Independant status

ChocolateMonkey

I dont know if anyone can help at all with this.

I am due to enter my third year this september and I have recently decided to try and apply for independant status.
I sent a letter detailing the documents I require from the tax office nearly 3 weeks ago but am yet to hear anything back yet. I'm getting a little worried as I havent sent my application off yet and I have no idea who to ring or what to do regarding the documents.
The only thing I have is the address for the data protection people I sent my letter too. I have searched the hmrc website but am no clearer on what to do.

Oldernotwiser

Do you think that you could be a bit clearer in what you're asking? I'm afraid that I've no idea what you're on about. Are you trying to claim independent student status for university funding (that's the only thing I can think of that might make sense)? If this is the case then you have to have been independent for 3 years before the course started. Please clarify your question.

Stinkybell

You need to have been financially supporting yourself for 3 years - so they want to see how much you have earnt and spent on rent and the like. I think you may also have to be 21 or older unless you are married.

ChocolateMonkey

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Do you think that you could be a bit clearer in what you're asking? I'm afraid that I've no idea what you're on about. Are you trying to claim independent student status for university funding (that's the only thing I can think of that might make sense)? If this is the case then you have to have been independent for 3 years before the course started. Please clarify your question.

Sorry for not being clear.
Yes, I am trying to apply for independant status for university funding.

My post was about the tax office as I had sent a letter to an old records department within the HMRC requesting copies/summary's of my P60s three weeks ago but I have not heard anything back and I have no idea who to contact. I need these documents to send off so I can hopefully get the status.

I'm sorry, this post may have been a bit silly to make or I've posted in the wrong place:o I'm just at a loss of what to do.

Gemmzie

Where you independent from three years before the start of your course?

I don't think you can claim independence just in the third year if you haven't been independent before the course, unless there's extremely special circumstances.

Oldernotwiser

I can't even think of any special causes and you certainly can't count the 2 years that you've been a student, even if you've been working as well as studying.

ChocolateMonkey

I know it seems slighty weird, I worked for a number of years before I went to university (I am 23). I never applied for financial help in the first year as I applied to uni very late and was never made aware I could get help, second year I applied for help and recieved a loan. The only reason I have looked into applying as independant status is because my friend (yes, I know it sounds bad) has somehow managed to get this status even though he is in pretty much the same situation as me. (living at home and what not)
I am in no way thinking that because he got it I will, I actually rang my local authority to see what would qualify me as independant and they were hugely unhelpful. I assumed independant status meant not living at home etc, but apparently not.

Thanks for your replies, I shall try my local tax office.

Titch89

If you're 25 or over, you are classed as independent.

dmg24

Titch89 wrote: »

If you're 25 or over, you are classed as independent.

The OP is 23.

I agree with the others, I would be very surprised if they allowed you independent status when you were not assessed in this way for previous years.

bestpud

ChocolateMonkey wrote: »

I know it seems slighty weird, I worked for a number of years before I went to university (I am 23). I never applied for financial help in the first year as I applied to uni very late and was never made aware I could get help, second year I applied for help and recieved a loan. The only reason I have looked into applying as independant status is because my friend (yes, I know it sounds bad) has somehow managed to get this status even though he is in pretty much the same situation as me. (living at home and what not)
I am in no way thinking that because he got it I will, I actually rang my local authority to see what would qualify me as independant and they were hugely unhelpful. I assumed independant status meant not living at home etc, but apparently not.

Thanks for your replies, I shall try my local tax office.

Have you asked your friend how he went about it?

I wouldn't follow his lead though tbh as it looks very dodgy to me!

Oldernotwiser

ChocolateMonkey wrote: »

I know it seems slighty weird, I worked for a number of years before I went to university (I am 23). I never applied for financial help in the first year as I applied to uni very late and was never made aware I could get help, second year I applied for help and recieved a loan. The only reason I have looked into applying as independant status is because my friend (yes, I know it sounds bad) has somehow managed to get this status even though he is in pretty much the same situation as me. (living at home and what not)
I am in no way thinking that because he got it I will, I actually rang my local authority to see what would qualify me as independant and they were hugely unhelpful. I assumed independant status meant not living at home etc, but apparently not.

Thanks for your replies, I shall try my local tax office.

Independent status refers to your being at work or claiming benefits, rather than where you were living.Yours is an unusual situation and I'm not surprised you've confused the LEA!

Are you saying that you got no financial help in your first year because you didn't know it was available? What happened with your fees and how did you keep yourself? Why didn't you apply after you started when you met other students?