Partners child is 20 going to uni how does it work ? x

Scattylady2 · 2021-07-26T21:57:17+00:00

My partners child lives with their mum and new husband. They are 20 and going to uni in September. Will my partner have to pay towards this ? Will they look at my income as we are not married ?

Auntycorruption · 26/07/2021 23:02

No I think their loan will be assessed on mums income alone.

Definitely not your or stepdads responsibility.

Whether her dad should contribute is a moral question rather than a legal one

cabbageking · 26/07/2021 23:07

It is based on the home address.

They are separated and your income is not included.

It is usual for both parents to try to help in anyway they can and contribute depending on income. This might include paying something voluntarily into their bank account, paying for their phone, paying for an grocery card perhaps?

Krabapple · 26/07/2021 23:16

It’s based on household income where she lives so Mum and Stepdad. I think morally your dh should help if he can.

BackforGood · 26/07/2021 23:19

Student finance ask about "household income"

OTOH, morally many people would think that 'parents' ought to be contributing.

Either way, your income won't be looked at.

CassandraTrotter · 26/07/2021 23:21

Why would he not want to pay towards his child university costs?

TrainspottingWelsh · 26/07/2021 23:26

In terms of student finance and loans, no he won't. If he's the father, rather than a sperm donor, he will of course contribute on top of that to support his child.

Shelddd · 26/07/2021 23:29

@CassandraTrotter

Why would he not want to pay towards his child university costs?

Maybe he doesn't have the means? Maybe he doesn't believe someone should do university if there isn't a positive ROI and if there is a good ROI then they should be able to pay their own loans. Loan terms are very favourable so it makes sense to use loans if the degree will actually result in a job that earns enough to pay off loans.

titchy · 26/07/2021 23:37

if there is a good ROI then they should be able to pay their own loans

Except the amount they can borrow is dependant in household income.
So a kid could choose to do Med which has a very good ROI, but if their rich parent won't top up their loan the ROI is a moot point cos they can't access the maintenance they need to go.

AlexaShutUp · 26/07/2021 23:41

@Auntycorruption

No I think their loan will be assessed on mums income alone.

Definitely not your or stepdads responsibility.

Whether her dad should contribute is a moral question rather than a legal one

This isn't right. The stepdad's income will be taken into account, assuming that he lives in the same household. That might not be particularly fair, especially as the other parent's income is disregarded, but it's how the system works.

WaterBottle123 · 26/07/2021 23:43

Surely he wants to support his child?

AlexaShutUp · 26/07/2021 23:46

And yes, there is a moral duty on him to support his child, even though there isn't a legal one.

The system is actually very unfair because the amount that students can borrow is based on household income, but there is no mechanism for actually ensuring that parents/resident step-parents actually provide the expected parental contribution.

CassandraTrotter · 26/07/2021 23:48

And yes, there is a moral duty on him to support his child, even though there isn't a legal one
I dont think moral duty is an argument this man is interested in tbh…

TrainspottingWelsh · 26/07/2021 23:48

There's also the fact that whether you get the full loan or your parents top you up to it, many students still have to work just to cover basic living costs. And right now is not a good time for a student that is depending on a typical term time job to live.
And of course unless you are genuinely struggling to make ends meet, what parent wouldn't want to make life easier for their dc?

Shelddd · 27/07/2021 00:05

@titchy

if there is a good ROI then they should be able to pay their own loans

Except the amount they can borrow is dependant in household income.
So a kid could choose to do Med which has a very good ROI, but if their rich parent won't top up their loan the ROI is a moot point cos they can't access the maintenance they need to go.

Yeah I get that, sorry if it wasn't clear. I mean the student should typically take out the max loan they qualify for if the degree is worth it. If the parents need to make up the difference then of course do it if they have the means to.

My brothers kid is in dental school (not in UK) and going to be 150-200k in debt when he gets out but the ROI is there. My brother would struggle to pay that for his kid... why should be have to sell/remortgage his house when his kid is going to earn several hundred thousand a year (outside UK).

Gloomandglow · 27/07/2021 01:01

And yes, there is a moral duty on him to support his child, even though there isn't a legal one
I dont think moral duty is an argument this man is interested in tbh…*
*
OP hasn't said her partner won't support his child, she just asked if her income would be used to assess?

