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

mrsmx5

Completely agree about the crap advice being given. Am considering applying for a job there myself, dont think I could do the job any worse.

Taiko sorry to hear about your job going

pavlovs_dog

I know on the Welsh student finance website there is a tool that works out whether you may qualify for independent status or not and how much money you may be entitled to. I'm guessing this calculator from the directgov site will do the same for students residing and studying in England

as an aside, I qualified for independent status. I left the family home aged 17 due to family breakdown and was in receipt of income support so that I could complete my last year of a levels. I had to fight tooth and nail to get that status, including proof of being on benefits, a letter of support from my year tutor in school to confirm my family situation, a 4 page account by me detailing the situation AND a letter from the police to confirm that my mother had threatened violence against me and it was still touch and go. the biggest irony of it all is that as my mother was on benefits at the time it wouldn't have cost them any more or any less to support me as an independent compared to assessing me on her income. they've either slackened the reigns a lot since I first applied (2004/5) or the advisor that your stepdaughter spoke to is living in cloud cuckoo land!

It is an unneccesary stress, but if it's any relief getting that first green light for any kind of financial support from them seems to be the hardest hurdle. I had no problems getting the support through for the other 3 years of my undergrad degree or my teacher training course which I'm due to finish this summer. I do advise that you keep a copy of the forms you send in (for your records and sanity! it's easier to refer to last year's photocopy when completing next year's form than to do it from scratch). I hope it all works out for you

Taiko

The calculator isn't right for this situation I'm afraid. Each case has to be treated on it's own individual merits. Therefore, it's not possible to put together such a thing to tell you.

Oldernotwiser

pavlovs_dog wrote: »

as an aside, I qualified for independent status. I left the family home aged 17 due to family breakdown and was in receipt of income support so that I could complete my last year of a levels. I had to fight tooth and nail to get that status, including proof of being on benefits, a letter of support from my year tutor in school to confirm my family situation, a 4 page account by me detailing the situation AND a letter from the police to confirm that my mother had threatened violence against me and it was still touch and go. the biggest irony of it all is that as my mother was on benefits at the time it wouldn't have cost them any more or any less to support me as an independent compared to assessing me on her income. they've either slackened the reigns a lot since I first applied (2004/5) or the advisor that your stepdaughter spoke to is living in cloud cuckoo land!

I imagine you were assessed on grounds of estrangement, though?

shadowdragon

Sorry to repeat what has already been said..but I completed the forms yesterday and to be classed as independant you have to have been supporting yourself for three years.

And even if she qualified as independant her parnters income would be taken into account when assessing any grants and loans. So there might be a case that she is over the threshold anyway.

pavlovs_dog

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I imagine you were assessed on grounds of estrangement, though?

I imagine I would have been evetually, yes. The point i was trying to make is how difficult it can be to get independent status with a supposedly clear cut case. I don't see how earning a part time wage along side your studies (as is the OP's stepdaughter's case) could remotely qualify for independent status when I had such grief getting that support with a very clear cut case of family estrangement. As i said in my OP, the SLC have either become a lot more generous or the 'advisor' is extremely ill informed

Oldernotwiser

pavlovs_dog wrote: »

I imagine I would have been evetually, yes. The point i was trying to make is how difficult it can be to get independent status with a supposedly clear cut case. I don't see how earning a part time wage along side your studies (as is the OP's stepdaughter's case) could remotely qualify for independent status when I had such grief getting that support with a very clear cut case of family estrangement. As i said in my OP, the SLC have either become a lot more generous or the 'advisor' is extremely ill informed

You're absolutely right on all of this; the crucial thing is that you can't gain this status whilst a full time student.

Taiko

And estrangement is harder to prove because of the amount of people who have lied to try and obtain this in the past. It is because of these fake claims that assessors take a harder-line approach.

mrsmx5

Thankyou once again to everyone who has posted replies and given examples, these have been helpful when discussing the situation with my stepdaughter.

My stepdaughter is now sending off the forms and applying for Independent Status, on the advice of her college finance officer and now her tutor........

I do realise as in my opening post, she wont qualify but what do I know, I left school 20 odd yrs ago :rotfl:.

My husband and I are ready to pick up the pieces when the form is returned and emotionally support her, and have another form ready for her to fill in with our joint income details.

My younger son of 14 has suggested that he open a Uni Savings account, just glad to see that he is thinking ahead.

Thanks once again, even though we have not managed to convince her not to apply this way, we now know she is being truthful on the forms, ie using our address, and not trying to hoodwink anyone, she has just been misinformed by college and hopefully it should get rejected quickly so that she can re apply for dependant status, and I will try my best not to use the "We told you so"

shadowdragon

good im glad its settled, at least if anything comes out of this, is that she will learn something, and will be a good experience for her.