Student Loans / Parental Contribution

CW153902

As parents we work hard to support our children and then if lucky enough, they get into University and we still have to contribute once they are adults. Has anyone ever asked why this contribution that we have to make is not taken off before we pay our income tax or national insurance contributions?

MalMonroe

I'm sure many people have asked. But parents only have to pay if they earn above a certain amount p.a. As a single parent, I wasn't expected to contribute anything for my daughter's uni education. I would have been happy to pay though because I think allowing children the access to all education is one of the best things we can do for them. One of my favourite sayings has always been "they didn't ask to be born". (But of course, none of us did!) Happy to pay. My daughter's now half way through her MA, enjoying it immensely and scoring distinctions all the way. I graduated with a 2.1 BA Hons at the age of 53 so no parental contribution for me, just the basic student loan. Best thing I ever did and wish I'd had the opportunity to do it earlier. 

P.S. Getting into university has nothing whatsoever to do with luck! It's hard work, pure hard work, I can vouch for that. 

annabanana82

My children will have what I can afford, it may be more it may be less than the stated parental contributions. Realistically not every parent will have the means to support them as much as the government say should do.

Pixie5740

CW153902 said:

As parents we work hard to support our children and then if lucky enough, they get into University and we still have to contribute once they are adults. Has anyone ever asked why this contribution that we have to make is not taken off before we pay our income tax or national insurance contributions?

The parental contribution is not mandatory.  Just because the household income is taken into account when determining the amount of student loan a person is entitled to there is nothing saying you must give your adult child the difference.  Deducting the money from pre-tax income would be open to abuse with some parents taking the tax benefit whilst giving diddly squat to the student.

Everyone should be allowed to borrow the same amount of money and as an adult your parents should not be expected to support you.  If at the age of 18 you found yourself pregnant and single your parents wouldn't be expected to support you.  Nor are your parents expected to support you if at 18 you decide to join the armed forces.

MEM62

CW153902 said:

Has anyone ever asked why this contribution that we have to make is not taken off before we pay our income tax or national insurance contributions?

I have a conflicted view on this.  My initial response was going to be - Probably because, if it reduces your Tax and NI contributions, then others are picking up part of the bill.  I would argue that it is not the greater public's obligation to provide financial support so that your children may benefit from a university education.  However, having said that I fall into the camp that believe that university education, up to degree level, should be free so maybe my gut response conflicts with my view of the larger picture.    

I think I'll take the view that the education (university attendance) should be free but, if a parent choses to support with living and/or other costs etc then that should come from their pocket - not mine.  

I will add that two of my wife's children have attended university - both at a time when my wife was not in a financial position to support them and their father refused to support them.  The both made it through by working part time to support themselves.    

Jami74

I have a child at university that I am supporting. I'm not giving as much as the government maximum but it is enough that that she can afford rent and food. Since she is no longer at home our food and electricity costs have dropped and so the money I give to her is coming from those savings.

Do most people expect to stop supporting their kids when they reach 18? I always expected to support my kids for as long as they needed (need, not want).

Pixie5740

MEM62 said:

CW153902 said:

Has anyone ever asked why this contribution that we have to make is not taken off before we pay our income tax or national insurance contributions?

I have a conflicted view on this.  My initial response was going to be - Probably because, if it reduces your Tax and NI contributions, then others are picking up part of the bill.  I would argue that it is not the greater public's obligation to provide financial support so that your children may benefit from a university education.  However, having said that I fall into the camp that believe that university education, up to degree level, should be free so maybe my gut response conflicts with my view of the larger picture.    

I think I'll take the view that the education (university attendance) should be free but, if a parent choses to support with living and/or other costs etc then that should come from their pocket - not mine.  

I will add that two of my wife's children have attended university - both at a time when my wife was not in a financial position to support them and their father refused to support them.  The both made it through by working part time to support themselves.    

Blended families - that's another flaw with the current system.  The household income determines how much student loan a person is entitled to, not the combined parental income.  If you lived with your wife at the time her daughters were going to university your income would be taken into account, not the fathers.

Pixie5740

Jami74 said:

I have a child at university that I am supporting. I'm not giving as much as the government maximum but it is enough that that she can afford rent and food. Since she is no longer at home our food and electricity costs have dropped and so the money I give to her is coming from those savings.

Do most people expect to stop supporting their kids when they reach 18? I always expected to support my kids for as long as they needed (need, not want).

Some people do cease supporting their children and quite a few people I knew at university lived at home and had to pay rent to the parent(s) whilst receiving no parental support.  In at least one case my friend's contribution towards his mother's household was a third of all bills including the mortgage (3 people living in the property).

Another friend had to fight to prove he was completely independent of his parents.  Parents separated, father absent, mother one of those women who ignore existing children when she gets together with a new partner and has a child(ren) with him.

MallyGirl

Jami74 said:

I have a child at university that I am supporting. I'm not giving as much as the government maximum but it is enough that that she can afford rent and food. Since she is no longer at home our food and electricity costs have dropped and so the money I give to her is coming from those savings.

Do most people expect to stop supporting their kids when they reach 18? I always expected to support my kids for as long as they needed (need, not want).

Same here - I top up to the gov maximum as I am lucky enough to be able to. Her course is too intense to work during term time but she did get a job last summer. In it for the long haul as it is a 6 year course