Student - JSA, grants, & living with grandparents

Oldernotwiser

birkee wrote: »

Nobody is blaming immigrants, so your insinuation that I'm a racist calls for an apology.
What I said was, that if an immigrant can get a grant, then why can't a British citizen?

We've put ourselves out of sync with the system, so it's our own fault? That's a bit rich.
When a Grandson seeks refuge with us, do we research the system before we say yes?
When we assumed we would look after him until he got a job, were we wrong?
When he decided after a few months on JSA to go back to college, what were we supposed to do?

Why do you try and suggest WE did something wrong? As far as I can see, it is the system that is wrong, because some people don't fit between the lines drawn by a ruler, and it can't accommodate them.

It either accommodates him, or he's homeless on JSA and Living allowance. Which cost the system less?

I'll have to enquire about CA & CTC to see how that works. All I know, is that two pensioners are keeping a third party on their pensions. And YOU say "tough".

I'm insinuating nothing; you yourself made the statement,

"Are you saying he doesn't qualify, but a refugee that doesn't speak English does?"

Also, you said nothing about immigrants earlier;a recent immigrant wouldn't be eligible for any student finance either until they'd lived in the UK for 3 years.

I'm also not suggesting that you should necessarily have researched the situation before having him move in but he's lived with you for more than 2 years so that seems to me to be plenty of time to have found out how things work. In fact, it seems totally irresponsible for you not to have looked into this, not for your sake but for your grandson's, who's now wasted a couple of years when he should have been in education and who's now having to go back and do it under more difficult circumstance.

Anyway, the past is the past and he needs to now be looking at funding this return in the same way as anybody else of this age would have to. This would be either by studying full time and taking a part time job to pay you for his keep and his own expenses, or by studying part time and claiming JSA for these purposes.

Alternatively, perhaps you could get off your high horse and provide the information you've been asked for and he might be lucky and get a grant, although this won't cover all his expenses and keep anyway.

custardy

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

All this information about being an independent student is only relevant to someone studying at degree level.

.

maybe down south but it still applied to college course bursaries here at least a few years ago

Oldernotwiser

custardy wrote: »

maybe down south but it still applied to college course bursaries here at least a few years ago

Sorry, I didn't know that the OP was Scottish.

Do you have a link for the college bursary information?

custardy

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Sorry, I didn't know that the OP was Scottish.

Do you have a link for the college bursary information?

feel free to google
as i said Im working from memory but remember the forms referring to age and financial independence
neither apply ot me as Im long past that stage

thorsoak

Had you not been so intransigent, and sent in 3 months' bank statements, by now all would have been sorted!

You are victims of your own stubborn-ness - you are trying to be clever and quite frankly you have stuffed yourselves ...nothing to do with refugees/immigrants who cannot speak english!

Wee_Willy_Harris

Am I the only one who is astounded that the moral standards in this country have now sunk so low that even grandchildren have to be financially viable?

You're his grandparent. The state isn't and neither is the college. If you can't, or won't, support his desire for education and give him the kind of start in life that most grandparents would be proud of, then at least stop putting barriers in his way and provide the necessary information for him to be more self reliant.

terryw

Wee_Willy_Harris wrote: »

Am I the only one who is astounded that the moral standards in this country have now sunk so low that even grandchildren have to be financially viable?

.

Nope, Willy, to answer your question - you are not the only one!

Oldernotwiser

custardy wrote: »

feel free to google
as i said Im working from memory but remember the forms referring to age and financial independence
neither apply ot me as Im long past that stage

If you can't back up your opinion it might be best not to give it.

bestpud

Your grandson presumably has money saved from his JSA, as that is intended for living costs and he didn't have any.

You can always black out your account number on the statement and any transactions you don't want them to see or are not relevant.

As said, you've caused this situation by being stubborn - do you really think the college staff are that interested in your financial matters? I'm sure they don't know you from Adam and just want to process the application asap.

Unless there is dodgy or very embarrassing transactions on there...

Also, why are you doing extra work for an adult? If he lives with you for nothing, then he should pull his weight around the house! And he should get himself a little job to cover his personal expenses too.

You only have yourself to blame if you let him treat you like a doormat.

custardy

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

If you can't back up your opinion it might be best not to give it.

its not an opinion
its a fact based on experience
learn the difference