Independant Status ... HELP!!!!!!!

xelaine88x

Would her partner's income not be assessed instead, since she will be living with him?

I am 20, in 4th year at uni and live with my partner. From the start of this academic year my partner's income has been assessed, whereas before it was my parents' income, even though I was not living with them I was classed as "dependent".

I know that in Scotland the rules changed this year so that your partner's income is assessed even if you were not married, but living together. Unsure how this applies in England though

greenpixie_2

Is her mum single? or living with a boyfriend?

Because if she is living alone is there no possible way that she could use her mums income rather than you and her fathers income?

She could probably get a rather larger increase in loan if this was the case, worht making up with her mother for.

Oldernotwiser

Your income isn't assessed on a partner's income unless you're actually married, over the age of 25 or have a child.

mrsmx5

She would have to be assessed as a dependant and not on her partners income as they do not live together at the moment and she is under 25.

We put the option of her making up and moving back with her mother, even though Mum is living with someone else, my Stepdaughter would be better being assessed at their house on the income. Even though it would mean her moving back with them for a short while before the start of Uni, this is a definate No No... because of other circumstances.

Will also see if we can contact the advisor at the Uni she is going to on Monday.

Taiko

All the information that has been given on this thread is correct, and her college advisor was wrong. She will not be classed as independent.

Just as an insight, I'm an assessor with an LEA, and have been for several years. I see these cases come through all the time. She will always be turned down for this due to being on a full time course. If it was part-time, might consider it providing the student can provide evidence to back up claims.

mrsmx5

Well, the sage continues...... My stepdaughter has today spoken with the college finance advisor, and explained that We had said that she wont get Independent Status due to all the reasons listed previously, and armed with the PDF file kindly put on by MrsManda.

The college advisor has told her that she WILL PROBABLY get it as she has been working 16hrs per week for the last three years and it doesnt matter that she is living with parents just so long as she has received wages that are above the Job seekers allowance.!!!!!!!! and that she only needs to send the letter from the Inland Revenue for her last three years earnings, no other proof is required.

She has advised her to send off the application and IF it is rejected then to apply for dependent status, but she cant see this happening.

Back to Square one, so will now have to wait for it to be rejected, and then for her to reapply for dependent status with both of our incomes taken into account.

We have advised her that we try to work out how much she will get as dependant and then work out whether she can afford to go to Uni, so that at least she is prepared for when the application is returned.


Thanks to everyone who has commented, and now to join the waiting game for when the application is returned and to start the process again.

Oldernotwiser

Thanks for the update. The advisor is certainly right in that it doesn't matter that she's been living at home but definitely wrong about her earnings making her independent. Many, many students work 16 hours per week and earn over £45 per week; if she were right then they'd all get independent status.

There's obviously not much else that you can do except to wait for things to take their course and not to let your step daughter get her hopes up. On the other hand, might it be worth your while to have a word with the Student Finance department at the LEA before she sends her form in?

There are going to be a lot of unhappy bunnies at your daughter's college when the dust settles!

Taiko

Unfortunately, there won't be an LEA able to give advice. It's all centralised in Darlington for September starters, with no regional offices!

Oldernotwiser

Taiko wrote: »

Unfortunately, there won't be an LEA able to give advice. It's all centralised in Darlington for September starters, with no regional offices!

Thanks for the correction, I'd forgotten about the changes!

Taiko

With my job going, I'm afraid I can't be as forgetful!

College financial advisor is crap though by the sounds of things, and not worth the money they get. It's horrid advice.