don’t think applies to your situation, you can appeal in writing to SUSI within 30 days of getting your decision.

If you are living in direct provision or are in the international protection system, you can apply for support under the Student Support Scheme for Asylum Seekers. 

You can read more about the Student Grant Scheme on citizensinformation.ie.

You can also get information and advice from:

 

·        The Citizens Information Phone Service: Call 0818 07 4000, Monday to Friday, 9am – 8pm

·        Our national call back service: Visit citizensinformation.ie/callback to request a phone call from an information officer

 

You can continue to contact your local centre by email or phone using the details in the Find a Centre page on citizensinformation.ie.

 

 

Know Your Rights has been compiled by South Connacht Citizens Information Service CLG, which provides a free and confidential service to the public.

Tel: 0818 07 6330 Address: Boyle CIC, Elphin Street, Boyle, Co. Roscommon

Know your rights: Non-Geographic Numbers

Know your rights: Non-Geographic Numbers

Question

What are non-geographic numbers?

Answer

A non-geographic number (NGN) is any number beginning with 1800, 1850, 1890, 0818 or 076.

NGNs are used by Irish businesses, charities and other organisations to deliver services like helplines. Calls to 1800 numbers are free. Calls to 1850, 1890, 0818 and 076 numbers cost the same as calling a landline, and are included in ‘call bundles’ that include landline calls. This means that, when you call an NGN, it is either deducted from your bundle, or charged on a per-minute basis.

What is changing?

From 1 January 2022, there will only be 2 NGN numbers: 1800 and 0818. Organisations using 1850, 1890 or 076 numbers are now updating their contact details.

Why are the changes happening?

Many people avoid calling 1850, 1890 and 076 numbers because they think they are confusing and expensive. ComReg is reducing the number of NGNs to simplify NGNs for consumers.

From January 2022, there will be just 2 NGNs – 1800 (Freephone) and 0818 (Standard rate). This makes call costs easier to understand.

What happens if I call an 1850, 1890 or 076 number in 2022?

From 1 January 2022, all 1850, 1890 and 076 numbers will be withdrawn from service and you will not be able to use them. You can check an organisation’s website and social media channels for their new contact details.

You can also get information and advice from:

 

·        The Citizens Information Phone Service: Call 0818 07 4000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm).

·        Our national call back service: Visit citizensinformation.ie/callback to request a phone call from an information officer

 

You can contact your local centre by email or phone using the details in the Find a Centre page on citizensinformation.ie.

 

Know Your Rights has been compiled by South Connacht Citizens Information Service CLG, which provides a free and confidential service to the public.

Tel: 0818 07 6330 Address: Boyle CIC, Elphin Street, Boyle, Co. Roscommon

Know your rights: Your rights as a tenant

Know your rights: Your rights as a tenant

Question

Can a landlord or letting agency ask me for personal information like my PPS number when starting a new tenancy?

Answer

Yes, a landlord or letting agent can ask you for certain personal information, but only at a specific point in the process of finding somewhere new to rent.

A landlord needs the PPS number of every tenant who is renting their property so they can register the tenancy with the Residential Tenancies Board, which landlords must do by law. See registering a tenancy for more information.

You may also be asked for the following information when you rent a property:

·         Recent bank statements

·         A reference from your previous landlord

·         A reference from your employer

·         Recent payslips

·         Photo ID, such as a passport or driver’s licence

You should only be asked for these details when you are offered the property to rent.  You should not have to give this information when you register with a letting or estate agent, or to view a property with an agent or a private landlord.

Any personal information you give your landlord or agent should only be used by them in accordance with data protection legislation.

You can read more about tenants’ rights and obligations on citizensinformation.ie.

You can also get information and advice from:

 

·         The Citizens Information Phone Service: Call 0818 07 4000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm).

·         Our national call back service: Visit citizensinformation.ie/callback to request a phone call from an information officer

 

You can contact your local centre by email or phone using the details in the Find a Centre page on citizensinformation.ie.

 

Know Your Rights has been compiled by South Connacht Citizens Information Service CLG, which provides a free and confidential service to the public.

Tel: 0818 07 6330 Address: Boyle CIC, Elphin Street, Boyle, Co. Roscommon

Citizens Information has moved to 0818 prefix

  Citizens Information has moved to 0818 prefix

This news item was posted on September 8, 2021

The Citizens Information Board and its funded services have now moved to the 0818 prefix for all its telephone numbers.

Following a ComReg review and consultation, the number of Non-Geographic Numbers (NGNs) has been reduced from five to two. Only the 1800 Freephone and 0818 Standard Rate NGNs will remain in use. All other numbers will cease to operate from 1 January 2022.

Will calls to 0818 cost more?

Calls to 0818 will cost the same as to the previous 0761 numbers. Calls to 0818 are included in call bundles or will cost no more than calling a landline.

Helpline numbers

The national helpline numbers with the new prefix are:

§  The Citizens Information Phone Service is 0818 07 4000

§  The Money Advice and Budgeting Service is 0818 07 2000

§  The National Advocacy Service is 0818 07 3000

For a listing of all local service numbers, check out citizensinformation.ie or mabs.ie. The details of regional NAS offices can be found at advocacy.ie.

The old 0761 numbers will remain operational in tandem with 0818 until 31 December 2021. However, from 1 January 2022, only the 0818 numbers will connect you to the relevant service.

 

 

Know Your Rights has been compiled by South Connacht Citizens Information Service CLG, which provides a free and confidential service to the public.

Tel: 0761 07 6330 Address: Boyle CIC, Elphin Street, Boyle, Co. Roscommon

Information is also available online at citizensinformation.ie and from the Citizens Information Phone Service, 0761 07 4000.