Student finance-change of circumstances

princessamy86

Hi All
Just wondering if anyone has been in a similar situation to this:
I've just gone to re-apply for my student finance to go into my 3rd and final year, and come across the same problem as last year. There's no option for my personal circumstances!!

Basically, in my first year I had moved out prior to starting my course, but wasn't considered to be "financially independent" from my mum as I hadn't been living away from home for 3 years. Ok, fair enough, application filled in as though I still lived at home. 2nd year, same thing applied, so again filled it in as though I still lived at home. This year, I'm so financially independent from her I've had a mortgage for the last 16 months, yet they still won't consider me as financially independent! The reason: you can't change cicumstances halfway through your course. !!!!!!?!?!?!

I really don't want to do the application as though I'm still at home, OH has just been made redundant and is in the process of setting up a business. My mum, on the other hand, has just got a fab new job with a payrise and is happily married to my stepdad-whose wage will also be taken into consideration. ARGH! I don't get any handouts off them, I work really hard to support myself, and I would prefer to by income assessed on MY income, not theirs!

Is there anything I can do to get it changed or do I just have to put up with it? I have rung them but they basically said it was tough. Any ideas appreciated!

Phew, rant over :rolleyes:

Blackpool_Saver

How utterly ridiculous, see a solicitor.

JamesJamz

Its stupid how Student Finance works... I am currently in the process of filling mine out, and i know whats going to happen.... im going to have to re-apply again once ive sent this off to get my tuition fees paid!

Every time i fill this out (and yes im filling it out correctly) it always comes back saying that i have to pay my own tuition fee's

I think you'll have to put up with it this year, as i doubt a solicitor will do much, and will cost extra money.

princessamy86

I don't really think it's worth seeing a solicitor, it's just so stupid. The other thing is, we could really do with the extra money-if I apply as though I am at mum's again then I won't be eligible for any bursaries grrr.

MrsManda

How old are you?
As you are living with your OH, I think you can designate your OH as your partner and go off his income rather than your parents. It'll require your OH to support your application in place of your parents but reading your post, I don't think that'll be a problem.

Oldernotwiser

Sorry, the only reason for being able to change from being dependent to independent during the course is if you have responsibility for a child, otherwise everything is based on your status at the start .

As far as I know, there's no way round this, otherwise lots of people would be using it as a loophole.

Fire_Fox

princessamy86 wrote: »

Hi All
This year, I'm so financially independent from her I've had a mortgage for the last 16 months, yet they still won't consider me as financially independent! The reason: you can't change cicumstances halfway through your course. !!!!!!?!?!?!

I really don't want to do the application as though I'm still at home, OH has just been made redundant and is in the process of setting up a business. My mum, on the other hand, has just got a fab new job with a payrise and is happily married to my stepdad-whose wage will also be taken into consideration. ARGH! I don't get any handouts off them, I work really hard to support myself, and I would prefer to by income assessed on MY income, not theirs!

Sorry to sound harsh, but grants are not put in place for those who don't want to/ prefer not to get help from their parents: the system is there for those who don't have any other option, whose parents cannot afford to help out, those who are estranged/ orphaned or are mature students who have long since flown the nest. You have chosen to be financially independent, and your mum can afford to help you.

princessamy86

You have chosen to be financially independent, and your mum can afford to help you.

But why should my mum be expected to support me? She can't afford to help anyway, I have 3 younger sisters who all still live at home and she's hardly a millionaire. I really object to my stepdad's wage being used-he has never and will never contribute towards anything for me, why should he?!? I'm 22, I should be able to stand on my own 2 feet, earn my own wage and have my loans assessed accordingly. Most unfair flippin system ever!

MrsManda

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Sorry, the only reason for being able to change from being dependent to independent during the course is if you have responsibility for a child, otherwise everything is based on your status at the start .

As far as I know, there's no way round this, otherwise lots of people would be using it as a loophole.

This can't be true - marriage for instance will reassess your status as independent.

Oldernotwiser

MrsManda wrote: »

This can't be true - marriage for instance will reassess your status as independent.

I'm pretty sure that's only if you're married at the start of the course, not if you marry during it. I looked it up for someone recently and will try to find it.

Edit: From the St Helens Council website,

"
Independent Student Status
The Government's rules mean we have to decide whether you are a Dependent or Independent student. You are Independent if you will be aged 25 or over on 1 September prior to the start of your course. If you will be under 25 on that date you can still be independent if: -

• you will be married by 1 September prior to the start of your course. Please provide your marriage certificate with your application if this applies to you;
• you will have supported yourself for at least three years on 1 September prior to the start of your course. Please provide evidence with your application (e.g. letters from employers, P60's) if this applies to you.
• you are responsible for the care of a child at the start of the academic year. "

Oldernotwiser

princessamy86 wrote: »

But why should my mum be expected to support me? She can't afford to help anyway, I have 3 younger sisters who all still live at home and she's hardly a millionaire. I really object to my stepdad's wage being used-he has never and will never contribute towards anything for me, why should he?!? I'm 22, I should be able to stand on my own 2 feet, earn my own wage and have my loans assessed accordingly. Most unfair flippin system ever!

It always seems worst if you've worked for a couple of years before going to university; this is why many people in this situation work for the extra year so that they've been supporting themselves for the required three years.