Advice over Student maintenance loans please

Minxz

Hi
I have 2 sons who started different Universities September '08. Because of the family income, they got a small amount of maintenance grant, the rest was in the form of a loan,and no bursary etc.
It looks likely that I'll be a single parent again fairly soon, and am looking after my toddler, so would be working part-time topped up with Tax credits- how would this affect my sons'grant/loan?
If there are changes in income circumstances( as in it drops.. a lot!!), do we tell the loan company, as it could change the amount of grant they are allowed?
thank you

Oldernotwiser

If the relevant income drops by at least 15% then you can ask to have things reassessed.

Minxz

Thank you.
What i need to know, is that if anyone out there is on low income topped up by tax credits, say a single mum, with a child at uni, who can tell me if that qualifies for bursaries or extra maintenance grant instead of a loan to be paid back?

Oldernotwiser

If you have alook at www.direct.gov.uk you'll be able to calculate maintenance and loan entitlements. Better to do it this way as you're never going to find anyone in exactly the same position as you. Even if a student qualifies for a full maintenance grant it never completely replaces the maintenance loan and doesn't affect the fee loan at all.