Independent student

bambam69

Hello

I have recently started a university degree course and am having a lot of difficulty getting proper financial support.

Basically I have not spoken to my parents in over a year, but the lea in my area will not accept that I am an independent student. They have asked for letters of support from either a social worker, doctor, solicitor, teacher or the police, but as I was not a child or at school when I became estranged from my parents and I did not have need of the police or social services then I cannot provide any of these.

I called today to enquire about the solicitors letter, and was told it would have to confirm I had 'Legally' estranged from my parents. I queried this as I have never heard of an adult legally estranging their parents in a court of law, but was first told that that is exactly what it was. I told the person I spoke to I did not believe this was possible under british law, but she first got rather high handed and told me if I didn't like it I should speak to the Welsh Assembly, and then put her supervisor on who told me that it would I would have had to be legally seperated from my parents in court before I was 18, or I could not be considered independent! I said that this is not what the applications say the rules are (the notes for application state you should be 'permenently estranged', which I am, and not 'Legally estranged' which is what they are saying and which is not even possible as an adult), but she said that it was the rules and if I had a complaint I should write to the welsh assembly.

I find this very hard to take as this means that I will have to leave my university place as I cannot afford the fees/costs involved in supporting myself.

If anyone has any advise or information it would be greatly appreciated.

Many Thanks

B

MSE_Martin

What a horrible scenario - I am going to try and see if i can find out anything more (please don't hold out too much hope though - I have no clue what will come of it)

Martin

r.mac_2

hi there,

I am currently at university, but as i am scottish, my lea will be differnt from yours. However, there are similarities in the system.

To considered independant for funding (fees and student loans) I was required to be 25 when I applied for funding OR be over 21 and have been financially independant from my parents for at least 3 years. This is calculated to the month and is required to be proved with pay slips etc.

If you don't fill this criteria, they require to assess you based upon your parents income. Legally your parents are responsible for the cost of your further education until you reach 26.

This is not the best situation. Not many people can afford this and as you have found out, there are situations which make this difficult. My best advice is that you use the help available to you. Go to your university and see how they can help. They may (as they do where i am) have an advice place - which offers advice on situations such as this and on many other issues.

There are also hardship funds which may look upon your situation with sympathy. Again the university can help with these.

Many employers will consider sponsorship of degrees. Perhaps you could consider this.

Fianlly, depending on your course most students have part time jobs and work during the holidays - have you worked out exactly how much it will cost you to be at uni and how much you could cover?

Alternatively, could you consider trying to reestablish a relationship with your parents? I don't know your circumstances, but is your future career, earning potential and life worth forfeiting over your disagreements???? (not judging, just wondering if you had thgouht about it in this way before).

I hope this helps. Investigate your options and ask for as much help as possible - get requirements in writing and check for any loop holes.

justruth

hi, how old are you? I had the very same problem years ago, and now Im 25, I've started an access to medicine course and hope to continue to the degree next year. It's frustrating as hell, and I understand that Martin is looking for you now, but there are a lot of factors for you to consider.

1, the course you are doing as some have a greater demand than others, time wise. This would directly affect your ability to work.
2, What financial help you actually need. the course fee's should still come under a loan which you repay when you earn lots post grad and depending upon your parents income as this is what is affecting you, you might still get something in the way of a grant.
3, Most Unis now offer bursaries to students in need.
4, If all else fails, and you have to work your !!!! off this year and put a heap of money aside for your studies then do it. you have a couple of months every summer to make more and the rest of the time you have student bank accounts, overdrafts and credit cards. It's not the best way, but If all else fails and you desperately want to go to uni now, it's an option.

bambam69

Thanks to everyone for posting, hope Martin can give me some idea of what I might be able to do but here's some clarification answers to some points raised.

*I am 20

* I'm studying English Literature at degree level, and whilst this does leave a lot of study time I need this to read and complete work etc. This is not to say that I don't work, I'm currently working 25 - 30 hours a week and whilst this is seriously cutting in to my time to study time it is still not enough to keep me affloat.

* I am currently only entitled to a non means-tested loan (which is about £3000 something). In order to be eligible for grants you have to be means tested, so in regards to that I again can claim for nothing. This also means that I am asked to meet the maximun amount of fees (£1200). As you can probably appreciate, this leaves me with a massive shortfall in rent, gas, electricity, transport, food, clothing and study costs.

