Sponsoring parent re-marries: how does this affect maintenance loan and grant?

Voyager2002

As per the subject: a friend who is divorced and who has a low income gave full details to sponsor her son when he applied for student maintenance at university. He was awarded a full loan and grant. Then she got married. Will her son's maintenance be re-assessed, taking into account her new husband's income? And is she obliged to report a change of circumstances to Student Finance England?

If so, does that mean that the new husband is expected to contribute to the son's living costs? If so that is quite surprising, since other procedures for child support (such as the CSA) do not expect a new partner to contribute to the support of their partner's children with a previous person.

The_One_Who

Finance is assessed on household income. Presuming the newlyweds are living together then both their incomes will be included in the assessment. There are rules on changes of circumstances to do with how much of a change there is as well as when it happened, so probably should have a look on the website to see what they are specifically.

Taiko

First of all, when did the husband move into the home? Secondly, when did they marry?

Oldernotwiser

Voyager2002 wrote: »

If so, does that mean that the new husband is expected to contribute to the son's living costs? If so that is quite surprising, since other procedures for child support (such as the CSA) do not expect a new partner to contribute to the support of their partner's children with a previous person.

It's not that surprising that funding is assessed this way. All means tested benefits are based on household income, including child tax credits that are intended to support the children.

Voyager2002

Taiko wrote: »

First of all, when did the husband move into the home? Secondly, when did they marry?

They married over the summer before the student went to university for the first time (late August I think), and at that point the mother gave up the place she rented and moved in with the husband.

Obviously this was some months after submitting the application for student finance.

Taiko

If they married before August, then stepfather is liable, and his income must be declared for the assessment, in accordance with Schedule 4 of The Education (Student Support) Regulations. Really need to notify of this asap, because part of the contract signed states you agree to notify SFE of any changes that may affect entitlement, and this is one of them.

They should just do a reassessment, and it may mean slightly less is paid through the rest of this year. However, if you don't notify, when they do find out, which they will do, the student would be made ineligible for any support for the remainder of his course, and all previous awards would be reclaimed.

Voyager2002

Hello Taiko,

I understand that the marriage took place in September 2011. Will the stepfather's income still affect the assessment for the current academic year? At what point are they obliged to notify Student Finance?

Thank you.

Taiko

No, it won't affect this current academic year. With next years application though, you will need to send a photocopy of the marriage certificate.