How can you find out if you're an "independent student"

[PerfectRun]

For student finance?

DS has worked full time on a fairly decent salary for his age and paid keep at home for 3 years. He's now decided University is for him after all and needs to apply for student finance. The guidance says if you've "supported yourself" for 3 years you're an independent student, but it isn't clear what supporting yourself means.

It will make a big difference to what he's entitled to of it's based on household income or his own income. He hasn't cost me anything as such for 3 years and he has contributed financially to runnign the house, but obviously that's not quite the same as being completely independent.

He's 19yo, so doesn't qualify on age.

If anyone is interested, I'd decided we'd give up and just out the application in, but DS has been on the phone to student finance this morning and they have confirmed that working full time for three years makes you an independent student, provided you can confirm that you have.

They weren't interested in the level of the income or the extent to which he had paid his way. He told them it had been a low income in the first year, but that didn't matter, it's full time that counts.

Of course that could change when the actual application goes in, but they were very clear and didn't hesitate in their response.

@PerfectRun I would be careful about getting his hopes up. SF will say he can apply to be assessed as an independent learner, but doesn't mean they will agree he is.

I have had friends made redundant/reduced income over covid. The lengths they have had to go to prove this so theirDC get a higher loan is unbelievable.

I really hope it works ok for him. It sounds like he had worked hard.

Great news, well done Op. Hope it works out for him.

It’s all relative. £50 per week for a room in a terraced house in a cheap northern city is absolutely contributing his share of housing costs when you realise it doesn’t include food.

in London it wouldn’t scratch the surface.

working full time at above minimum wage for 3 years I reckon he’d stand a good chance.