Loss of grant and bursary

totallyrandom

Hi,

I am not sure if this is the correct forum.

My girlfriend is looking to move in with me. She has a son at university who currently gets a full grant and a bursary because my girlfriend is ill and does not work.

I work and have a reasonable salary (£50k+) but if my girlfriend moves in I understand that the grant and bursary will go meaning that they will lose about £7,000 a year and that my girlfriend and myself will need to make it up.

We don't have that sort of money spare as I have a mortgage, bills etc so understandably she is putting off moving in for the benefit of her son.

Is her assumption right and any advise on the situation regarding not losing the grant or bursary would be appreciated?

Thanks

Idiophreak

Plenty of people manage at uni without grants and bursaries.

Whether or not he'd lose everything would be down to a means assessment, but they keep on changing how they work it out.

Maybe her son could have a chat with the student finance dept and see what would likely happen.

totallyrandom

Yes but if they don't get the grant then I will have to pay it which doesn't seem fair as I am not his parent and his mum has no income and will lose her benefits anyway if she moves in with me!

antrobus

totallyrandom wrote: »

....Is her assumption right and
..

Apparently.

See http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/students/student-loans-tuition-fees-changes

Item 13, click the 'residual income' link - "It depends on your parents' income....if that parent remarries or has a cohabiting partner, their joint income will then be assessed"

totallyrandom wrote: »

....any advise on the situation regarding not losing the grant or bursary would be appreciated?....

Follow Plan A - the girlfriend puts off moving in for the benefit of her son. The son will eventually graduate.

Idiophreak

totallyrandom wrote: »

Yes but if they don't get the grant then I will have to pay it which doesn't seem fair as I am not his parent and his mum has no income and will lose her benefits anyway if she moves in with me!

No, you won't *have* to pay, that's what I'm saying - plenty of students make it through uni without bursaries, without grants, and without contribution from their parents.

If he doesn't get the grant, he may have to work more in the holidays, or pick up a part time job term time - but it needn't be you that pays the difference.

totallyrandom

The summer job may be possible this year but not next as he will be expected to study in the summer.

The course has over 30 hours teaching time and expected 15 hours private study time per week so I guess there will not be a lot of time for part time work (medical degree).

agrinnall

Presumably your girlfriend currently has housing and living expenses that she won't have when she moves in with you. Are they paid for by benefits that she will lose, or does she have some other source of income? If the latter, then surely she can use the money that isn't being paid out on living to fund her son.

totallyrandom

agrinnall wrote: »

Presumably your girlfriend currently has housing and living expenses that she won't have when she moves in with you. Are they paid for by benefits that she will lose, or does she have some other source of income? If the latter, then surely she can use the money that isn't being paid out on living to fund her son.

Yes but she will lose all of her benefits when she moves in with me. she has no other income. This is not a problem as I can afford to support her, I just don't have enough spare income left to support her son but would like to but the sums just don't add up, doing so would leave me with under £100 per month to live on.

Taiko

totallyrandom wrote: »

Yes but if they don't get the grant then I will have to pay it which doesn't seem fair as I am not his parent and his mum has no income and will lose her benefits anyway if she moves in with me!

Firstly, grow up. The child is moving in with you, and as such becomes your responsibility as well even if you're not the biological parent. If you cannot handle this, then in all honesty are you sure you're ready to live together?

Secondly, it is correct that your income will be taken into account and, unless she was a 2008/09 starter, will most likely lose any grant and bursary entitlement.

So that's where your choice lies. Either you move in together, and start accepting the responsibility, or you put it off completely and things continue as normal. I wouldn't consider the option of moving in but claiming she hasn't either, as that will only result in a fraud prosecution.

totallyrandom

Taiko wrote: »

Firstly, grow up. The child is moving in with you, and as such becomes your responsibility as well even if you're not the biological parent. If you cannot handle this, then in all honesty are you sure you're ready to live together?

How ridiculous! How is it not responsible to check I have my financial facts right before making a major life decision? I can live on £700 spare a month after mortgage, council tax, gas, water and electricity but not food, entertainment, clothing, petrol to get to work etc. I cannot live on £100 per month.

Also the child isn't. He is 19 and starting his second of 5 years (potentially 6 years).

antrobus

Taiko wrote: »

Firstly, grow up. The child is moving in with you, ...

The 'child' is "at university"and studying for a medical degree. Ergo the child is no longer a child, and is an adult.

Taiko wrote: »

...If you cannot handle this, then in all honesty are you sure you're ready to live together?..

If you read the original post, I think you'll find that it's the girlfriend that is "putting off moving in for the benefit of her son". The OP is merely asking whether or not she is right in being 'put off'.

Taiko wrote: »

...Secondly, it is correct that your income will be taken into account and, unless she was a 2008/09 starter, will most likely lose any grant and bursary entitlement.

I believe it's more normal to refer to someone's son as a 'he'.:)

totallyrandom wrote: »

How ridiculous! How is it not responsible to check I have my financial facts right before making a major life decision?...

Well quite. You've asked the question. I believe you've been given the correct answer. You now at least know what the financial implications of the decision will be.