Help With Student Loans - HERE!

deja_2

Hello Netty - and thank you for your very prompt reply to my dilemma. Its heartening to hear of someone who has also taken a huge step and that it has all worked out for the best - my head is getting dizzy with thinking of how to make ends meet and at the same time support my daughter, run a car, pay the mortgage etc ...lol.


Wishing you every success and all the very best for 2009.


Dejaxx

laurahayley

Please can someone help me.

i am 21 years old and i would like to start a university course in childhood studies in september but am very confused about the financial support i am entitled to.

i have had my own house with my boyfriend for a year now and we have a joint mortgage. before this, i lived with my boyfriends parents for one year. my boyfriend earns under £25000 but does this count as my means tested income or is it my parents income?

my parents income is around £50000 however i wont be recieving financial help from them, and have not had any form of financial help from them since i left home 2 years ago.

also, i have suffered from chronic fatigue syndrome for 4 years. am i entitled to a special needs grant because of this.

please can someone explain what i help i can recieve?

thank you

Oldernotwiser

laurahayley wrote: »

Please can someone help me.

i am 21 years old and i would like to start a university course in childhood studies in september but am very confused about the financial support i am entitled to.

i have had my own house with my boyfriend for a year now and we have a joint mortgage. before this, i lived with my boyfriends parents for one year. my boyfriend earns under £25000 but does this count as my means tested income or is it my parents income?

my parents income is around £50000 however i wont be recieving financial help from them, and have not had any form of financial help from them since i left home 2 years ago.

also, i have suffered from chronic fatigue syndrome for 4 years. am i entitled to a special needs grant because of this.

please can someone explain what i help i can recieve?

thank you

Unless you're married or over 25 the test for being considered an independent student and not being assessed on your parents' income is whether you've supported yourself for at least 3 years. You'll be asked for proof of this in the form of tax forms or benefit details; where you've lived is immaterial.

All the financial information you'll need is on https://www.direct.gov.uk

MrsManda

LauraHayley,
Your parents income is the one which will count unless you can prove you've supported yourself for three years or more. You mentioned you've been independent for 2 years which presumably means you'll have been self-supporting for three years by the time you start your degree. Therefore you may be able to swing it so your own income is the one you are means tested on. You'd have to speak to your LEA about that though.
Another website which may be useful to you is: http://www.studentfinancedirect.co.uk

As for your CFS, if you are entitled to student loans you will also be eligible for Disabled Student Allowance. This isn't a cash grant, rather you get an assessment which may entitle you to specialist equipment to help you with your studies.

furley

Hi,

I'm a bit lost here on the site. I hadn't realised there 2 similar threads.

I just posted (item 10) on the Loans Resources. If you can find it, I'd appreciate feedback on my questions regarding the sensibility of the student loan, now, as savings rates are being savaged on a daily basis. I know someone will say SL is a different kind of debt - but it still attracts interest and grows.

I honestly try to understand this as best I can but still get a bit confused.

Lokolo

I've already answered

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1380827

designpollyana

I have quite a lot of arrears which I offered a token payment and it was accepted last year. I spoke to student loans in Oct and they said it would be reviewed in Jan. I have not missed a payment and have now received a default letter toady dated 23rd dec saying I need to pay in full by 6th of jan. I am going to ring them this morning but I can't understand why I got the letter. Can student loans freeze interest on account as I am paying back less than monthly interest at min so not getting anywhere.

Oldernotwiser

designpollyana wrote: »

I have quite a lot of arrears which I offered a token payment and it was accepted last year. I spoke to student loans in Oct and they said it would be reviewed in Jan. I have not missed a payment and have now received a default letter toady dated 23rd dec saying I need to pay in full by 6th of jan. I am going to ring them this morning but I can't understand why I got the letter. Can student loans freeze interest on account as I am paying back less than monthly interest at min so not getting anywhere.

Student loans won't freeze interest payments as it's public money and would put you in a better position than someone with no arrears. Anyone who earns less than £15,000 and makes no payments will see their balance rise because of added interest.

I'm sure that the letter is just a "nudge" for you to contact them as your agreement has expired and you need to set up a new one.

designpollyana

I have now spoken to student loans and was told the letter was a statutory letter sent in error and I was told to disregard it. Thanks for the reply.

Taiko

Mrsmanda wrote: »

LauraHayley,
Your parents income is the one which will count unless you can prove you've supported yourself for three years or more. You mentioned you've been independent for 2 years which presumably means you'll have been self-supporting for three years by the time you start your degree. Therefore you may be able to swing it so your own income is the one you are means tested on. You'd have to speak to your LEA about that though.
Another website which may be useful to you is: http://www.studentfinancedirect.co.uk

As for your CFS, if you are entitled to student loans you will also be eligible for Disabled Student Allowance. This isn't a cash grant, rather you get an assessment which may entitle you to specialist equipment to help you with your studies.

The only thing I will say to correct the above is that you won't be contacting your LEA for advice, because they won't speak to you about it.

Starters in September 2009 will be dealt with directly by Student Finance Direct. LEA's aren't legally allowed to offer you advice relating to beginning a course in the 2009/2010 academic year.

*prepares to go against above statement*

The rest of it though was fine. You'd need to prove you have been either receiving benefits or supported yourself through earnings for 36 months prior to the 1st September. Through the self supporting period, you cannot have been in full time education. The 36 months do not have to be consecutive.