DSs student finance, AIBU to just leave it be even though it's probably wrong?

[ProverbialOuthouse]

DS (18) has just started University. I got a letter asking to support his student finance application and on it it asked me for my end of year income between 2014 and 2015. At the time I was working part time and a full time student myself so according to my P60 my EOY income was only £12k. I copied this to the penny onto the form.

The form also said "do not include your partners income as they will be asked separately". At the time DH (not DSs father) was earning around £32k but as it told me not to include this, I didn't.

We heard nothing more and DS has just been awarded the full loan of £7k. He's obviously over the moon as without it, he was really going to struggle as we have a lot of outgoings and 3 other kids and couldn't have supported him other than allowing him to live here cost free.

Thing is I know that if DHs income was included, he wouldn't have got the full loan and I'm pretty sure it SHOULD be included.

AIBU to just leave it as I did everything they asked me to? Also as it's a loan it's not like DS is actually getting free money from anywhere (like a benefit), he will have to pay it all back. Plus, if I say something and they take it off him, he'll struggle like hell.

So, AIBU to just leave it be unless they contact us again and ask for more info?

Graduate tax, piffle. Of course it's a debt!
Seriously, stop worrying and help him with his budgeting to ensure he doesn't run up credit card debts too.

DS should have filled in the application form up to section 11, signed it and then given it to you. You and your DH then have to submit your details, sign the form and DS should then have submitted it.
As for his 'D'F you may need to speak to CMS.
I do not think the rules are fair.

I didn't clock the bit about him living at home, is that during term time? There would definitely be a reduction for that. DD's loan covers her accommodation with about £200 left over for the whole year.

It must be different from when I was at uni. My parents earned £30k (1997 thay was a lot) and being was given the full loan. I got no grant or other help just a loan and the fees paid. loans were given no matter what the family income was. What was daft was that tyenasked for dependant under 18. There were two of us at uni over 18 that my parents were supporting.

I wouldnt worry about it

It sounds like your son made a mistake and I think that as you are now aware of it you should get him to sort it out. I'd phone student finance for advice and get it changed.

Did he work over the summer?

Is he living at home?

Not quite the same situation - but my DS graduated in 2015 (1st class honours in Physics, I like to boast at every opportunity!). He was the last of the cohort to pay 3k a year in fees and got the full loan, full grant and a bursary from the Uni for achieving 2 A stars and an A at A level. I had just become a single parent, earning 25k a year. His Dad, my ex, earned (and continues to earn) a 6 figure salary. While I was very glad DS didn't have to struggle financially it is disgraceful that a high earning man's income was not taken into account and he did not have to pay a penny towards his son's education. No more grants now so if he were going now he'd be graduating with approx 60k debt - it was a 4 year degree.

"yet another bloke who he's only known 5 years is expected to financially support him? It's just wrong."

Bit of a weird vision of a stepfather, which is a man who married his mother and presumably did so with willingness to make her family his own.

Anyway when i went to uni my own dickhead birth father's income was never mentioned (he has none anyway).

Fair or otherwise, here is the 'what counts as household income' blurb:

household income

The government doesn't know who lives with you, how could it?

I think you need to check what DS has said. Household income does include his step dad, rightly or wrongly.

It may have been a genuine mistake made by your son but he signed a declaration. I'd be concerned about it being discovered.

My DP moans no end about having to dig out a P60 every year (last time thank god). But yes, his details have to be included. I wrote my income wrong once and they followed it up and reduced DD’s income. No idea if they can detect 2 adults in the house but I wouldn’t be surprised.