Lie about student loan and 'living elsewhere'?

copperclock

Hello.

My DS lives with me and his step-dad. We have a fairly high household income. Therefore, when the time comes, DS will only be entitled to apply for the minimum maintenance element of the student loan.

His father and step-mother have a lower income. His father has suggested that he apply for student finance under his address so that he can get a larger maintenance loan. He wouldn't actually be living there.

Please tell me why this is a good/bad idea. My hunch is that it's bad.

Keep_pedalling

It's bad because it is fraud and could land you in a whole heap of trouble.

Pollycat

Keep_pedalling wrote: »

It's bad because it is fraud and could land you in a whole heap of trouble.

And should do if the 2 parents and 2 step-parents go ahead with this

jackieblack

I do know someone who moved in with their lower income parent just before making their student loan application.
Moved back in with the other parent as soon as they finished their course.

Spendless

There's a similar question on the student board at the minute. In this case asked by the step-Mum in question. Posted below for info.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5722596


If your son was to live with his Dad, then the amount borrowed would be on the household income there (ie Dad's and step Mums). I have no idea on whether he needs to have been living there for so long before being eligible.

copperclock

Pollycat wrote: »

And should do if the 2 parents and 2 step-parents go ahead with this

I tend to agree. It doesn't feel right to me either.

jackieblack wrote: »

I do know someone who moved in with their lower income parent just before making their student loan application.
Moved back in with the other parent as soon as they finished their course.

I'm going to assume that they didn't actually move??

Spendless wrote: »

There's a similar question on the student board at the minute. In this case asked by the step-Mum in question. Posted below for info.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5722596


If your son was to live with his Dad, then the amount borrowed would be on the household income there (ie Dad's and step Mums). I have no idea on whether he needs to have been living there for so long before being eligible.

Thank you. That other thread is really helpful. I hadn't thought about the electoral roll/credit file issue it could present for him.

copperclock

Keep_pedalling wrote: »

It's bad because it is fraud and could land you in a whole heap of trouble.

Thanks. I wonder how often it does happen.

mark5

If one parent has claimed child benefit/received child maintenance right up to this point wouldn't this be an alarm bell that something isn't right?

trailingspouse

When my husband's kids were off to uni, they were living with their Mum, who was on a low income. My OH was well paid, so his income was taken into account (which, frankly, I think is fair enough). But my income also had to be declared. We were living together, but not married, at the time.

copperclock

trailingspouse wrote: »

When my husband's kids were off to uni, they were living with their Mum, who was on a low income. My OH was well paid, so his income was taken into account (which, frankly, I think is fair enough). But my income also had to be declared. We were living together, but not married, at the time.

I think at the moment they only take into account the income of the household where the student normally lives.

I don't think it's quite fair that the government presume that the step-parent of a young adult will contribute towards their uni living costs (although in our case he is happy to).

maman

Keep_pedalling wrote: »

It's bad because it is fraud and could land you in a whole heap of trouble.

copperclock wrote: »

Thanks. I wonder how often it does happen.

Not sure how to read this.


Do you mean how often is fraud committed or how often are checks made to estimate the chances of getting away with it?