* I have received some money from the university but this is in the way of a small loan (£200) which , whilst of course gratefully recieved, is a drop in the comparative ocean.

* I am currently working my a** off anyway, but if I left Uni now I honestly cannot see me being able to get back. Under current legislation I am ENTITLED to government support to study higher education, but am currently being thwarted by beaurocracy.


And no offense, but suggesting I get back in contact with my parents is not helpful, as there are serious reasons why I broke off relations with them some time ago.

MSE_Martin

Ouch - sorry I had been waiting for a reply on this - but it slipped by the way side - my fault!

justruth

Would it be possible to try and claim from a different LEA?

Voyager2002

A difficult situation. Firstly, have you got the student loan policy IN WRITING? Presumably the organisation has some kind of policy document, and given the exact wording it might be possible to find a loophole.

Secondly, have you seen a solicitor? S/he would be well-placed to go through a policy document and discover loopholes, and in any case would be aware of any legal definition of the term "estrangement". For example, you might be able to swear a statement in front of a Notary/Commissioner for Oaths and use that to get the loan.

Finally, would it be possible to ask a solicitor to write to your parents, asking them to complete whatever form is needed? You need never speak to them: everything could be done on paper, through the lawyer.

And if nothing works out, don't forget that the Open University is really really good.

Crispy_Ambulance

You don't need a solicitor - you need to speak to the student advice centre at your students union who will be very familiar with the regulations and the guidance given to LEAs and who will have dealt with this kind of thing before. LEAs are advised that there should be third party evidence, but this is not always necessary.

You really really don't need a solicitor - union advice services are free and will have much more experience.

It is possible, although not always easy, to make a case for estrangement. Any evidence you have eg from relatives, friends etc to back up what you are saying will be useful.

Please PM me if you need any more info, but go to your union advice centre asap.

bambam69 wrote:

Thanks to everyone for posting, hope Martin can give me some idea of what I might be able to do but here's some clarification answers to some points raised.

*I am 20

* I'm studying English Literature at degree level, and whilst this does leave a lot of study time I need this to read and complete work etc. This is not to say that I don't work, I'm currently working 25 - 30 hours a week and whilst this is seriously cutting in to my time to study time it is still not enough to keep me affloat.

* I am currently only entitled to a non means-tested loan (which is about £3000 something). In order to be eligible for grants you have to be means tested, so in regards to that I again can claim for nothing. This also means that I am asked to meet the maximun amount of fees (£1200). As you can probably appreciate, this leaves me with a massive shortfall in rent, gas, electricity, transport, food, clothing and study costs.

* I have received some money from the university but this is in the way of a small loan (£200) which , whilst of course gratefully recieved, is a drop in the comparative ocean.

* I am currently working my a** off anyway, but if I left Uni now I honestly cannot see me being able to get back. Under current legislation I am ENTITLED to government support to study higher education, but am currently being thwarted by beaurocracy.


And no offense, but suggesting I get back in contact with my parents is not helpful, as there are serious reasons why I broke off relations with them some time ago.

bambam69

Again, thanks for all the suggestions, more clarification follows!

I have been to student advice several times already (once with a financial type person and twice with a counsellor). They were both very sympathetic and understanding but not quite as helpful or knowledgeable as I expected. In fairness the counsellor isn't really meant to do anything, but the financial advisor's suggestions were a little vague and wishy-washy.
They ranged from "Why don't you marry your boyfriend?" (because that's a bit mad and it wouldn't help this year anyway), or "Why don't you leave and come back next year?" (err, cause I'm already here and aren't you meant to help so I don't have to do that?) and finally "Give the LEA a call and find out if they accept a letter from a solicitor, then come back".
Called the LEA who told me that the letter had to be from a solicitor who had represented me during "divorce" proceedings with my parents, as described in my first post.
Have not been able to see the finance advisor at uni since as she has been on a 2 week holiday and she is the only person dealing with this (far be it from me to tell people they can't have holidays, everyone needs them, but as the only person doing this at a busy university, is the START OF TERM the time?!!! You've just had 3 months off!!!)
I have another apointment next week...

Crispy_Ambulance

Have you been to the students union advice centre or the university welfare service? the SU advice centre will have experienced professional advisers who can negotiate on your behalf.

I have had success in the past with LEAs in similar situations - send me a PM and let me know where you are studying and I will find you the details of who you need to speak to.