Not Fair!!!

KM1990x

I would appreciate some advice on this if anyone knows of any ... I'm an 18 year old student, with ah full time college course and a part time job. lately i have been missing odd days from college and basically working full time hours as for some reason i am not entitled to a bursary, travel expenses or a student loan because of my parents income. There are people on my course who's parents sit around all day doing nothing because they can't be bothered to get a job while my classmates get money thrown at them to go out and spend on new clothes, holidays and nights out, while me being 18 i am not dependant on my parents anymore i have my own car which i like to pay for the costs of running and insurance for myself without asking for help all the time. Recently my mum has been made redundant and even though has started a new job on supply which means she only works a few weeks at a time here and there i am still not entitled to any money. I understand my parents earn or did earn a recent amount, but they too also have bills to pay and so do I, when I get paid every month most of my money goes to paying for insurance or travelling to college, when there are some people who are just to lazy to work but get all the benefits. Is this fair ? :mad:

GonzoAston

Yes

I think it is fair for people whos parents cant pay for uni/clollege to get help financial help, yes. Whats wrong with them trying to make a better life for themselves?

My OH was at Uni, he got his student loans etc, but he still had 2 part time jobs too (usually about 20 hours a week), plus all his Uni classes and work to do at home, and I worked full time. I know it is hard (never done it myself, I will admit) but you just have to get on with it.

So, to answer you r question, IMO it is fair

dieselhead

Life isn't fair, however your situation isn't unusual, I was in the same position when I was 18 (minus the car!) I worked, I attended college, and that was it luxury's were paid for by me!

Its far too easy to be bitter, it is harder to take a step back and see what you have achieved, you are an adult, you have your own car, which you finance yourself. You are getting an education, you have a job and every penny you earn is yours (tax excepted!) you should be proud of yourself, you should be able to take a huge amount of satisfaction from your achievements.

It seems to me that there will always be injustices in life, perceived or real, the trick seems to be to take a step back and see your achievements. We are often quick to condemn our young people but less quick to reward those who do well, and from the sounds of things you are doing well.

I am concerned that you are taking time off college to work, your education is important and sometimes you have to make sacrifices in the long term to reap the rewards in the long term, it will be worth it, because you will have worked for it, the achievement its yours!

System

If you are in Advanced education would you not be entitled to the non-means tested part of the student loan.
My daughter gets that at uni. She didn't bother applying for the means tested part because our income is too high.

See here for full details of the rates - http://www.slc.co.uk/about%20student%20finance/index.html

Oldernotwiser

If you choose to have an expensive luxury like running a car when you are 18 and a full time student then you're obviously going to be short of money. The answer lies in your own hands - or feet!

healy

This should be in Discussion Time.

bestpud

Yes

healy wrote: »

This should be in Discussion Time.

Yes, if only because the OP is [STRIKE]guaranteed[/STRIKE] more likely to receive support over there!

[Deleted User]

Yes

KM1990x wrote: »

I would appreciate some advice on this if anyone knows of any ... I'm an 18 year old student, with ah full time college course and a part time job. lately i have been missing odd days from college and basically working full time hours as for some reason i am not entitled to a bursary, travel expenses or a student loan because of my parents income. There are people on my course who's parents sit around all day doing nothing because they can't be bothered to get a job while my classmates get money thrown at them to go out and spend on new clothes, holidays and nights out, while me being 18 i am not dependant on my parents anymore i have my own car which i like to pay for the costs of running and insurance for myself without asking for help all the time. Recently my mum has been made redundant and even though has started a new job on supply which means she only works a few weeks at a time here and there i am still not entitled to any money. I understand my parents earn or did earn a recent amount, but they too also have bills to pay and so do I, when I get paid every month most of my money goes to paying for insurance or travelling to college, when there are some people who are just to lazy to work but get all the benefits. Is this fair ? :mad:

If you are at college doing A levels or simlar then there is only EMA,no grant no loan no bursary.If you were at uni then you would get a % of the maintenance grant and student loan,and possibly a % of the bursary.
Its almost impossible to study properly and work full time,especially in what i assume will be your exam year?

KM1990x

I am studyin an HNC/HND course in college so I would be entitled to a bursary, loan and travel expenses if my parents earned less but still after my mum being made redundant I still dont qualify as she earned over a certain amount in the past year.

nearlyrich

The calculation is done on the previous years income however if your parent's income has changed drastically it might be worth giving the relevant department a call or speak to your student financial advisor at college. My children were given less than the full student loan because of my income and I was able to make it up however it's not always possible for parents to contribute. There are a lot of things in life that are not fair but 18 year olds should be able to be treated as adults and all should be treated equally especially in terms of loans for further education.

Oldernotwiser

But, if your parents are paying for your keep, they're giving you far more than you'd be getting if they actually topped up your loan!