Can anyone help with a Student Finance issue?

[Rapunzeleyebrows]

My son and his girlfriend both started uni last week. She applied for her student loan and will get the basic maintenance loan. Her mother is refusing to make any financial contribution to her at all and is refusing to fill out the student finance forms in order for her daughter to claim the higher rate maintenance loan.

The poor girl is one week in and having to consider leaving because the basic maintenance loan won’t cover her first terms rent, she has a part time job but she will need her meagre wages to live on.

I cannot understand her Mother’s mind set at all, fair enough don’t give her any money, but to refuse to support her application for student finance, it’s mind boggling. So my question is, is there anything she can do. I’ve suggested she goes to see student support tomorrow and try to speak to student finance.

I don't think there is much she can do if her mother refuses here.

Before she thinks about leaving she should try the university for details of bursaries. I think if she does leave then she is still liable for a certain percentage of fees.

Do you know the mum at all? What about her dad?

Thanks for that @FanSpamTastic I’ll send it to her. Mum is not particularly nice, my son’s girlfriend didn’t have the best life when she was growing up. Her Dad has his own family and doesn’t see him often. After everything she has been through she is the most lovely, kind, considerate girl any normal parent would be so proud of what she has achieved and she really doesn’t deserve this.

Can she try to register as estranged from her mother? If she can prove this she can apply in her own right. I’m not sure how to go about it, but if you google student finance and estranged, there should be some info. And do get her to go to student services/student support.

Yes, estranged is explained in Fan’s link. It’s quite extreme, though.

Is there anyway she can be considered estranged from her parents? Did her mum support her until recently?

Some guidance here standalone.

It's really sad but she may be forced to cut any contact to give her a chance to apply for extra help next year.

Did she not discuss her plans to go to uni with her parents before she applied? Can she try appealing to her father? Could he help?

Her mother knew all about her plans and told her she would supplement her maintenance loan. Fast forward one week and she’s decided to withdraw all support. I think the long term plan is to force her to go home where she can control her. She really needs to stay at uni, she has so much potential.