Quick question on applications for 2010/2011

Amanda65

Hi all

DD1 has a place at Birmingham to study for fashion design BA from September and we need to apply for her student finance by 23rd April I believe. I've downloaded Martin's parents guide but it os for 2009 and I just wondered if there is anything I should update for this year ?

Having done a quick check, we earn too much on paper for her to get grants so my understanding is that she will just be able to apply for a Tuition fee loan and maintenance loan, which I guess will pay for her accommodation and we have to help her with living costs (she will try and get a job as well). Is that correct ?

MrsManda

Amanda65 wrote: »

Hi all
DD1 has a place at Birmingham to study for fashion design BA from September and we need to apply for her student finance by 23rd April I believe. I've downloaded Martin's parents guide but it os for 2009 and I just wondered if there is anything I should update for this year ?
Having done a quick check, we earn too much on paper for her to get grants so my understanding is that she will just be able to apply for a Tuition fee loan and maintenance loan, which I guess will pay for her accommodation and we have to help her with living costs (she will try and get a job as well). Is that correct ?

If you don't mind doing so, it's best to request the income assessed part as well as the non-income unless you are 100% certain she wouldn't be entitled to any grants etc... Yes she will be able to apply for the tuition fees and a maintanence loan. Whether the maintanence loan covers her accommodation depends on what accommodation she gets. You can apply online and it's best to get the applications in as soon as possible, especially considering the chaos of the 09/10 applications. You can find the details on how to apply plus a finance calculator which will give you a rough idea what she'll be entitled to HERE

ciderwithrosie_2

Applying online seems to have caused problems for a lot of people with extra evidence, signatures being needed at a later date etc. When I filled in DS forms last year I printed them off and posted them. He got sorted without any problems, although as it turned out we did have to reapply after his results for the London extra loan as he got his insurance place at UEL. His confirmation arrived the day after he left for Uni so he was without money for a few days but this is expected anyway. Whether this was just luck that it got processed without problems I don't know, we're not generally lucky people! I would apply for everything, regardless of whether you think you'd be entitled. All we had to do was provide figures from our P60s from 07/08 and state who was still living at home as dependents. DS got a full grant last year despite me being convinced we earnt over the limit. Most Unis will give back some money in the form of bursaries. DS got £319 back in January for being on a full grant and paying full fees and also the Uni gave him about £500 on a 'gift card' type thing for good attendance and handing in assignments on time - he can use this to buy books/stationery, top up his oyster card or pay rent (if desperate). Good luck with it, I put it off for ages as I hate form filling but it wasn't too bad. Next headache is DS having to find somewhere to live for his 2nd year that's not a doss house with a dodgy landlord and is reasonably close to his campus. Think he's been spoilt this year as he's been in newly built apartments with all mod cons with a fantastic view over the Royal Albert dock down to the O2.

regards CWR

akh43

A quick question re private pension, I am in a work pension and do not class this as a private pension, but on phoning the helpline on sunday I was told that anything that is not state pension is a private one and they now want me to sent a P60U form. Well I have checked at work and no one knows nothing about this form, even the people who deal with the pensions!

Is my pension classed as private for these purposes? Do I need this form and if so any suggestions on where I might get it?

When I was filling in the online form on Friday night it had apparently just changed and there were no help options for either the savings question or the pension question so I just put what I thought was correct and now I am being told different. I am sure I did not declare my pension as private when I supported my sons student finance application 2 years ago.

Thanks

MrsManda

Taiko or student_advisor will be able to confirm the answer but the guidance notes say

Q15 Private pension contributions
Do not include any payments you made towards a retirement pension provided
by your employer.

You can download the guidance notes HERE

student_advisor

akh43 wrote: »

A quick question re private pension, I am in a work pension and do not class this as a private pension, but on phoning the helpline on sunday I was told that anything that is not state pension is a private one and they now want me to sent a P60U form. Well I have checked at work and no one knows nothing about this form, even the people who deal with the pensions!

Is my pension classed as private for these purposes? Do I need this form and if so any suggestions on where I might get it?

When I was filling in the online form on Friday night it had apparently just changed and there were no help options for either the savings question or the pension question so I just put what I thought was correct and now I am being told different. I am sure I did not declare my pension as private when I supported my sons student finance application 2 years ago.

Thanks

It depends whether you are receiving payments from a pension or whether you are paying into a pension pot for later.

If you are paying into a work pension, then you only declare AVCs, not your normal/standard pension payments.

If you are receiving a pension because you are retired, you need to declare income from a work pension as a private pension.

If you are retired, you will receive a P60U from each of your pension providers. You will not receive this if you are not retired and not receiving pension payments.

hth

akh43

student_advisor wrote: »

It depends whether you are receiving payments from a pension or whether you are paying into a pension pot for later.

If you are paying into a work pension, then you only declare AVCs, not your normal/standard pension payments.

If you are receiving a pension because you are retired, you need to declare income from a work pension as a private pension.

If you are retired, you will receive a P60U from each of your pension providers. You will not receive this if you are not retired and not receiving pension payments.

hth

Hi and thanks for the response

I am still working and am paying into a final salary company scheme no avcs.

When I rang up Student Finance helpline I was told this needed to be declared - she said anything other that state pension needed to be declared.

I am not receiving any pension as only 51 and still working full time.

When I completed the online form I put no to both savings and pensions as (company pension and Isa's only savings) I remember doing that for my son, there were no help options to clarify the points that why I rang to make sure I had answered correctly.

Does this mean I ignore what I was told and just send the documents originally requested, ie P60 and Decri Nisi?

student_advisor

akh43 wrote: »

Does this mean I ignore what I was told and just send the documents originally requested, ie P60 and Decri Nisi?

that's what I recommend!