Help With Student Loans - HERE!

MrsManda

Ollieda wrote: »

Does anyone know if I can apply for income assessed loan/grant as an independant even though previously I wasn't independant.
What annoys me is that since coming to uni I have not lived with, or even seen my parents and have been fully supporting myself, yet I am still considered to be dependant! Is there anyway round this?

Unless you get married, turn 25, have a child or your parents die before the first day of the academic year your status remains the same as it was when you started your degree. Many students don't live with their parents once they start their degree and you cannot really say you've been fully supporting yourself as presumably you've been living on student loans?

Who is classed as an independent student?

The lists below aren’t exhaustive, but you’ll usually be classed as independent if any of the following apply on the first day of the academic year for which you’re applying for support:

• you are aged 25 or over
• you have care of a child
• you have no living parents

Generally speaking, you’ll also be classed as independent if either of the following applies to you before the first day of the academic year for which you’re applying for support:

• you are, or have been, married or in a civil partnership
• you are classed as having supported yourself for at least three years

From direct.gov

MrsManda

writeychap wrote: »

Hi, I've a slightly different problem to many of the posters here in that I've overpaid on one of my student loans. The balance was cleared in February 2009, but payments continued to be deducted from my salary until about June 2009.
What happens here? Do the SLC automatically refund overpayments at the end of some financial year, or do I have to chase down nearly £300?

They may sort it out once they receive the information of how much you have paid from the HMRC but that may not happen until the end of the financial year. You are better off contacting the SLC with details of the payments you have made since your last statement so they can confirm the overpayment and return the money earlier.

Ollieda

Ok then if living off my student loans makes me a dependant, then who am I dependant on? SLC? should it be there income I use for income assesment. It just seems very unfair that my level of support is based upon another persons income who I have no contact with. You are right in saying most students don't live with their parents but the majority are still financially dependant and parents help out when they can (hence most students go home in the holidays and live off their parents).

If I am stuck with it being on my mums income I also think it's unfair that her current income is assessed on the threshold from 2006. Shes earning about 19k and thats to support her, my dad and my brother......even if she were to support me there wouldn't be any money to give me. Is it correct that it should be assessed on the old threshold? Or have I been told the wrong thing?

Helix

Ollieda wrote: »

Ok then if living off my student loans makes me a dependant, then who am I dependant on? SLC? should it be there income I use for income assesment. It just seems very unfair that my level of support is based upon another persons income who I have no contact with. You are right in saying most students don't live with their parents but the majority are still financially dependant and parents help out when they can (hence most students go home in the holidays and live off their parents).

If I am stuck with it being on my mums income I also think it's unfair that her current income is assessed on the threshold from 2006. Shes earning about 19k and thats to support her, my dad and my brother......even if she were to support me there wouldn't be any money to give me. Is it correct that it should be assessed on the old threshold? Or have I been told the wrong thing?

What you have been told is correct, you stay on the thresholds (+ inflation) in the year that you started in. If they accepted students as being independent at uni just because they received no support from their parents whilst at uni then everyone would be claiming, theres no way of proving it.

Thats why it has to be before the start of your course as they can at least then have proof that you have been earning money that you could support yourself on.

Taiko

Also, the 3 years has to be before the first academic year, so the payments from the SLC don't really matter in this case.

Freddie_85

I may be clutching at straws here but...

My university course starts on the 20th September. My 25th birthday is on the 23rd September, three days later.

A 25 year old student, living at home with his parents is entitled to a lot more than a 24 year old. Do you think I will be sent to prison... or more likely cause issues with my loan application if I say my University course started on, ooh say, the 24th September?

MrsManda

Freddie_85 wrote: »

My university course starts on the 20th September. My 25th birthday is on the 23rd September, three days later.
A 25 year old student, living at home with his parents is entitled to a lot more than a 24 year old. Do you think I will be sent to prison... or more likely cause issues with my loan application if I say my University course started on, ooh say, the 24th September?

I don't think it'll make any difference as I think for independent student status the 1st day of the academic year is the 1st of September. Plus the SLC will need confirmation from your university of your start date before they'll give you your payment schedule as payment dates are based on your term dates

Freddie_85

Oh well, it was worth a try.

Because I am living at home, and my parent's income will not be taken into account, the maintenance loan amount shown for me is £2763.

Does this sound right? Will it not be slightly more because I am attending a London University? It will just about cover my transport costs.

I assume that next year, when I am 25 years old, I can apply independently from my family, despite living at home? And I would be entitled to more, possibly a grant.

Lokolo

Freddie_85 wrote: »

Oh well, it was worth a try.

Because I am living at home, and my parent's income will not be taken into account, the maintenance loan amount shown for me is £2763.

Does this sound right? Will it not be slightly more because I am attending a London University? It will just about cover my transport costs.

I assume that next year, when I am 25 years old, I can apply independently from my family, despite living at home? And I would be entitled to more, possibly a grant.

You can apply to be independant now if you can prove you've supported yourself for 3 years. (P60s and P45s etc.)

Freddie_85

I tried to go down that route, but because I haven't worked consecutively for 36 months, instead I have worked sporadically over the last 8 years, I would need to retrieve P60 forms from years ago that have long since been recycled. Sounds like an awful lot of hassle.