Thank you for your correspondence regarding your constituent and their application for student grant funding.
The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine.
Article 21 of the Student Grant Scheme 2024 sets out for the awarding authority the persons whose income is to be considered. When considering persons whose income is considered, the grant awarding authority (SUSI) are obliged to satisfy themselves beyond doubt that an acceptable degree of proof of marital status in the relevant period has been submitted by the grant applicant. SUSI provides a list of documents that are considered acceptable as evidence of separation. The onus is on the grant applicant to provide the necessary documentary evidence as proof of their circumstances.
The documents listed as acceptable are as follows:
• Separation agreement;
• Divorce decree;
• Court Ordered Maintenance Arrangement;
• Decree of dissolution for a civil partnership.
• Evidence from the Department of Social Protection confirming receipt of Deserted Wife's Allowance or a One-Parent Family Payment.
• If there is no legal agreement a letter from your solicitor in which your solicitor categorically confirms separation and/or that legal proceedings are pending.
• A letter/document from a Family Mediation Service, for example, the Legal Aid Board, that confirms you are participating in, or have undergone family mediation.
• Proof of living separately, e.g. separate utility bills for the same time period in 2024. Please note that mobile phone bills and bank statements on their own are not accepted as proof of living separately.
Please note that affidavits are not accepted by SUSI for this purpose.
In this case, letters were issued from SUSI to the applicant on 26 August, 3 September, and 17 September 2025 requesting the required documentation.
The student referred to by the Deputy did not submit any of the required documents but did provide solicitor letters on 26 August and 3 September 2025 stating the father’s intention to initiate matrimonial proceedings. A further letter received on 17 September noted that the father is separately assessed for tax purposes. However, SUSI advises that solicitor letters are only acceptable if the solicitor has acted for either party in the separation and can verify the contents. Letters based solely on client instruction are not considered valid evidence.
The student's application remains open and SUSI are awaiting documentary evidence as requested.
I trust this clarifies the situation and I wish the student well in their studies.
