Independent Student - Help!

birdie2013

Hi there,
I'm 20 years old and I'm currently a student at University. I am estranged from my parents, and have managed to claim funding from Student Finance England (SFE) as an independent student.

I am struggling to support myself, and am finding it hard to fund accommodation for during term-time as well as during the holidays (obviously I have nowhere to go). I don't have a close enough relationship with any family member so can not live with anyone else.

I have applied for as much funding as I can from both the University and from SFE. There seems to be not much support out there for young people who are independent from their families.

The problem is, I can't apply for any help from the government in terms of Housing Benefit etc cause of my student status. I also battle with Depression and Anxiety which has caused me to take time off from working so haven't been able to earn much money.

I don't really know what to do, and need to find accommodation for the next year (July 2014-2015) and can't afford to rent a 1 bedroom flat/studio flat. All of my friends are finishing their course this year, so don't really have anyone to live with

Please help!

Thanks for listening and look forward to hearing from you.

Lokolo

Do you not get full grants and loans?

joolsybools

Why don't you look for a room in a house share? Try gumtree, houseshare and spare room.

birdie2013

Lokolo wrote: »

Do you not get full grants and loans?

Hi Lokolo,

I'm not sure if I'm honest. I worked out that possibly I could get around 450 per month in terms of maintenance loans and grants, but living alone in a 1 bedroom house etc is super expensive (this is for the next academic year). I've not seen much accommodation for less than £100 per week, and that's not inclusive of bills and food

birdie2013

joolsybools wrote: »

Why don't you look for a room in a house share? Try gumtree, houseshare and spare room.

Hi joolsybools,
Thanks, I'll check these out. I'm anxious about living with people I don't know, but it may be my only option!

joolsybools

birdie2013 wrote: »

Hi joolsybools,
Thanks, I'll check these out. I'm anxious about living with people I don't know, but it may be my only option!

Just trust your instincts when you go to view places, I've done it loads, I'm sure you'll be fine x

Dunroamin

Very few young working people could afford to live in a house on their own so you really need to look at a flat/houseshare. If you were claiming help from LHA, you'd only get the shared accommodation rate anyway as you're under 35.

nimbo

ask to speak to someone in the finance office at your uni as they will be able to run through what you get, and what you should get...

go to the turn to us website, as they may have details of what else you may be ab,e to apply for - every little helps... (Last year I got a £500 grant, and this year about £350).

have a look at house shares, they can be a right laugh - (they can be hard too), just don't expect perfection, and you'll be fine for a year... they can work out really cheap...

peterorl

Perhaps you should find someone to share home with and share bills ?

Alye16

Could you perhaps move back into Halls for the final year? or check out notice boards to see if anyone is looking for someone to share. Is there a department at Uni which maybe able to support you in finding accommodation and advise you of any additional financial support you may be able to get.

mountainofdebt

spareroom have lots of house shares with non students so that may help of the thought of sharing a lot of students is putting you off