New Student Maintenance Loan Too Low!

Lokolo

BorisThomson wrote: »

The minimum maintenance loan for a student in London is £5,479. Irrespective of earnings OP's son is entitled to that. You don't know their earnings yet you tell them they're above the income limit. You tell them they're not entitled to any more. You're wrong.

You owe the OP an apology. You clearly had no idea what you were talking about and you wilfully misled them. I hope they come back and see the other posts where people have corrected you, and her son gets the support he is entitled to.

The figure you have quoted is for students away from home within London. The OP has stated that the student is living away, outside London. The amount granted *should* be £3,928. We do not have the actual figures by the OP, only a "its just above £3,000". Being a regular on these forums, people do tend to miss out key details (like the actual amount).

The OP has stated that they are being granted just over £3,000. It could mean that the OP has an application and stated the student is staying at home (award of £3,124) and therefore the application is wrong. It could be that they have been awarded £3,928. We do not know the exact amount. The OP has not stated this.

I do not know what the OP has applied for as I cannot see their application.

I doubt the OP is entitled to £5,479 though, would you agree?

At the end of the day, [Removed]. I have said nothing wrong and I do not know what the OP has applied for and therefore cannot say whether their entitlement is correct or the application is wrong.

Back to what I have said time and time again in this thread. My advice is if the award is less than what is required to live off for the year, a part time job at university (student ambassador is a good one, or a bar) and a summer job is ideal for a student. I will leave it at that unless the OP comes back with more information.

MEM62

sandyacreuk wrote: »

Well I didn't like your comment and I certainly will not ignore it, as I wish to defend my position. You implied I put Myself in debt, where as someone took my livelihood away for a period of time and put me in debt. That's what annoys me! I hope you don't suffer the similar unfortunate event because frankly I do care.

You can only put so much information in a post. And even if you did write the War and Piece version people would get bored before they finished reading it) Nobody on here is in a position to 'judge' your circumstances because there is not enough information to do so. It's also not relevant to your question.

The important point is where you currently find yourself and not what led you there and, in the current circumstances, your son will not get the funding he needs for University and you are not in a position to financially support him. Therefore, if he wants to go to University he will have to do what thousands of other kids have an that's put himself through Uni by working.

bellaboo86

Nothing new about this i'm afraid. I went to Uni 12 years ago now and my loan wouldn't have paid for my rent then either.

ViolaLass

Deferring for a year and using the time to earn money (and get some experience to put on CV) is an excellent idea.

Dolphin1

sandyacreuk

Have you tried talking to your DMP provider to see if you can renegotiate your DMP to reduce the amount you pay temporarily until your son is in a position to fund himself?

I would think that 'parental contribution' to your sons university education would be an allowable expense given that it's what the government expect you to do when they means test you. It would mean extending your DMP though.

SuperHan

I challenge the point about "finding a job isn't easy".


I worked all the way through Uni and had 4 different retail jobs doing so. I earned about £8k a year doing 20 hours a week (Saturday, Sunday and one to two evenings) which covered my rent, travel and university costs, and then my maintenance loan was mine to spend as I wished on food, nights out, clothes etc etc.


I also worked the summer before Uni (and indeed for 2 years while studying for my A-Levels too) so I had a chunk saved up for when I went to Uni too.


Your son getting a job is the answer to this problem. It's just the way the world works, unfortunately. It also makes it so, so much easier to find a job once you graduate (and I'd say is arguably more valuable than what you actually learn in the lectures too).

norsefox

SuperHan wrote: »

I challenge the point about "finding a job isn't easy".


I worked all the way through Uni and had 4 different retail jobs doing so. I earned about £8k a year doing 20 hours a week (Saturday, Sunday and one to two evenings) which covered my rent, travel and university costs, and then my maintenance loan was mine to spend as I wished on food, nights out, clothes etc etc.


I also worked the summer before Uni (and indeed for 2 years while studying for my A-Levels too) so I had a chunk saved up for when I went to Uni too.


Your son getting a job is the answer to this problem. It's just the way the world works, unfortunately. It also makes it so, so much easier to find a job once you graduate (and I'd say is arguably more valuable than what you actually learn in the lectures too).

Couldn't agree with this more. This solution is open to everyone, and as a graduate from 2012 (and in charge of recruiting for my team at work), work experience is far more important than a degree alone.

MrsNubs

BorisThomson wrote: »

The minimum maintenance loan for a student in London is £5,479. Irrespective of earnings OP's son is entitled to that.

OP very clearly states in the OP that their child is OUTSIDE of London, I suggest you don't know what you're talking about and the only person who should be apologising is you, to the user you have been so rude to

The_Real_Cheddar_Bob

norsefox wrote: »

Couldn't agree with this more. This solution is open to everyone, and as a graduate from 2012 (and in charge of recruiting for my team at work), work experience is far more important than a degree alone.

I second this. I too am in charge of recruiting. I have interviewed and employed from both sides of this fence and those in the middle (with degree and some experience) so far the best candidates have been the "uneducated" academically by far, but the most experienced in life.

enthusiasticsaver

As you have found the student maintenance loan is awarded based on household income regardless of other commitments.

We had to subsidise both our daughters accommodation at university and I did this by taking on a 2nd job. My husband already worked full time. Do both of you work at the moment and if not can one/both of you increase hours or get a 2nd job? Can your son find some work local to his university? Can he get cheaper accommodation?

If none of these options are possible and he does not want to apply to a university near home and stay at home then the only other option is to reduce the DMP payment if there is no where else to cut expenses. Are you self managed or are you doing it through Step Change? You may have to go self managed to reduce the payment and some of the creditors may not accept it but there is very little they can do although of course your credit record will be affected but I guess it is anyway.