If your parents or guardians are separated or divorced, your income and the income of the parent you normally reside with will be included in the income calculation for grant assessment purposes. You will be required to provide documentary evidence of your parents’ separation or divorce. Please note that if divorced / separated parents are both still living at the same address then both of their incomes will be taken into consideration. 

If you are irreconcilably estranged from your parents, you apply as a Dependent Student but select ‘Estranged’ in the ‘Other Parties to Application’ section of the application form.

You will be required to submit evidence of estrangement to SUSI, which specifically confirms that you are irreconcilably estranged from your parents. Accepted evidence can include a court order or a letter from a social worker or TUSLA if you have been accessing their services. Other documents may be provided. SUSI will review all documents submitted and if estrangement is confirmed, your income only will be included in the income calculation for grant assessment purposes.

If you are in foster care, you apply as a Dependent Student with your foster parent(s)’ details such as names, addresses. However your foster parent(s)’ financial details are not required and their income will not be included in the income calculation for grant assessment purposes.

If you are under 23 and living in the State as a refugee in your own right, you do not need to supply your parents’ details when completing the application.

If neither of your parents are living, and you do not have a court-appointed legal guardian, you apply as a Dependent Student and select ‘deceased’ for each parent when completing the application form. You will be asked to give some information, such as names and dates of birth. In most cases, it will not be necessary to provide SUSI with death certificates, but in some cases they are requested from an applicant. Only your income is included in the income calculation for grant assessment purposes.

If your parent was single, separated or divorced before the time of their death, and you are not supported by your other living parent, you can be assessed as an orphan. You may need to provide documentary evidence of your parent’s separation or divorce.

If you receive a guardian’s payment or orphan’s pension from Department of Social Protection, this income will not be included in the income calculation for grant assessment purposes. However you may be eligible for a special rate grant, providing all other income is under the threshold. If your guardian’s payment is paid to someone else, such as a sibling or another family member, the income will not be included in the income calculation for grant assessment purposes, but you will only be eligible for an ordinary rate of grant unless you have another qualifying Special Rate payment.

If you have court-appointed legal guardian(s), your income and your legal guardian(s)’ income will be included in the income calculation for grant assessment purposes. You will be required to provide documentary evidence, such as a Guardianship Order. If your legal guardian receives a guardian’s payment for you, or another special rate payment, and the household income is less than the special rate thresholds, you may be eligible for a special rate grant.

If your guardian(s) was appointed to you after the death of your parent because they were named as your guardian in your parent’s will, they are not considered your ‘legal guardian’ for grant assessment purposes. You can apply in the same way as an orphan and only your income will be included in the income calculation for grant assessment purposes. If your guardian receives a guardian’s payment, this will not make you eligible for a special rate award. However, if you receive an orphan’s pension, you may be eligible for a special rate grant.