Do I qualify For Income Assessed Loan/Grant?

charlishae

I am 23 and about to apply for student finance for my 2nd year and trying to be considered as an independent so I can be assessed on my own income but I am not entirely sure if I qualify so was wondering if anybody can help me? I know you have to prove you have self supported for 3 years but not sure if my circumstances qualify.

My info:
Worked full time july 2005 - august 2006 after finishing A-levels
Went to uni in Sept 2006 then dropped out May 2007
Worked June 2007 to Dec 2009 with a 4 month gap when I was unemployed and claiming JSA.
Started uni JAN 2010.

I was never earning much, each tax year was only about £9000, is there a minimum you need to have earned to be classed as self supporting?

My only other option is to try and get assessed on my parents income but not sure if that is possible either. My parents have previously earnt too much but since my mum was made redundent in may they earn less (household income is now 42,000 is that low enough?). What if I apply and then my mum gets a job?

Anybody know what my chances are? Any help would be very appreciated, I have spoke to student finance but seem to be getting mixed opinions!

Oldernotwiser

charlishae wrote: »

I am 23 and about to apply for student finance for my 2nd year and trying to be considered as an independent so I can be assessed on my own income but I am not entirely sure if I qualify so was wondering if anybody can help me? I know you have to prove you have self supported for 3 years but not sure if my circumstances qualify.

My info:
Worked full time july 2005 - august 2006 after finishing A-levels
Went to uni in Sept 2006 then dropped out May 2007
Worked June 2007 to Dec 2009 with a 4 month gap when I was unemployed and claiming JSA.
Started uni JAN 2010.

I was never earning much, each tax year was only about £9000, is there a minimum you need to have earned to be classed as self supporting?

Did you apply to be assessed as independent at the start of the course? Surely you became a student in September 2009?

charlishae

Yes I did, sent off all my payslips (didnt have any p60s) and received a letter saying I wasnt eligible but no reason given and stupidly I didnt bother querying it at the time.
I have just rang them to ask why and they gave me a vague answer about not receiving enough evidence. Think I might try and see what evidence I can find and send it off again, I just didnt want to bother sending things to them if I was not eligible.

Taiko

Based on the information given, I would have no hesitation in awarding support as an independent student. Obviously your documents might indicate otherwise.

If this was the case, I'd also backdate support to the start of the course. I did so recently for a student, and they were given a lump sum of just under £6000.

charlishae

Taiko wrote: »

Based on the information given, I would have no hesitation in awarding support as an independent student. Obviously your documents might indicate otherwise.

If this was the case, I'd also backdate support to the start of the course. I did so recently for a student, and they were given a lump sum of just under £6000.

Thanks for that Taiko. Im still not sure why they rejected me the first time, my only thought is that maybe it was because I didnt send any p60s only wage slips a I didnt have my p60s and thought that would be ok but there were like 100 of them so maybe they couldnt be bothered to go through them all! Im currently writing a covering letter to send with my evidence, should I mention that I would like to appeal the original decision and try and claim for my first year?

Mankysteve

Where have you living before you started Uni?

Do you still have contact with your parents?

charlishae

Mankysteve wrote: »

Where have you living before you started Uni?

Do you still have contact with your parents?

Ive been renting a flat with a friend.

Yes I still speak to my parents but unfortunately they cant afford to support me.

Oldernotwiser

Mankysteve wrote: »

Where have you living before you started Uni?

Do you still have contact with your parents?

Claiming independent student status has nothing to do with where you have been living and is a totally separate issue to claiming estrangement from parents.