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Student Finance
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
Hi peeps, I have a question if anybody can help. Student finance are confusing the hell outta me! This year I am being assessed as an independant student because of the home situation, my support worker sent in a letter a while ago supporting this and explaining the situation.
Only problem is they need to assess MY household income, but I don't have one as I'm unemployed and homeless, and they do know this. When I received my financial notification letter I noticed they haven't assessed me for a grant, which means I will be receiving half of what I got last year, which isn't even enough to pay rent.
I just rang them and they asked me to fill in a form again and send in some evidence of household income. My question is what can I send as evidence?! They already have proof from my support worker so they know my situation but they need some sort of financial evidence. I did ask the guy on the phone but he wasn't very helpful, he said they need to see evidence of finances, but I don't have an income! I will be living in student accommodation this year if this gets sorted!
I'm so confused :crazyeyes
Please help if you can
Only problem is they need to assess MY household income, but I don't have one as I'm unemployed and homeless, and they do know this. When I received my financial notification letter I noticed they haven't assessed me for a grant, which means I will be receiving half of what I got last year, which isn't even enough to pay rent.
I just rang them and they asked me to fill in a form again and send in some evidence of household income. My question is what can I send as evidence?! They already have proof from my support worker so they know my situation but they need some sort of financial evidence. I did ask the guy on the phone but he wasn't very helpful, he said they need to see evidence of finances, but I don't have an income! I will be living in student accommodation this year if this gets sorted!
I'm so confused :crazyeyes
Please help if you can
Post edited by JustV on
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Comments
If you are receiving any benefits you can send the benefit decision letter as proof of your income. If you're not receiving benefit, you'll need to get your support worker to explain where you are living and what you are living on- whether this is charity donations, hardship funds, whatever, and send that with bank statements. And be prepared for SFE to not quite grasp it- they have concocted a figure of £7500pa income as necessary to be an independent student, a figure they've just plucked out of their arse, and this is often quoted. If your income is nil then you are entitled to the full loan and grant; depending on your situation this may be the special support grant rather than the maintenance grant.
If you really get stuck PM me with your customer reference number and I will make enquiries for you.
Thanks again
Phone them again and speak to a supervisor if they don't sort it out. I know someone who's independent and he's had problems every year getting them to carry over the evidence from previous years, seems they need prompted to do something so basic because their system is totally shite.
An independent student under the age of 25 usually has to show that they have supported themselves out of their income for the past three years, and SFE often ask all students to provide this information. They don't necessarily legally need this information, but good luck trying to tell them that. It's quicker to give them the information.
All indepedent students are assessed on their 'residual income' and this affects the amount of loan and grant they receive. Remuneration for paid work during the academic year is disregarded but some other types of income are not disregarded and they do need to see evidence of this.
Spliffie, if you got that far you've done a hell of a lot better than my clients and those of my 500+ colleagues in student finance advice...
Why can't they just make it simple!! :crazyeyes
I spoke to them and sent what was specified. Piss easy.