No income for partner?

MrSweet1991

Hi All,

I started university last year and my money hasn't been as good as it should. When I started university my partner went to claim income support (as we have a child) or even JSA, however they told us that she's not eligible for anything as I go to university. I could never get my head around this because student finance calculates money to last me from term to term, not how much money me 'and' my partner should get every term. So at this stage my normal student finance money now has to be split in to two.

Then I found out that student finance done an Adults Dependency Grant, and as far as the description goes it suites me a treat as it tops up my funding to the equivalent of JSA every month which is what I'd just pass on to my partner without having to go in to my money. But then Student Finance phoned me and said "We're sorry but who ever told you that you where eligible, you're not." I asked them how on earth am I not eligible thinking to myself she's an adult who's financially dependant on me and unable to claim any funding for herself because I go to university.

The woman from student finance said "Our eligibility terms are that you must either be Married or 25 and over" I immediately replied "Why 25?" then the woman said "Because at 25 you're classed as financial dependant on yourself, however being under 25 she'd be financially dependant on her parents" When she said this I was in shock and I said "At the age of 20 or 21 the parents loose any child tax credit and benefit for their sons/daughters, which from that point makes them financially dependant on themselves and must turn to JSA or find work" the woman from student finance said "Sorry we state you must be 25 to be financially dependant on yourself"


So although I was shot down at every angle I just wanted to know if anyone else has had this happen to them and has to split their student finance money between two people?

Thanks for reading,
Daniel.

Sophis

I'm having so much trouble with student finance myself, not the best bunch to rely on. Surely if you are living together they should class her as independent to her parents, however student finance never fail to surprise me and I have no idea of the logic behind their decisions, however I'm sure while wading through all the information while looking for answers to my predicament that it stated somewhere with regards to grants that you are no longer classed as financially dependent on parents if you have children, so surely this should cover your partner too if not you should maybe see about claiming benefits under your name for her as there must be a legal amount for you to be allowed to live on and I can't see student finance being enough to cover this without the grants

nimbo

i think you can prove you're a financially separate person IF you have lived away from your (and her parents) for three years... (you have to have earnt a certain amount of cash, have your parents had any input on the SFE application, because if so then this is a moot point).

Are you both looking for work full time/ part time respectively - it did take me ages to find something but it would obviously help in the short, and long term... (my university has a great local 'job shop' which helps with things like CV skills, and advertises loads of jobs, on and off campus).

nimbo

also apply for the hardship fund at the university - speak to the finance team - even if you aren't eligible they should let you know what you are eligible for from SFE... (and will hopefully pint it out to you, even just make an appointment with them, as they should be able to run through stuff to apply for)...

turn 2 us have a list of grants available. (got one each year I applied)...

Dunroamin

Are you classed as an independent student?

MrSweet1991

nimbo wrote: »

i think you can prove you're a financially separate person IF you have lived away from your (and her parents) for three years... (you have to have earnt a certain amount of cash, have your parents had any input on the SFE application, because if so then this is a moot point).

Are you both looking for work full time/ part time respectively - it did take me ages to find something but it would obviously help in the short, and long term... (my university has a great local 'job shop' which helps with things like CV skills, and advertises loads of jobs, on and off campus).

Hi,

Thanks for your input I live with my girlfriend at her parents house. However SFE told e that because I don't live with my parents I'd be classed as an independent student and when I asked who's income I'd put down for evidence of my income they said just put your partners income. The thing that's messed everything up is SFE has an eligibility criteria of 25 to be classed as independent which is ridiculous as from the age of 20 or 21 the parents get no financial aid for their son or daughters and their son or daughters must find a way of looking after themselves. So in that respect I think we can agree that it is from that age that we all become financially dependant on ourselves, but SFE had to go and make up their own rules. Even when I speak to Citizens Advice and explain to them they just say "I can't believe that!, surely she can claim for some sort of support as it doesn't make any sense?" same goes when I speak with landlords and they ask about my partners income they can't believe there's nothing available to my partner except the standard student allowance.


And as for looking for work I personally would prefer to dedicate my time to uni work (I'm not the brightest of the lot) so I tend to have my assignments finished near the deadline lol. As for my partner we are both on the same grounds about sending our child to Nursery or anything yet, primarily because of some of the stories we hear about carelessness that some staff have (I know not all nurseries are like this) But we even have a friend who had a lot of trouble with the staff doing things without telling the parents. So by personal choice we've agreed that my partner would bond with our son and when he's a little older we'd put him Nursery.

MrSweet1991

Sophis wrote: »

I'm having so much trouble with student finance myself, not the best bunch to rely on. Surely if you are living together they should class her as independent to her parents, however student finance never fail to surprise me and I have no idea of the logic behind their decisions, however I'm sure while wading through all the information while looking for answers to my predicament that it stated somewhere with regards to grants that you are no longer classed as financially dependent on parents if you have children, so surely this should cover your partner too if not you should maybe see about claiming benefits under your name for her as there must be a legal amount for you to be allowed to live on and I can't see student finance being enough to cover this without the grants

Sorry Sophie I should have made it clearer that I live with my partner at her parents house, getting a house of our own on this tiny budget would end quite soon. And yes I heard the same thing, by me and my partner having a child it automatically makes us a little different especially when being classed as independent/dependant. And unfortunately JSA say "you earn x amount which exceeds the weekly allowance limit so you're not eligible". However they seem to neglect that student finance is specifically amounted for one student to be used for universitie needs such as materials, travel costs and so forth. But they also have a "simple" criteria which is if you earn over x amount per week then you're not eligible. So unfortunately there's just a constant loop. And I have to say splitting the money between me and my partner has been so frustrating, I thought finally getting away from College and JSA would mean i finally get a half descent amount, but it just gets reduced t a point where I end up budgeting again

MrSweet1991

Dunroamin wrote: »

Are you classed as an independent student?

Hello,

Yes I'm classed as an independent student because I don't live with my parents, I live with my partner at her parents and they take my partners income into consideration when applying for student finance.

Thanks,
Daniel.

silvercar

It may be worth posting on the benefits board.

MrSweet1991

silvercar wrote: »

It may be worth posting on the benefits board.

Thanks,

I might re-post this in that area.

nimbo

MrSweet1991 wrote: »

Hi,


And as for looking for work I personally would prefer to dedicate my time to uni work (I'm not the brightest of the lot) so I tend to have my assignments finished near the deadline lol. As for my partner we are both on the same grounds about sending our child to Nursery or anything yet, primarily because of some of the stories we hear about carelessness that some staff have (I know not all nurseries are like this) But we even have a friend who had a lot of trouble with the staff doing things without telling the parents. So by personal choice we've agreed that my partner would bond with our son and when he's a little older we'd put him Nursery.

could she look for part time work for time you could look after the baby - thus negating the need to take them to nursery? Maybe 10, or so hours wouldn't be too much, and if she were to work I **think** 16 hours, then she may be entitled to working tax credits?

could grandparents help with childcare?

you may 'prefer' all you like, but if you need more income you have to try something... (I personally would prefer not to have to start work at 5.30 each weekday morning when I go to classes, but beggars can't be choosers right?)

DO look at grants websites, such as turn 2 us, and DO apply for the hardship fund.

They forms can be a pain the !!!! to fill in, but they can then result in a few hundred quid that don't need paying back...