The SUSI grant for all eligible third level students will increase by €200 from next year under plans to be revealed in Budget 2022.
Three changes are expected to be announced to improve student grants after Higher Education Minister Simon Harris secured the additional funding.
The income threshold to qualify for student grants will increase by €1,000 – ensuring more students qualify for SUSI and so more families can access support.
The distance for the higher non-adjacent student grant will be reduced from 45km to 30km. This means more students who are living away from home or travelling to college will qualify for the higher grant.
These three changes follow on from an increase in post-graduate grants in 2021 and are in addition to €22 million announced in financial and mental health support for students this week.
Over 62,000 students currently avail of the maintenance grants and now their payments, which range from €305 to €5915, will increase by €200.
The eligibility cut off points will increase by €1,000 meaning a person’s gross income can be higher in order to access the varying levels of the grant.
People living 30km or more from their college will get the higher (non-adjacent) rate.
These rates are different depending on the course and eligibility.
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