* Living with family, but not at home funding?

lukealexander

I am currently year 1 on my course and am about to apply for funding for academic year 07/08. I currently live at home and receive the "home student" amount, but have been planning for next year. I don't really want to move out for next year, but I do have an alternative option.

This is basically to move into my grandmother's house which is quite a bit closer to uni than my mother's house. She spends the majority of her time living at my aunts, therefore I would have to pay the utilities/food but not rent (technically). My concern is how this would affect her benefits (state pension) and council tax? She lives alone normally. I wouldn't want this to affect her entitlements in any way of course.

The student finance site defines living at home to be the "parental home" - does this definition stretch to family?

Anyway thanks... been reading this site for a while and it is good stuff. :T
I did in fact pay the remaining balance £197.77 off my Capital One card and switched to whole balance direct debit today!!

aqueoushumour01

lukealexander wrote:

I am currently year 1 on my course and am about to apply for funding for academic year 07/08. I currently live at home and receive the "home student" amount, but have been planning for next year. I don't really want to move out for next year, but I do have an alternative option.

This is basically to move into my grandmother's house which is quite a bit closer to uni than my mother's house. She spends the majority of her time living at my aunts, therefore I would have to pay the utilities/food but not rent (technically). My concern is how this would affect her benefits (state pension) and council tax? She lives alone normally. I wouldn't want this to affect her entitlements in any way of course.

The student finance site defines living at home to be the "parental home" - does this definition stretch to family?

Anyway thanks... been reading this site for a while and it is good stuff. :T
I did in fact pay the remaining balance £197.77 off my Capital One card and switched to whole balance direct debit today!!

you're entitled to claim for a higher loan in this case I believe. If your grandmother isn't earning an income from you being there it won't affect her benefits and it will have no effect on council tax.

lukealexander

I assumed as much on the Council Tax issue, but regarding the income - surely any money I contribute into the household is classed as income? Or is it more a case of she isn't profiting from my money and therefore it doesn't apply?

Am I concerning myself too much with trivial details?

lechat

lukealexander wrote:

I assumed as much on the Council Tax issue, but regarding the income - surely any money I contribute into the household is classed as income? Or is it more a case of she isn't profiting from my money and therefore it doesn't apply?

Am I concerning myself too much with trivial details?

surely you would be paying for utilities/ food etc that would not otherwise be bought/ spent- so this wouldnt be an income cos she wouldnt be earning anything.

---

If i were to live at home next year I would have to pay rent to my parents... does anyone know if I could claim the full loan for this?

kittiwoz

The food you will be paying to the shops and not your grandma. I wouldn't think that your paying your share of the utility bills to her counts as income for her even if your share is most or all of the bill. However, if it does look like being a problem you could always transfer the bills into your name.

lukealexander

And as a final thought, what (if any) checks to the Student Loans Company do to check you are actually living where you say are. I believe this applies to you lechat - I don't see why people who would have similar costs at home to elsewhere should receive less money (and it all has to be paid back anyway!).

CovOne

Don't no if this is relevant but are you wanting to apply for the independent student loan rather then living at home Dependant Student loan ?....

In this case you have to be living on you're own for atleast 3 years before you are classed as independent....

DrFluffy

lechat wrote:

If i were to live at home next year I would have to pay rent to my parents... does anyone know if I could claim the full loan for this?

No, you can't. Unless you are over 25.

DrFluffy

lukealexander wrote:

I am currently year 1 on my course and am about to apply for funding for academic year 07/08. I currently live at home and receive the "home student" amount, but have been planning for next year. I don't really want to move out for next year, but I do have an alternative option.

This is basically to move into my grandmother's house which is quite a bit closer to uni than my mother's house. She spends the majority of her time living at my aunts, therefore I would have to pay the utilities/food but not rent (technically). My concern is how this would affect her benefits (state pension) and council tax? She lives alone normally. I wouldn't want this to affect her entitlements in any way of course.

The student finance site defines living at home to be the "parental home" - does this definition stretch to family?

Anyway thanks... been reading this site for a while and it is good stuff. :T
I did in fact pay the remaining balance £197.77 off my Capital One card and switched to whole balance direct debit today!!

Does your grandmother receive any other benefits (housing etc) - if so, she might lose these... If it's just her pension, there is no issue as this isn't means tested.

saver2006

i'm pretty certain that 'parental home' does not stretch to grandmother

DrFluffy

saver2006 wrote: »

i'm pretty certain that 'parental home' does not stretch to grandmother

Depends - if your grandmother brought you up in her home, it would...