What to do when student loans dont cover rent?

WhydeWhy

Still_Dave wrote: »

Why can’t you get a letter from your old teachers?

You are painting quite a confusing picture here, it might help if you set out what your actual situation is. You must be living somewhere now, so how are you paying for that, why can’t you get any information from your parents, or your teachers, and why can’t you get work?

Is this course worth doing, as in will it increase your earning potential enough to justify the three or four tough years?

If it’s an engineering degree from Imoerial then I could see it being worth doing whatever was necessary to make it but if it was media studies at Bournemouth then it’s far less clear that it’s a good idea.

I am really trying to get work. I would love to. And I don't know how to contact my parents. I have a rough idea of where they live town wise but I don't know their addresses or where my mother works. I was disowned at 20 for some silly reasons and I haven't spoken to them much since.

[Deleted User]

If you genuinely have not lived with your parents in a number of years it should be easy to prove to student loans. You do NOT need a mortgage or child.

Proof of solo benefits claim, tenancy agreements and letters from landlords. Bills in your name, letter from college or employer,

WhydeWhy

Still_Dave wrote: »

It feels like you are still leaving a lot out here, which is making it quite difficult to help, and quite frustrating as it’s. It clear why you are being so obscure.

Why can’t you find work, why can’t you trace your parents (the idea that they are unfindable is just silly, you will know friends names and relatives names, someone’s going to be on Facebook who knows them.)

If you do want to explain properly ai’d love to help more, but for now it feels like you are playing a bit of a game here, so I’ll wish you luck and leave it at that.

ok so lets say I do trace my mother. this is the woman who told me her life would be easier if I was dead. who disowned me because the police came round to speak to me when I was attacked. the woman whos last text to me a year ago was calling me a skank because I wouldn't tell her where I lived. I asked her to sign a form when I was 19 so I could go to uni and she said not her problem and girls like me didn't go to uni because maths isn't suitable for females. I am not letting this woman back into my life over a bit of money that if she did sign the form would try and take the whole lot off me because she is "owed" it for being a "mother"

[Deleted User]

WhydeWhy wrote: »

ok so lets say I do trace my mother. this is the woman who told me her life would be easier if I was dead. who disowned me because the police came round to speak to me when I was attacked. the woman whos last text to me a year ago was calling me a skank because I wouldn't tell her where I lived. I asked her to sign a form when I was 19 so I could go to uni and she said not her problem and girls like me didn't go to uni because maths isn't suitable for females. I am not letting this woman back into my life over a bit of money that if she did sign the form would try and take the whole lot off me because she is "owed" it for being a "mother"

You do not need to trace your mother. You just need to prove your independence. Easy to do if you are independent and really want to do this course.

sheramber

https://www.standalone.org.uk/students/supportatyouruniversity/

f you’re an estranged student at a UK University, or you’re planning to go to University, and you’re struggling to evidence your family estrangement with Student Finance England, Wales or Northern Ireland, please write to The Student Loans Company’s new specialist team for estranged students: estranged@slc.co.uk. They can help if you can’t find the right evidence or haven’t told anybody about your estrangement.

JayRitchie

Are you in England? From your post you have lived independently of your parents for three years plus so should be able to apply for full loans regardless of your parents details. You need to focus on relevant facts - not all the extraneous stuff.

sheramber

The OP has to show she has supported herself financially but as she has only had some periods of employment and been unemployed she cannot provide that information.

Periods of unemployment do not count.

JayRitchie

@sheramber - do you have a source for that? You advice does not seem in line with the student finance website not advice on tsr.

WhydeWhy

JayRitchie wrote: »

@sheramber - do you have a source for that? You advice does not seem in line with the student finance website not advice on tsr.

https://www.standalone.org.uk/guides/student-guide/#self-supporting
https://www.standalone.org.uk/guides/student-guide/#self-supporting
How can I show that I have been financially independent?
You will need to provide evidence that you are earning enough to be financially independent. You can do this by supplying P60s or payslips for the thirty six months you have been supporting yourself, statements of earnings from HMRC or employer, a statement from the job centre indicating the periods of time you were receiving benefits.
Although periods on benefits count towards showing you have been financially independent, do not only provide benefits awards letters, as on their own, these don’t summarise your income for the thirty six months prior to the start of your course. If you’ve had gaps in employment, you should send in material that shows your earnings and how you were supporting yourself during these gaps.
The income threshold for self-support is assessed on a case-by-case basis but you are still advised to apply if you earn a small income but are genuinely completely financially independent. You can send in further clarifying documents to show your circumstances. For example, your income may be low because you have been working in a job that provides you with accommodation, you may have particularly low rent or you may have been claiming benefits that give you a lower income.

sazaccount

You may not want to send this but... bank statements for the last 36 months might help, any savings, any credit card you need so show that you had money incoming (Employments/Benefits) and that you have been supporting yourself so bill payments, rent, water bill, electricity. I have got to the point with the SLC (different situation of being on overseas repayment) but just sending them EVERYTHING to prove I was/am supporting myself though savings while travelling.

You sometimes have to play the SLC games.