HELP - Under 25 Proving independance to student finance.

APorter_2

Hello i am currently about to start university in september after working my way through my A levels away from home over the last two years. As i have been away from my parents and supporting myself for the last 3 years and 8 months i naturally assumed this would entitle me to the independant maintenance loan. However after recieving a very dismissive letter back from SFE they claim that although ive been supporting myself away from my parents on a measly shoe string income of around 5k a year im not entitled to the independant loan. This puts me in a very bad position as without any savings and no support from my family i will not be able to survive on the regular grant. Is there anyone who knows how i can prove my independance and whats more who to contact within student finance england to show this evidence to.

I have worked so hard to get on to this course and due to a backwards unwritten rule i might not be able to continue, all comments and advice will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
AP

Oldernotwiser

Time spent in full time education doesn't count towards the 3 years needed to establish independent status, I'm afraid.

Taiko

Unwritten rule? Clearly you skipped Schedule 4 of The Education (Student Support) Regulations.

£5000 is awfully low. Exactly how did you support yourself on this level of income? I'm talking outgoings, rent etc and how you got this money.

APorter_2

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Time spent in full time education doesn't count towards the 3 years needed to establish independent status, I'm afraid.

I was self supporting through two Jobs during that period, i was hoping thats what the application would be based on. Does this mean because i was in full time education im not entitled to the self support loan?

Taiko wrote: »

Unwritten rule? Clearly you skipped Schedule 4 of The Education (Student Support) Regulations.

£5000 is awfully low. Exactly how did you support yourself on this level of income? I'm talking outgoings, rent etc and how you got this money.

I was living of the income of two jobs which came to about 30 hours a week payed work. This mean't my out goings were only my food bills and phone contract with my rent all inclusive at £3360 a year.

Thanks for the feed back.

Taiko

So £280 a month rent? That's incredibly cheap, what area are we talking here? Was this like a rent a room or something?

APorter_2

It was a box room on the outskirts of norwich in a shared house and yeah that was the cheapest room i could find.

Taiko

Do you have receipts and other documentation to prove your expenditure? I think in this situation they're going to be needed. Failing that, written confirmation from LL's of this.

Oldernotwiser

Taiko wrote: »

Do you have receipts and other documentation to prove your expenditure? I think in this situation they're going to be needed. Failing that, written confirmation from LL's of this.

But does this matter if he was actually a full time student at the same time? I thought that overrode everything but I'm happy to be corrected.

Person_one

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

But does this matter if he was actually a full time student at the same time? I thought that overrode everything but I'm happy to be corrected.

OP, were you definitely classed as full time? Where were you doing your A levels? Was it during the day or in the evenings? How many hours?

If you felt the need to move into a bedsit to do your A levels, and your parents are completely unwilling to support you, have you considered going down the 'estrangement' route? Are you in contact with them?

Taiko

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

But does this matter if he was actually a full time student at the same time? I thought that overrode everything but I'm happy to be corrected.

Wording in the regs unfortunately changed, so it can be allowed. It's just the 36 months has to be before the first day of the first academic year of the course, and that's what catches people out.

Disagree with the change in regs, but can't exactly do anything about it. Plus side, there's rarely anyone it would apply to.

Oldernotwiser

Taiko wrote: »

Wording in the regs unfortunately changed, so it can be allowed. It's just the 36 months has to be before the first day of the first academic year of the course, and that's what catches people out.

Disagree with the change in regs, but can't exactly do anything about it. Plus side, there's rarely anyone it would apply to.

Thanks for the update.