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Education

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Original poster

Child going to uni in the day

37 replies

emmahearts · 28/03/2023 20:36

Hi, I am a single parent with an 18 year old going to uni in the day in September. The reason is we live about half an hour away. My daughter is taking out a grant as I can’t afford to pay for her. I just wondered as she will be living at home, ami entitled to any help for her as I will still have to feed her and she will be using electric and water ect.
Thank you

OP posts:
gogohmm · 28/03/2023 20:38

She will be entitled to a much lower loan, it's up to you how much you ask her for rent. You can't claim anything yourself

TranielPratspliff · 28/03/2023 20:39

Why is she going locally? I'd encourage her to move further away and to take out a full loan (my DC have all done this). The point of university is to become independent!

TomorrowsPrincess · 28/03/2023 21:09

TranielPratspliff · 28/03/2023 20:39

Why is she going locally? I'd encourage her to move further away and to take out a full loan (my DC have all done this). The point of university is to become independent!

The point in University is to learn a specific field..... independence isn't taught in Uni.
My daughter lives at home and goes to a local Uni, she also works P/T and gets a grant for her course. She learnt to be i dependant from life.

OP, can they not get an evening/weekend job to provide a bit of board?

TomorrowsPrincess · 28/03/2023 21:10

Also OP, her grant is for her. To provide herself with things she may need for Uni. Text books, travel, laptop etc.

FoolsOld · 28/03/2023 21:27

She'll need to get a job too. I imagine this would be the same if she went away to university.

aibutohavethisusername · 28/03/2023 21:37

My daughter commutes to Uni, has her loan and a PT Job and pays me board.

MissMaple82 · 28/03/2023 21:49

TranielPratspliff · 28/03/2023 20:39

Why is she going locally? I'd encourage her to move further away and to take out a full loan (my DC have all done this). The point of university is to become independent!

Odd thing to say..

Ratatouille1 · 28/03/2023 21:53

If you are on a low income she might be entitled to a bursary. Many bursaries go unclaimed. They also don't have to be paid back. These bursaries are to help with her living costs but of course that could include a contribution to household bills.

Choconut · 28/03/2023 21:55

She'd have to eat and pay bills if she lived out - they wouldn't be paid for her (apart from by borrowing money). So you wouldn't be entitled to anything.

Ratatouille1 · 28/03/2023 22:08

Our local University has bursaries of up to £2,000 a year if you are on a low income ( often under £25,000) one off grants for contributions to energy bills or other discretionary awards. Check out the scholarship and bursaries page of the university she is considering applying to.

Whatisthisanyidea · 28/03/2023 22:12

I don’t think going local is a bad shout. Not all teens are ready and not all teens want to leave home. Some even do it to save money.

DD can get a free place local or go to a different university and leave with debt.

Doesn’t answer your question but it is food for thought!

I would check grants and see if she can get a part time job to help out.

Working over the summer should raise some funds - not sure if it’s worth her looking into benefits, or charity finds that might help?

cestlavielife · 28/03/2023 22:16

You mean a loan?
If she gets full loan
You can ask her to contribute some of it
Are you working/claiming allyou entitled to?

meditrina · 28/03/2023 22:18

It's not you who will be entitled. It's the student.

She can get a student loan for living expenses - at the "living at home" rate (£3579) and then it's up to you how much you ask for for board and lodging, and how much she needs for travel cost and books/equipment.

And if still a shortfall, then a part-time job as well

SueVineer · 28/03/2023 22:19

cestlavielife · 28/03/2023 22:16

You mean a loan?
If she gets full loan
You can ask her to contribute some of it
Are you working/claiming allyou entitled to?

no you can’t. You are obliged to keep her until she is out of full time education. You should still get some benefits for her (eg housing allowance)

gkhg · 28/03/2023 22:20

TranielPratspliff · 28/03/2023 20:39

Why is she going locally? I'd encourage her to move further away and to take out a full loan (my DC have all done this). The point of university is to become independent!

No it's not

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 28/03/2023 22:24

No you won't be entitled to any income for having her home with you. It could be worth checking you are bringing in as much as you can, plus whatever you may be entitled to in benefits if you are. Then, if still struggling, look at how else to bring an income in.

I personally wouldn't charge rent to my child whilst they are still in education but I'm lucky to know I don't need to. If the only way you can afford to fund the costs of having an 18yo living with you is to charge rent, then that is what you need to do. But I'd check your own wages and (if eligibile) benefits are maxed beforehand.

Ratatouille1 · 28/03/2023 22:27

The maximum loan for students living at home is £8,400

Edmontine · 28/03/2023 22:29

You should find most of the information you need on these pages, @emmahearts.

If you’re in England your daughter will be applying for a Student Loan, not a grant. And as pp have said, if you are on a low income she will probably be entitled to a bursary from the university. (And it would be sensible for her to get a part time job if her course commitments allow.)

The point in University is to learn a specific field..... independence isn't taught in Uni.

No, independence isn’t on the curriculum - but it is learned by every single student who lives away from home, amongst their peers, for the first time. And for very many people it is indeed part of the ‘point’ of going to university. The etymology of the word university involves the concept of a community. (It’s also one of the things people cite as a regret, years or decades later, if they didn’t have the opportunity to live away from home during their undergraduate years.)

Obviously everyone makes the choice that best suits them.

Finance

Find information on tuition fees, student finance across the UK, NI, for international students. Also, find funding information including for postgraduates.

https://www.ucas.com/money

Marsyas · 28/03/2023 22:30

I agree that good thing about university is that it teaches independence in a safe and gradual way. You are living away from home some of the time but not all of the time, you have to do some independent things but there are also people around to help. I don’t know why that is being dismissed out of hand by PP.

titchy · 28/03/2023 22:34

You won't get any benefits for her - though having an independent adult (which students are) in your household may still mean the HB part of UC is assessed against you still needing that bedroom.

You're expected to charge her board though - her loan should be enough for her to at least pay what she costs in terms of food and energy bills - and have enough left for her own uni expenses.

clary · 28/03/2023 22:35

Yy @emmahearts she is entitled to a student loan, 9k for tuition fees then an assessed amount for living expenses.

As others say, this amount will depend on your income but if that is low then it may be the maximum. It’s her money but I think it would be reasonable to ask her to contribute for her food.

It's not a grant btw, it (maybe) has to be paid back. But I agree, she should also look into bursaries.

clary · 28/03/2023 22:36

Btw she needs to apply for the loans and you will need to submit details of your income or she will only receive the minimum.

HarrietSchulenberg · 28/03/2023 22:37

At 18 your dd is an adult so no, you won't get financial help for her. She can apply for a maintenance loan and pay towards her keep out of that. Alternatively she could get a pt job and contribute out of that instead.

PaulaVerlaine · 28/03/2023 22:38

Check with the loan provider- Student Finance England if applicable. DS did one year of uni from home and got almost 9k loan --because I am poor (and widowed), I assume he got the full amount
He paid me £300 per month for food, bills etc- what I had 'lost' on tax credits/ child benefit/ etc- to maintain the same income to cover household expenditure.