Student loan and benefits.

Jowo_2

pmf63 wrote: »

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As a mature student she gets nothing more than any other student ... I claim the benefits, housing benefit and council tax and I am looking after the family and three children on HER grant. Apparantly she gets too much for me to claim IS!! So, she is having to support us as well.

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I don't think you understand how benefits operate for couples who live together. You may be the applicant for these benefits and have filled in the forms for them but the calculations are done on a household (i.e. joint) basis. The benefits system has core principles which expect a couple to have a relationship based on mutual support and assistance (this is explicit in the legislation).

So your household receives housing benefit, council tax benefit, child benefit, child tax credits. In other words, so does your partner. You are artificially separating out your household income between you as individuals but this isn't how the system operates.

pmf63 wrote: »

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You tell me it's fair to have to support a family on the SAME student grants that a single young 18 year old gets!

Your household is currently receiving hundreds of pounds in benefits each week, is it not?

A single young 18 year old (or their parents) have to pay for their accommodation, you do not.

Your household is likely to be eligible for approx £150 per week in child benefit and child tax credits alone which will go a long way towards groceries and bills for the family.

You also have the same options as that 18 year old to improve household income - by finding employment to support yourself.

Oldernotwiser

pmf63 wrote: »

I would dissagree ... all mature students get it deducted from their benefits, benefits that other students don't have, because it is classed as income. It is a repayable LOAN, that is paid back twice. It effects everyone on benefits so not every student.

It's nothing to do with mature students; an 18 year old student living with an unemployed partner will find the partner's benefits affected as well.

A student loan is available income for the student and, unlike other loans, it may very well never need to be repaid at all.

Macro_3

The benefits systems exist to support the vulnerable, not people who choose to use their time to study. The student grants and loans system exists to support students.

Given that your wife undoubtedly also received a package of student grants to assist in supporting her family which was roughly equal to her loan, and was disregarded from the benefits calculations and non-repayable, you have a bit of a cheek to moan. Why should the taxpayer support her lifestyle choice any further?

pmf63

Jowo wrote: »

Many full time students do not qualify for benefits. Benefits tend to be paid to those with children and disabilities.

We have 3 children 2, 5 and 9

I'm not sure why you regard this low interest loan as being paid back twice? Please clarify.

When she told the necessary authorities that she was starting uni they added up her student grant and other income ... student loan ... and reduced our child tax credits. Even though what she gets as a student is less than we were getting when she was working.

We also only get a fraction of the housing benefit and council tax benefit that were getting even after her 25% discount.

The benefits office told her ... actually said these words ... we are deducting benefits because you are receiving a student loan. Infact even if you are not claiming for it we are still going to deduct it. They give us in one hand and take away in the other. But we still have to repay it also ... i know it is very low interest but we have already lost it in our benefits and then they will take it away again after she qualifies.

A student is investing in their career and will be the main beneficiary in any improvement in the quality of their life and higher income.

I wouldn't say £21 pa after graduation, £1300pm take home, is a huge incentive for what she is doing and the government get as much benefit from her skills as anyone!

MrsManda

pmf63 wrote: »

How dare you suggest that my wife is doing this to avoid working!

My wife made a concious decision to become a full time student to put something on the dinner table instead of claiming benefits.

You tell me it's fair to have to support a family on the SAME student grants that a single young 18 year old gets!

I didn't mean to suggest that she's doing it to avoid work - I have been a mature student and in full time employment and I know that I had to work harder as a student than I did in employment. But to be a student is a decision she made, not one which was forced on her.

A mature student with a family does not get the same as a single 18 year old. Students under 25 who are single without dependants are means tested on their parents income.

Mature students (over 25) get means tested on their partner's income.
Students with children and other dependents get additional grants
and partners of students can claim income-based benefits on behalf of themselves and the student.

pmf63

this has all got completely out of hand because practically every answer seems to be ignoring my initial comments that it is a LOAN. However you want to add it up it is a loan that we have to pay back. But they are taking it back at source treating it as income. I am not disputing that we shouldn't pay it back or that we are not getting enough ... just simply that they treat a loan as income when it has to be paid back.

If I got a bank loan they wouldn't take it back because it is a loan. Repayable. If I borrowed from my mother they wouldn't treat it as income ... the government gives in one hand and takes away in the other!

pmf63

MrsManda wrote: »

I didn't mean to suggest that she's doing it to avoid work .

I apologise. I get so frustrated that almost everyone of us is getting screwed by the government but they are so devious that we don't see it.

pmf63

Macro wrote: »

The benefits systems exist to support the vulnerable, not people who choose to use their time to study. The student grants and loans system exists to support students.

Given that your wife undoubtedly also received a package of student grants to assist in supporting her family which was roughly equal to her loan, and was disregarded from the benefits calculations and non-repayable, you have a bit of a cheek to moan. Why should the taxpayer support her lifestyle choice any further?

THE LOAN IS REPAYABLE ... that's my point. we have both paid income tax and NI for nearly 45 years between us and have NEVER asked for anything back until last year. If you want to attack someone for having a 'cheek to moan' try some of the lazy gits who don't work a day in their life and expect the rest of us to furnish everything from mansions to holidays. And don't be that naive to suggest that we are not surrounded by them.

Macro_3

pmf63 wrote: »

THE LOAN IS REPAYABLE ... that's my point. we have both paid income tax and NI for nearly 45 years between us and have NEVER asked for anything back until last year. If you want to attack someone for having a 'cheek to moan' try some of the lazy gits who don't work a day in their life and expect the rest of us to furnish everything from mansions to holidays. And don't be that naive to suggest that we are not surrounded by them.

You are missing the point - it is not a commercial loan, repayable in fixed installments at a set rate of interest. It is a virtually interest free loan repayable at a certain level of income, at a rate that is highly affordable. Many people will never repay their loans. Why should you wife be able to take money from the benefits pot because she chooses to further her education?

FBaby

You as a family made a choice to have children before getting an education. That was YOUR choice and there are no good reasons why you should benefit from that choice. Your wife does NOT have to go to uni.