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Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Higher education

Why is my household income taken into consideration for an 18 Year old??

17 replies

boredbroker · 11/07/2011 12:37

OK! So now my son is 18 he is considered an adult in his own right, he can vote, he can have a credit card, he is allowed to do what ever he wants to do & is liable for his own actions in the eyes of the law....that is until he decides to go to University, suddenly my wages are taken into consideration & what he gets as a loan all depends on what I earn!!?? WHY?? am I missing something? can some please give me a good reason??

OP posts:

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RuthChan · 11/07/2011 12:54

Because as he is continuing in full-time education, he will not be able to do a full-time job. Therefore he is, basically, still your dependent.
Most parents, if able, give their children some allowance while at university. The loan people therefore decide how much to give him after checking whether or not you can afford to support him yourself.
If he was an independent or mature student, that would not be the case.

moomaa · 11/07/2011 13:02

They do it to save themselves money/having to give out more loan. It totally sucks IMO.

My parents come from a traditional working class background and once I was 18 I was treated as an adult so all my money came from working (I did go to uni). They were genuinely amazed that other parents supported adult children. TBH I see their point.

I think if they can do this they should assess the kid's income when we need looking after in our old age

boredbroker · 11/07/2011 13:02

But Just because he is continuing in further education that doesn't mean that I am still liable for an 18 year old, since I am not liable for him in any other way in the eyes of the law??

OP posts:

boredbroker · 11/07/2011 13:07

Moomaa, I agree if I am supposed to be supporting an 18 year old for 3- 4 years of Uni, then his salary should be taken into consideration when I am retired...for at least 3-4 years!!

Dont misunderstand me, I am supporting him & its costing me & I am doing it willingly, its the principle of it that bugs me...

OP posts:

igivein · 11/07/2011 13:38

I went to uni many years ago. I was twenty-one, had a mortgage and had been living independantly for three years.
They wanted to take my parent's income into account when assessing how much grant I could have.
Amazingly, once they found out my Mum was a widow they decided she was exempt. It was nothing to do with how much money she had, just the fact she was a widow. I felt like saying 'but Jackie Onassis is a widow ...' but thought I'd just cut whilst I was in front.

mumeeee · 12/07/2011 21:57

Parents income doesn't have to be taken into consideration as you can go for a non income assessed loan.

GrendelsMum · 13/07/2011 13:09

I was reading an interesting academic book on an issue related to this topic last night. It's always been a question I've wondered about too.

The book said (IIRC) that from the late 16th century to 1948, there was a legal requirement for parents to take the first financial responsibity for their children, including adult children, before the state would take responsibility for them. So under the Poor Laws, an adult shouldn't receive aid from the 'state' unless their parents were unable to support them.

Perhaps our student loan requirements are the final way in which this is still applied in the UK?

AuntieMaggie · 13/07/2011 13:13

I know its silly - mine was taken into consideration and I funded my own studies. However, my father had to continue paying maintenance until I was 18 or finished full time education. Not that he did that... Not sure if its the same now with CSA?

potoftea · 13/07/2011 13:19

I too find this grey area strange. If I tried to speak to my dc's university staff or landlords, I would quiet rightly be told that as they are adults, I cannot be given any information about them.
Yet every bloody detail of our savings, income, loans, etc. has to be declared so that they get the financial help they need.

CrosswordAddict · 13/07/2011 17:15

boredbroker At what age do you count as a mature student now? I think it used to be 25 but that was a long time ago. Just interested really. No axe to grind!
I agree with your OP actually. It seems unfair that some 18 year-olds (who have left home and are living on benefits) can get support from the state while others (ie students) can't.

PippiLongBottom · 13/07/2011 17:39

As mumeeee says part of the loan is irrelevant of income. There is a possibility of more if your income is 'low' enough. We get the maximum amount for me once DH's wages are taken into account.

LadyLapsang · 16/07/2011 14:23

Think it's mainly a pragmatic decision. Annoying that the state will pay JSA and housing benefit that never has to be paid back to an 18 year old who has never worked but not extend the same financial support to that 18 year old if they choose to study. However, my personal bugbear is that when parents split up the income of the resident parent only is taken into account so you have a situation that means some students receive maintenance from the state that never has to be paid back when they could also be receiving generous financial support from a non-resident high earning parent.

TrillianAstra · 16/07/2011 14:38

I agree that it is madness.

Every student should get a maintenance loan that is enough to live on.

boredbroker · 25/07/2011 09:05

Crosswordaddict I honestly am not sure what age a person is considered a mature student...I agree with all your comments, I was at a Uni open day last week with my younger son, I asked the same question to the "Finance Desk" & they too didn't have a clue as to how to answer this question... beggars belief!

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DontAskMeSums · 01/08/2011 16:57

Yes LadyLapsang, that seems to be true. My friends and I (all will have at least 2 kids each in Uni at the same time) are wondering if it will be financially prudent to separate from our husbands for the duration and they can rent a flat together somewhere! That way only our, lower, incomes will be assessed. We won't lose child benefit for the children we have who will still be at home either! Has anyone done the maths on this?

TangerineQueen · 04/08/2011 16:52

To be considered financially independent you need to be either:

Aged 25 or over
Married/Civil Partnership
Irreconcilably estranged from your parents
Have supported yourself financially for the 3 years prior to the start of your course.

I think it's shocking that the non income assessed loan barely covers rent. And that they check parental income but not things like how many children the family are supporting, how much debt the family are paying off and whatnot. Definitely something to be said for separating for the duration. And moving to Scotland to finish off secondary school. Or getting married to another student!

SlackSally · 16/08/2011 13:42

The 'financially independent' thing is totally bogus as well.

A friend of mine was about 26 but still being entirely funded by his parents. Because he was 'mature' (Ha!) he got full loans/grants etc.

I was only 19, so had to go by my parents' income, even though I had lived with a boyfriend for 2 years and they gave me no support at all.

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