No money! Help!

Mankysteve

Worth checking out your local concil website there may be a grant scheme in your local area. I just got £500 from a grant scheme for ex students of my old secondary school.

surfsister

i thought student finance went on the p60's of the previous year and if your mum had a partner for 2 months before you applied would this affect it for funding this year. i thought it would affect you next year?

MrsManda

surfsister wrote: »

i thought student finance went on the p60's of the previous year and if your mum had a partner for 2 months before you applied would this affect it for funding this year. i thought it would affect you next year?

It takes the figures from the previous financial year but of the household when you apply - i.e. when the OP applied the household consisted of her mum and her mum's partner therefore it was her mum and her partner who needed to provide their income information. Plus you're supposed to inform the SLC if the household income increases by 15% which as the partner is described as earning a considerable amount I'm presuming this would be relevant

vularlen

Heya sorry you're having a tough time with finding money! I also had a similar problem the past several years that my parents refused to fill in the income assessment nor provide any financial support for the past 6 years I've been at uni (I'm doing medicine so it takes a little while!) so hence get minimum for student loans and nothing extra from nhs bursary despite the course running the whole year (i.e. through summer). So the past several years I've been working 40 hours a week on top of medicine to put a roof over my head etc, "luckily" had a flexi-time research-related job that fitted around the degree. It's pretty much driven me mad along with coming down quite ill and most certainly has had an effect on my grades (but if you can't pay to go through uni, you can't get the degree sadly!). I got £250 from ALF once, though with several years living costs that didn't go very far. Based on working I got a mortgage and a home and am now in the last few months of my degree where I've quit work and am living off student loan/small amount of support from fiance (also student) and mortgage reserve off my flat. Also looking at applying for a small Natwest Professional Trainee Loan.

Mostly people have suggested already but your uni ALF may be of assistance, perhaps go in and see them and explain everything and they may be able to help, do a budget assessment of how much you're spending and it may be that to make everything balance you need to eat toast and beans for a year (not that I'd will that on anyone!) and you may just need dig your heels in and find work that pays more or do more. I was studying 60 hours a week and working 40 and it's pretty tough but if you want to do what you want to do it might not be fair but it's the reality you're in and feeling sorry for yourself doesn't pay bills! If you're eligible, perhaps consider a Professional Trainee Loan from the second year, only Natwest now do these (HSBC and Lloyds used to offer these as well but no more). Though only for particular degrees and from the second year. If you're eligible for anything like Career Development Loan, or Disable Student Allowance or NHS Bursary or ANYTHING just apply and try not to get too stressed about all the processes. Don't know what degree you're doing so not sure how to advise further! As far as jobs go, perhaps have a look around your uni academic centres, often there are posts for students for research assistants, academia-related donkey jobs that will get your some money and help with your CV. My first few jobs were within-uni.

rainbow81

Hi

I used to work in Student Finance at my uni and yes apply for ALF definitely, every little bit helps.

I remember a student whose parents refused to cooperate with the finance forms and in the end there was a way that he could declare himself financially independent fro his parents and his loan was assessed on his own income alone. Do you think you could enquire about that as you are getting no financial support from home?

luthriel

I totally I forgot to reply to this, but thanks everyone for your suggestions.
As an update...
I have managed to keep a part time job working for ASDA both at home in Wales and in University in Cornwall. I received only £180 from the ALF last year, but still appreciated it. Having had my local MP contact student finance on my behalf, I received no extra money and am now further into my overdraft but am managing to pay my bills and rent throughout the summer which is a plus I guess. The only way to have achieved independant status was to fill in a form declaring that I would no longer see or speak to either of my parents, of course I couldn't really do this. My mother and her partner currently live a few hours away and we don't have that much contact as I stay between different relatives/friends when I visit home, as they refused to support me in any financial way as it was her 'partners' money not hers. But i've managed so far, and luckily for the next academic year I can have my dad (who has also helped me out here and there despite being made redundant earlier in the year) on my student finance which will make things easier.
Student finance are still the devil!

SuperHan

Personally I make the most of all the student overdraft I can get... Throughout the year I usually get to the bottom of my overdraft, then work full time over summer to pay it back off. Although I get some support from my parents, the student loan is not enough to live off, and the overdrafts are interest free. So take advantage! So long as you can keep paying your overdraft off at the end of the year, it won't have any negative effect, and even means you have a credit score at the end of uni.