MobyDicksTinyCanoe · 27/07/2021 01:10

My brother halved the maintenance he used to give to his ex wife and gave it to his dd instead........which her mum moaned about. To me that seemed standard and fair.

Must add that my brother had saved her entire life for uni and she's left with no debt. Her accommodation, fees etc were paid in full. She just had to get a part time job to earn beer money.

TableFlowerss · 27/07/2021 01:31

@Gloomandglow

And yes, there is a moral duty on him to support his child, even though there isn't a legal one I dont think moral duty is an argument this man is interested in tbh…* * OP hasn't said her partner won't support his child, she just asked if her income would be used to assess?

Yea but you get the impression that she hopes everyone will say no 🤣

ChristmasShearwater · 27/07/2021 05:10

Why would he not want to pay towards his child university costs?

Has the OP said he doesn't?
Maybe he can't- he might have young children with her and not be on the mega salary so many on MN claim to be on.

It's all very well you lot banging on about "moral duty" but if a parent doesn't have the funds ...

Waxonwaxoff0 · 27/07/2021 06:25

@ChristmasShearwater

Why would he not want to pay towards his child university costs?

Has the OP said he doesn't?
Maybe he can't- he might have young children with her and not be on the mega salary so many on MN claim to be on.

It's all very well you lot banging on about "moral duty" but if a parent doesn't have the funds ...

He shouldn't be having more children if he can't afford to support his first. As a parent you should plan for the possibility that your children might want to go to university. Presumably he was paying maintenance, so the amount he was paying could go straight to his child to help with uni costs.

The child's mum doesn't have the excuse of "can't afford" to raise her child so the dad shouldn't have that excuse either.

LynetteScavo · 27/07/2021 07:00

You and your partners income will not be taken into account when the amount of maintenance loan is calculated- it's based on household income, so the step fathers income will be taken into account.

Nobody has to pay anything on top of the student loan, but if parents don't, the adult child could really struggle and have a miserable time and possibly fail to comp their course.

Parents income is taken into account until the student is 25.

So on other threads where posters are eagerly saying 18 year olds should contribute financially to the family income, they should also be aware that in 5 years time the same parents could be having to support their child financially while at university. It can be a shock to parents if their adult child had previously shown no interest in attending university.

The student loan system is really unfair. Once you know how much the students maintenance loan and accommodation is you'll be able to work out how much it would be fair to contribute. Obviously you won't want the student to resort to bin surfing to eat, but on the other the student might have low accommodation fees, the full maintenance grant, a part time job and tell you they really don't need anything from you. I've known that happen in the last year (much to the upset of the parent who wanted to contribute) as the student wasn't spending any money on entertainment and didn't need their parents financial contribution. But that's a conversation you'll need to have with the adult child and the other parent.

RoseAndRose · 27/07/2021 07:15

Partners child is 20 going to uni how does it work ?

The DC is assessed for the discretionary part of the loan on household income (unless over 25, or able to demonstrate they are living independently of parents, neither of which seem to apply here)

Tuition fees are included in full for everyone in the loan.

Living costs are on a sliding scale and parental contribution covers the difference between loan given and the likely cost (ie at least up to full loan, and possibly beyond especially if they want to study in a more expensive place)

So of course the DParents, whether still together or not, should continue to support the DC. Until the end of full time education is a very normal situation, payments can of course go directly to the DC

Even though you mention the DC is 20, so has presumably taken a gap year and/or was disinclined to start because of covid, I think he should support DC practically (including financially) simply because it's the right thing to do.

I do realise that for some people it's totally impossible (if you're living hand to mouth) but it should still be the aim.

Original poster

Scattylady2 · 27/07/2021 17:54

Thanks for your comments! Interesting so many jump to the conclusion he won’t pay !!! He will pay but just wanted advice so we can plan

OP posts:

ChristmasShearwater · 27/07/2021 18:03

You tell 'em, OP!

Here's MSE Martin Lewis giving a detailed explanation about student loans

CuriousaboutSamphire · 27/07/2021 18:07

Why would he not want to pay towards his child university costs?

Maybe they want to know so they can make his kid a sensible offer of top up money without messing anything up! Why assume the worst?

Bollindger · 28/07/2021 16:38

I bet he finally stopped child support.
No one is saying your not going to help his child, if your near enough a food shop is always welcomed, if not even a set a.ount paid each week , will be better as it will feed them. Giving a lump sum, seems to get used for treats