has anyone clicked 'no' on their dc SFE form and dc then got full loan?

[passwordnotsecure]

We have an average combined wage. We have 2 dc at uni and we can't afford the 2 contributions we are supposed to make - only half. DS's mate's parents are minted but separated. The friend has put that he lives with his mum who has no income but doesn't need to work and he gets the full loan. Other friends have got the full loan too. Is this a thing people do - say they won't support dc on the form and then them get the full loan?

This is a “feature” of the system that only the income of the parent that the child lives with is taken into consideration. It doesn’t matter how much the non-resident parent earns & whether they support the student financially or not.

Yes. It’s just the resident parent’s income that counts. It’s a system that produces some objectively unfair results.

But it’s complex and hard to rely on NRPs when the CMS exists precisely because they don’t always choose to contribute to their children.

Yes that’s how it works. He’s not doing anything wrong saying he lives with his mum if he does. It’s based on household income. So if dad is a millionaire and lives separately it doesn’t matter. Yet if mum moves in her new boyfriend and he’s earning good money then he’s expected to contribute to the child’s education. It’s really ridiculous and drives me mad. I know people in this situation whereby their new partners income means their child gets minimum loan and it’s a really awkward situation. Meanwhile dad gets off Scott free.

And there isn’t anywhere to click to say the father will be contributing. So they aren’t doing anything wrong.

Thanks - I understand all that bit, but what happens if a parent clicks that they will not support their child at uni? Do they then get the full amount?

No, my understanding is the student will only get the full loan if either the household income is low, or the student had been living apart from the parents for 3 years Eg, mature students, children in care etc, snd thus can be proved so registered address held at GP surgery

No of course not, you have to support them. The threshold is really generous if you can’t afford it you will need to make cutbacks to your outgoings. Your morgage must be huge if you don’t have enough disposable income. Think about moving rather than expecting other tax payers to support your dc not because you don’t have the income, but rather your priorities are skewed.

There's a 'no' option on the SFE form?
Must have missed that one. You fill in the form so that your household income can be assessed and the student given the 'correct' amount of loan. Don't get me started on the unfairness and anomalies, but that's the way it works. Nobody's going to send the bailiffs round if you don't support your child.

The student indicates on the form that they wish to claim as much as they are entitled to, or words to that effect. They are then asked for contact details for the resident parent(s). Said parent(s) then receive an email asking them to confirm that they will be supporting the student's application (for the means-tested portion of the maintenance loan). If you either say no, or ignore the email, or complete the process and it turns out that your household income is above the cut-off, the student will just get the basic maintenance loan.

Or you can try throwing them out on the street and sever all connection with them (making sure that the non-resident parent also cuts them off) at least a year before they apply, which would allow them to start the process as 'estranged'.
www.standalone.org.uk/guides/student-guide/#irreconcilably-estranged
(Some of us find that a little extreme, however annoying our teenagers can be, but obviously not everyone thinks that way, otherwise there would be no need for the circumstances to be acknowledged by student finance).

If you declare you are divorced/separated you need to provide evidence. It's not just a case of saying it and they take you for your word.

Agree with @MarchingFrogs you are agreeing to support your child’s application not to support them financially.

If you object to this then all that will happen is that your poor child/children will be penalised and they will definitely only receive the minimum loan and will subsequently struggle at Uni.

We have two children a school year apart and we know that they will both be at Uni within a year of each other. We are not mega wealthy and it will be hard but we are aware that we will have to support them financially whilst they at Uni as the minimum maintenance loan will barely cover the rent costs never mind food, books, light socialising etc. See Martin Lewis about the expected contribution a parent is expected to make. Our DD year 12 has a part time job now and is saving some money from that now as a buffer. DS year 13 has refused to get a part time job so we have told him we will top him up to minimum Maintenance Loan but he will still have to live quite frugally to manage. He says he will get a job in the summer once he finishes his A levels.

@Wordlewobble DS year 13 has refused to get a part time job so we have told him we will top him up to minimum Maintenance Loan but he will still have to live quite frugally to manage. surely you mean top him up to the maximum loan amount. It’s your responsibility to support your ds at uni not his.

You are legally obliged to support them. It has nothing to do with the form.

@Villagewaspbyke you aren't legally obliged to support an adult child through university. However, if you can you should contribute. I could only top my adult son up to the full loan amount and he survived.

@passwordnotsecure

Thanks - I understand all that bit, but what happens if a parent clicks that they will not support their child at uni? Do they then get the full amount?

No, or else everyone would just do that to get the full amount, wouldn't they.

@Villagewaspbyke

You are legally obliged to support them. It has nothing to do with the form.

Of course you're bloody not. They're ADULTS, and university isn't an essential. You might be EXPECTED to help them, but there's nothing legal about it. Watch your terminology when you're giving people 'advice' for goodness sake.

@MyDcAreMarvel yes got my words mixed up
currently have covid.

If your child statutes their parents will not support them, or you refuse to fill in your income details then they will only get the minimum loan unless they can prove they are estranged from you (they have no contact with you whatsoever) or they can prove that they have worked and supported themselves with no parental help for 3 years.

Or you can try throwing them out on the street and sever all connection with them (making sure that the non-resident parent also cuts them off) at least a year before they apply, which would allow them to start the process as 'estranged'.

Nope, that still wouldn't work. They would need evidence that the relationship had broken down- IE social services involvement, police reports etc

@bowchicawowwow yes you are obliged to support a child in full time education up to the age of 25. They can apply to the court to enforce maintenance if you don’t (CMS doesn’t have jurisdiction for kids at uni). Kids generally don’t as it’s their parents but I have seen cases. Obviously the court has to be satisfied there are sufficient funds to pay maintenance but if there is it will be awarded.

@LindaEllen - they are not adults at 18 and as I said have a legal right to maintenance.

It is absolutely crazy that parents are financially responsible for their children once they turn 18.

www.thorntons-law.co.uk/knowledge/students-to-sue-parents-for-university-fees

@Stopsnowing don’t be ridiculous of course it isn’t. An 18 year old at uni is not an adult. They need financial support

It’s absolutely crazy imo that some parents might not want to support their children at university. I will be so proud if mine go abs do everything in my power to support them.