Student Finance: So Confused!

wannabestudent

Hello I've submitted my UCAS application today and also the Student Finance Thing, although my mum who would be supporting it isn't able to do it online (even after ringing up we can't get the ALIAS number to work) so we're waiting for the paperwork to come through. I'm off work because of health problems and I'm claiming income support as I've been signed off until at least next February but I've been in touch with the jobcentre and they said I can do it but I have to let them know how much I get so it can be levelled out. ... Which is where I'm confused. I've applied for this:

Amount of Maintenance Loan you would like to borrow: Maximum
Amount of Tuition Fee Loan you would like to borrow: Maximum

And I think it's the right things but I've read so much it's just gone onto confuse me and I'm not sure if I've done the right ones, left some out or completely missed the important ones. I'm going back as a mature student (23) and I'm still waiting for it to be checked but I don't know if there's anything I can do in the meantime. Thank you

Lokolo

Thats the only 2 you can get.

Tution fees are the fees you pay to the uni for studying, the loan won't go to you but straight to the uni.

Maintence loan is basically the cost of living and is paid to you directly in 3 installments around 33% 33% 34% at beginning of each term.

But, yes you have done it correctly.

Nicifer_noonoo

wannabestudent wrote: »

I'm going back as a mature student (23) and I'm still waiting for it to be checked but I don't know if there's anything I can do in the meantime. Thank you

Just to let you know, you aren't classed as a mature student until age 25. I'm 22, live alone with a mortgage and am still classed as a dependent of my parents because I'm under 25 and don't have kids - my loans have been assessed on their household income.

wannabestudent

Fantastic, thank you both

That's another thing that confused me, Nicifer, I read that:

The amount you can borrow is means tested, in other words it depends on your or your parents' finances:

• It depends on your income if you're over 25 or have financially supported yourself for more than three years or are caring for a child or are without living parents. If you're married it depends on your joint income with your spouse.

And I have supported myself through employment and later benefits when I was signed off from work so am I doing it wrong? Is it not mum who needs to show her house hold things for the means testing but me?


ETA: I think the main thing I was confusd about was the maintenance loan, the maintenance grant and the course fees.

Obviously the student loan is split to cover the course fees and the maintenance loan - but what's the maintenance grant and how do you apply for that?

Oldernotwiser

Nicifer_noonoo wrote: »

Just to let you know, you aren't classed as a mature student until age 25. I'm 22, live alone with a mortgage and am still classed as a dependent of my parents because I'm under 25 and don't have kids - my loans have been assessed on their household income.

Being a mature student and being an independent student are two entirely separate things. You can be classed as an independent student if you've supported yourself for 3 years before starting university.

Oldernotwiser

wannabestudent wrote: »

Fantastic, thank you both

That's another thing that confused me, Nicifer, I read that:

The amount you can borrow is means tested, in other words it depends on your or your parents' finances:

• It depends on your income if you're over 25 or have financially supported yourself for more than three years or are caring for a child or are without living parents. If you're married it depends on your joint income with your spouse.

And I have supported myself through employment and later benefits when I was signed off from work so am I doing it wrong? Is it not mum who needs to show her house hold things for the means testing but me?


ETA: I think the main thing I was confusd about was the maintenance loan, the maintenance grant and the course fees.

Obviously the student loan is split to cover the course fees and the maintenance loan - but what's the maintenance grant and how do you apply for that?

If you've supported yourself for a minimum of 3 years then the means testing is based on your income and not your mother's. You need to apply for all 3 funding elements; the fee loan, the maintenance loan and the maintenance bursary. You should also check with the university that you'll be going to (when you're offered a place) as to any grants or bursaries that might be available to you.

wannabestudent

Fantastic, thanks

I've rang this morning and basically have got nowhere but I am less confused - she's arranged for the local LEA to ring me back next week and has confirmed that as I've supported myself for more than three years it's accounted through my income and not mums.

And has also confirmed that I should go for the 'Special Support Grant' as it's not taken into account through the benefits (though she did need prompting on that as all she would say is 'they're the same amount' and didn't seem to know that it wouldn't be taken into account, she just said to ring the benefit office so it seems researching did some good )

wannabestudent

As an afterthought, I've done some reading and found out about the Adult Dependant Grant.

Now, I live with my widowed mother who is a carer for my grandfather and she recieves carers allowance and a pension from my fathers employers. Grandad doesn't live with us but we do both do everything we can for him and look after him.

Mum and I pool what we have and we support each other and live by our means (she gets approx £100 a week, I get approx £45 a week until June when it's due to go up to £75 a week). This will continue when/if I am accepted onto the course and recieve the grants (though obviously I have no idea where it leaves me benefit wise as I don't think I'd continue to recieve anything - though can't work because of my health/being signed off until at least Feb*) so would we qualify?


* Does anyone have any ideas on how that would work out?

Oldernotwiser

A full time student can only receive benefits if they're disabled or are lone parents. When you start university you should sign off from benefits and start to live on the funding listed above. You should be considerably better off as a student than you are at present on benefits (although you'll be accrueing debts) so good luck.

wannabestudent

Definatley £45 a week is no fun

Thank you for all your help, I really appreciate it

pulliptears

Sometimes with a first application its easier to go directly to the offices if possible so they can go through everything with you.

But, you will be pleased to know next year's forms are incredibly simple so long as your circumstances haven't changed. I was dreading filling them in but it was a 2 minute job this time