Student loans not rising to manage rents increasing

[B00kmark6525]

What are families supposed to do?

£400 rent shortfall this term when we’re already having to pay £300 a month so he can eat. It’s a grotty tiny terraced shit heap with mold up the walls. The loans don’t cover living expenses, now they’re not covering rent.

We have 2 other children. What do they expect families to do?

This comes back applying for PIP.

Earlier in the thread, when you said the bus journey was really short someone asked about a bike, can DS not cycle or walk if it is a short journey?

It’s a rubbish situation that we’ll be entering into soon. Having said that, everyone I knew at uni (many years ago) also leant heavily on overdrafts. The banks were pretty amenable. And all I ever really ate was super basic - rice with whatever veg was on offer or plain pasta with cheese. Lots of cheap student nights out during term, but very little other than hanging out at home during the holidays. Could usually pick up cleaning or agricultural work over the summer holidays. Does the uni have any student ambassador roles your DC could do - as they pay? Does their uni have hardship help they can contact?

No too far to cycle.

Not really getting the scrutiny of my son, it’s the student body as a whole which is struggling.

People just do not realise the strain that ND students are under just to cope with life. They are vulnerable - so yep send him out on a bike or walk... Like that will solve the rent issues. '[Sighs]

Some of us have been those ND students…

He won’t get pip. I’ve been through the process with his sibling who does get it.

Not just talking about my son anyway.

happyinherts
I hear you. He needs to go home at lunchtime to recharge, He’d be on his bike all day even if it was short enough, which it isn’t.

You are wrong to assume posters don’t have ND DC or are ND themselves.

Well obviously it doesn’t solve all issues but if someone is spending ‘hundreds’ on a ‘really short journey’ considering if it is walkable/cycleable is a legitimate point.

If OP’s DS is struggling like she says he is he needs to apply for PIP.

I'm not saying that because I did everyone should though. I'm saying that everybody who thinks their DC are likely to go onto university should save if at all possible unless they are on a low income and therefore think their DC will get a full loan. I appreciate that there are sometimes circumstances beyond people's control that meant that with the best will in the world they couldn't put anything by and that might apply to you. However, if that is the case why do you think all families on a middle income will be in the same position as you? Why aren't you assuming that your case is unusual rather than usual?

coffeeaddict77

Because there is a cost of living crisis with soaring rents/ mortgages, prices, limited state services and people are having to use savings just to get by.

Have you not watched the news recently?

calmnights

As I said. He won’t get pip so pointless you keep mentioning it. I’ve been through the process with his sibling.

It's all changed so much, tuition fees and renting along with COL. In the 1990s there were grants, no fees, very cheap accommodation and meals. I used to work in the holidays and in my final years loans became available so was never rich but also had enough. It's become like America, my American friends used to tell me how much they would owe for doing the same courses as me, was mind-blowing. It's again become for the rich or being prepared to get into debt for most families, back then quite a few did have it a ride and bum about because they could.

Only thing I can suggest is he may need to get a pt job, couple of evenings a week in a bar etc and work during holidays. It all adds up and yes his course may be full on but believe me there has always been more than enough free time to party 🥳

Anyone else feel this is going round in circles?

Whether the OP's son rides a bike, gets PIP, gets a job, or not - there is a cost of living crisis. Rents are crazy and even two wages aren't enough. Guessing some posters here are on Universal Credit? How do you expect a student to cope?

Does his university have any kind of hardship fund? That might be another thing for him to look into if it looks like he’s not going to be able to afford the rent.

it isn’t always possible for students to have term time part time jobs

There is a cost of living crises at the moment but not throughout the last 18 years so it doesn't explain why you haven't saved anything at all.

I do agree that they should increase loans in line with inflation because even a full loan is not enough in some areas. However, it's sounds like your ds would have been alright on a full loan and the problem is he is getting a lower amount and you aren't topping it up to the value of the full loan. Maybe I'm wrong though and he is receiving nearly 10,000 in total but it's not enough?

Thankyou!!! happyinherts

Exactly. Can’t help thinking focusing on my son is to distract from the main point.

coffeeaddict77

I beg your pardon.

You know our full financial situation do you? No thought not. 🙄

Loving the way everybody above £26k should have savings because somebody on MN has , in a cost of living crisis.😂

How is whether I know your financial situation relevant?I have said repeatedly that I understand there are sometimes circumstances in which people can't save but if that is the case why do you think everyone who is not rich/privileged is in the same position as you? If you have suffered unusual circumstances why do you think everyone else is in the same boat? By definition they wouldn't be.

So students from families above £27k aren’t struggling? That isn’t what is being reported?

What is being reported is a cost of living crisis with families struggling to make ends meet, stands to reason having to support additional rent and living costs is going to be a struggle for most.

You still get a nearly fully loan if your household income is only a bit above 26k. If your ds was getting a minimum loan your income would be over 58k for example.

Loans are calculated on current income not historic. Mortgages, rents and living costs vary hugely across the country as do other expenses for families.

So are you going to scrutinise the struggling student body as a whole or just my family?

The large numbers of struggling students have no reason to be because you ( and apparently others) have saved and have managed to leave those savings untouched.

Without rent controls, increasing the student loans will just fuel rental prices even higher. Simple economics of supply and demand.