How can my step-daughter get financial help?

scot101

I'm a step dad.
I earn a £60000 salary per annum.
I'm also mortgaged to the hilt, have three other dependant children and a non working spouse.
My step-daughter who resides with us will be 19 in October. She has been out of school for one year during which time she did a part time 'police services' course. She lived at home while she studied and had a part time job in a supermarket for most of that time earning £300 per month. She didn't save.

She has under £2000 in savings from her childhood.

She now intends to study an Advanced National certificate 1 year course at a Scottish college. She will live away from home and has appiled for self catering student accomodation (£3000 per annum).

We have received notice from the college, with no reason but I suspect due to my earnings, that she will not receive a bursary or EMA. College fees are however waived as she is a Scottish resident.

The nature of the course means it will be difficult to find part time employment.

As it's a one year course it seems many, if not all, student bank accounts which offer good free overdrafts are not available to her.

She is not eligible for a student loan as the level of course does not qualify her for one.

Therefore looks like we will have costs of accomodation and living to meet which is going to be a challenge. I've calculated around £500 per month to survive and give her semblance of a student lift.

This equates to £6000 for the year, minus her £2000, leaves me with a bill for £4000 or around £350 per month.

I really don't have £350 spare per month.

Seems a shame that she will suffer because of my earnings, and that we won't be able to help as much as we would like due to our other commitments.

Her own father has declined to assist.

Anyone got any ideas on how we could get help?

ceebeeby

What sort of level could you assist with? If you could help with half then she could make up the other half.

Surely she could get some sort of part-time work, even if it's at the week-end? When does the course start, could she not work night and day until then.

Oldernotwiser

Could your step daughter's mother not get a job to help support her daughter?

scot101

Other children are much younger (3, 4 and 5) and require mothers attention preventing her working. She would if she could.

I will find the accommodation £300 per month, leaving her £2000 saving for her to live off. However I will have to enter a loan to do this.. hoped there was a better way.

Course starts week after next. Its an equine (horse!) course meaning that every other weekend is taken up with 'mucking out' and other duties. Same applies on a regular basis during the week, early mornings and evening shifts. The limits her availability and attractiveness to potential part time employers. She has had three interviews with restaurnants all knocking her back for this reason.

The_One_Who

Could she get paid for doing the mucking out?

scot101

Nope - apparently is a requirement of the course. Personally I think the college is taking the mickey - they charge to accomodate horses ( we don't have one ), require the use of the horses for courses, and then have the students do the yard duties. Very lucrative!

Debt_Robot

Here are some options I have thought of:

*Proofreading: If your step-daughter has a good eye, she could offer a proofreading service for other students essays to correct grammar.

*English lessons: Does your step-daughter speak another language? She could teach that to people or she could offer English lessons for international students who want to improve? £7 is a fair price for lessons like this.

*e-Bay: Does your step-daughter have collectable bags or shoes? e-Bay is a good option for this.

*Hobbies: Does she have any hobbies or skills she is brilliant at? Like making earrings or making clothes?

If you say she cannot work during term-time, she may then have to work at xmas or easter to cover the costs I reckon.

silvercar

Have you adopted your step daughter? Are you married to her mother?

It may be that the answers to the above questions mean that your income should not be taken into account when assessing her eligibility for EMA.

I have a friend in a similar situation (though she doesn't have children with new partner) and she has delayed her marriage to ensure her children get full grants for uni.

The_One_Who

silvercar wrote: »

Have you adopted your step daughter? Are you married to her mother?

It may be that the answers to the above questions mean that your income should not be taken into account when assessing her eligibility for EMA.

I have a friend in a similar situation (though she doesn't have children with new partner) and she has delayed her marriage to ensure her children get full grants for uni.

I think that has changed now so that even partners are included in the income assessment. I'm sure there was a letter sent out saying something like that.

littlebird22

I'm sure that the system has just changed this year. I only really understand the university funding system but I think you will find it very difficult to get anything for her if it is similar. Presuming you are on the Scottish system, SAAS changed it this year. My boyfriend used to get everything going because his Dad died but from September he is getting nothing apart from the standard loan because SAAS have started counting his step dad's income.

Does the college have any hardship grants? I know that in the past two of my flatmates have applied for them from my university and they both got them easily (and without wanting to sound too catty I wouldn't have said they were in any more hardship than any other student; both running new cars etc).

silvercar

The_One_Who wrote: »

I think that has changed now so that even partners are included in the income assessment. I'm sure there was a letter sent out saying something like that.

I think partners may need to move out of the mother's home for a while; possible if (a) they haven't adopted the child and (b) they are not married to the mother.