PDF Parents' Guide To Student Finance 2009/10 Discussion

k4kate

Hi there, my son is looking at going to University in September 2011. He's still got a long way to go but he needs to start applying in October and we've started to consider student finance. He currently lives with my husband and I rather than his biological father and we earn slightly too much for him to be eligible for a grant (always the most difficult place to be).

One of the courses he is particularly interested in is near where his Dad lives and he is considerng living with his Dad while he studies his degree. His Dad earns less than £25k a year so if we applied for a grant based on him living there would he be eligible for a grant? I am concerned that it might look as if we are "trying to pull a fast one". Would we be likely to encounter problems and would he have to be living with his Dad when the application was made (which would obviously be before he started at Uni)?

I hope this makes sense. Thanks for any advice.

Taiko

Nothing in the regs to stop you doing that, just don't slip up by giving your own address.

Savvy_Sue

Taiko wrote: »

Nothing in the regs to stop you doing that, just don't slip up by giving your own address.

And as they do most of the 'correspondence' with applicants by email, that shouldn't be too hard. I'd suggest using Dad's home phone no. as well and alerting Dad to this, not that I've ever known them phone.

Just some practical and unrelated thoughts which k4kate doesn't have to reply to but which I'd want to think about: has your son spent plenty of time with his Dad, and do they get on well? I presume they do or it wouldn't be considered, but IME they grow up such a lot when they start Uni, and that might be a shock to Dad if your son is still his little boy, IYKWIM.

I think I'm right in saying that if he lives 'at home' he gets less loan than if he lives in halls or rented. It used to be that you got less if you went to your local Uni, regardless of where you lived, but I'm told that's no longer the case and I'm waiting to see whether DS3 gets a place in halls or not! It will be an interesting transition in our relationship if he DOESN'T get into halls!

k4kate

Thanks Taiko and Sue. This will certainly help. Sue you make some good points... yes they do get on well but have only spent limited amounts of time together say a week at a time max so we might have to do some testing over the summer hols! Also his Dad has always been more of a friend to him than a father figure so that could prove "interesting"

We might look at the possibility of him living in halls/rented accommodation because then he would have the opportunity to live student life and become more independent (I certainly enjoyed it) but we just worry about the extra costs involved.

Sue - your third off to Uni, well done! We have 2 daughters to think of who are currently 11 and 13 so a few years to go yet but they would potentially be at Uni at the same time! :eek:

And people worry about nappies being too expensive :rotfl:

liney

Turned down for PLA, and Child care grant. DH income of £19.5k, so i'm suprised not to qualify for anything does that sound right? The Advisor at SF, told me to send an appeal email, but couldn't advise me of any income thresholds in place.

Savvy_Sue

OK, one son off to Uni this year (DS3, planning to go to local Uni but live away from home), and one about to enter his 2nd year (DS2, lives away from home while at Uni).

DS2 has been told he'll get a grant of about £600.
DS3 has been told he'll get a grant of about £3000.

Income declared for each of them identical.

Does that sound right? DS3 reluctant to query it in case he suddenly gets less, and doesn't want me to encourage DS2 to query it either, obviously ... :rotfl: Brotherly love rules OK!

Happymum2_2

Hi Taiko

I have seen that you have been helping out prospective students as to whether they can get financial help. I am not sure if you are still doing this but it seems you are doing a great job and wondered if you could help me. I am currently working full time with one child and another on the way and I am thinking of retraining as a teacher. I would do and subject knowledge enhancement course and PGCE so would take two years. I wouldn't have any income but my hubby would get 17k - 19k gross depending on commission. We get Child benefit and tax credit (not childcare part). We pay 525 per month mortgage, 28 buildings and contents insurance, 65 life insurance, 140 council tax. Not sure if anything else is deductible? Childcare is 140 per week per child although by the time I start will get the free place for 3 year old so will get some help. Not sure if it will count but I would also get bursary for training as would be doing maths ie £9k for second year. Not sure what I would get for the first year.

I just want to work out if it is financially viable before I give up my job!! No rush as not applying until next year just trying to get an idea what to do.

If there is any help or advice you coud give me it would be gratefully received.

Thanks

Taiko wrote: »

Hi Bob,

I was actually on TSR before coming over here, and stil post on the forums. I previously ran an "Ask an LEA Assessor" thread there. However, this thread was removed because Student Finance England complained about the corretc information I was giving out.

In a post I made in February, I pointed out they were adding a functionality to their system where if they did get a backlog it would allow them to just non-means test everyone. There is no excuse for the delays though tbh, because statistics over the years have shown the relevent numbers, and they have had since 2006 to prepare for this.

I don't know what actually goes on inside their Darlington office, but I know they are having a lot of problems. Staff do not have the knowledge LEA's did, and have been known to make mistakes, hence people posting here and on TSR about them.

I encouraged people to apply in February when the applications became available. I knew this would happen the moment I saw the guidance sent out, so I tried to actually warn people several months ago. I'm still offering assistance, as with morale how it is, I couldn't care too much if I'm forced out of my job for doing the right thing.

Former_MSE_Natasha

This thread has now been closed as there's a new discussion area for the Parents' Guide To Student Finance 2010/11 PDF.