Student MoneySaving: Funding, Borrowing & Living as a student Article Discussion Area

Beechy_2

broke_mother_of_students wrote:

One of my sons has had glandular fever twice during his time in college and currently has a year off to recover from the resulting fatigue. He is not regarded as a student by the student loan company, since he is deregistered, so does not qualify for a loan this year, and he apparently does not qualify for any form of benefit because he is regarded as still being a student. The only way he can access any income support is to actually leave the course, which obviously he does not want to do.
Does anyone have any suggestions?

Dear Fellow Sufferer
I'm not sure if this is any use to you but here goes. I am assuming your son is on 'leave of absence' for a year, is that correct? So he's not registered for the year but is still classed as a student? The University I work at has a hardship fund and I was wondering if he had tried to speak with student support to ask whether this would be something they could offer? Alternatively, does his university have an independent advice centre where he could ask for advice? They are usually very knowlegeable and may have some useful guidance. Alternatively, have you been to Citizens' Advice? Sorry if none of this is of use to you, and I hope your son gets better soon.
Best wishes, Beechy.

broke_mother_of_students

Thanks very much, Beechy, for your suggestions. We did contact the student advice centre, but they could not see him since he is not currently a student. (We will try again though, since that was only the person who answered the telephone). We have not tried Citizens' Advice but it is a really good idea and we will ring them tomorrow. Many thanks.

angieneil1

hi there
im a student on my second year hnd of photography and digital imaging. at the begining of this year i quit my job because i needed the time to focus on my course as it is very demanding. i have also been lucky enough to move back home because i could not afford rent costs. however i still have living and travel costs. the course is pushing me towards completing my own personal work out in the real world which i am trying to do, but i do not have the funds to purchase the equipment i need, and even though i am structuring what money i do have, i will not be able to raise £2500 for the equipment i need, and as i have no permanent job now i cannot get a bank loan or credit card even if i wanted too. there is no other support my university can offer and a carreer development loan would not work as i already have a student loan. however this equipment i really cannot wait much longer to get, it is vital to completing my course and starting my own work. is there anywhere you can suggest for funds. i have read through all previous bulletins and tried these out with no luck, help!

shauw

I am an student in my first year at university and have a 3 year old child. I was advised by the student loan company that my finance would come from income support. In december my benefits were stopped and I have received a demand claiming back the benefits. The student loan company dont seem to know how to help me, does anyone know what finance and loans I can claim. At this moment in time I have no income at all apart from having my child care costs paid for.

Oldernotwiser

You've been wrongly advised by SLC. You should apply through your LEA for student funding (see link)
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/StudentFinance/index.htm
This will be treated as income for IS purposes and as it is available to you the Benefits Agency are treating your claim as if you have received it. This is correct procedure.The CAB/SU/University welfare advisor should be able to help you to sort it out.
Did the SLC give you this advice in writing or do you know who you spoke to or when? They may still be giving people the wrong advice!

dae2210

Can anyone tell me if students who choose to study abroad are able to have student loans.

shauw

shauw wrote: »

I am an student in my first year at university and have a 3 year old child. I was advised by the student loan company that my finance would come from income support. In december my benefits were stopped and I have received a demand claiming back the benefits. The student loan company dont seem to know how to help me, does anyone know what finance and loans I can claim. At this moment in time I have no income at all apart from having my child care costs paid for.

i am still struggling to sort out what finances are available to me. I have no income comming in at all and may have to give up university unless I find out what I can claim as a mature student, living independently and having a 3 year old son. Does anyone know where I can get help as the SLC doesnt seem to know

Oldernotwiser

shauw wrote: »

i am still struggling to sort out what finances are available to me. I have no income comming in at all and may have to give up university unless I find out what I can claim as a mature student, living independently and having a 3 year old son. Does anyone know where I can get help as the SLC doesnt seem to know

What happened when you contacted the LEA to apply for your student loan, grant and etc? (See previous post).

DjSatansfury

Hi

Couple of quick questions from me.

I am assuming disabled students, can apply for DSA (Disabled Students Allowence) as a non-repayable grant ontop of the maintenance loan?

Also as someone who claims Income Support with a disability premium (not enough NI credits to claim Incap Ben) it is possible to still claim this, although at a drastically reduced rate. Not only that, but it is better to claim for a Student Support Grant (SSP) rather than the Learning to Access Fund (LAF) as SSP is not calculated as income in the IS calculations? Ontop of that, my intended college provides a £1,000 year scholorship, does this also count towards income regarding IS?

I have contacted the colleges student support service but they couldnt help with financial matters. The internet isnt very clear in the information it provides.

I have also previously attended a Higher Education (HE) course, but had to withdraw due to ill-health. Is it right that i need to provide proof for the LEA or LA to prove this was the case, when deciding how much support to give?

Thanks.

Oldernotwiser

I don't think that I can answer your question in detail, but the general principles might help. The only students who are allowed to remain on benefits are those who are disabled or who are lone parents. However, they are expected to take out student loans/ grants etc and if their benefits are means tested then the loans/grants are treated as income. You're not given the choice of taking out the loan etc as these will be treated as income whether you take it out or not. I think that this is what has happened to Shauw.
I'm afraid that I know rather more about lone parents than I do about students with disabilities but I hope that the general principles may be of some help.