Applying for student finance, divorced dad, remarried mum, how do we work it out?

[DontEatAnyFishTodayMaam]

Hi

DD is in Year 13 and applying for student finance.

I divorced her dad 15 years ago.
I remarried 12 years ago.
DD is NOT legally adopted by her step-father.

I've read on the WHICH website that applications for bursaries etc is based on the household income. However, I've also been told that I don't have to take into account my husband's income (her step-father) as he is not legally required to pay for my DD's university costs.

I don't even know where to start with this - do I just put in exDH's annual income and mine in the "household income" box?

I'm nervous that I might be accused of fraud in the future, especially as DH earns more than ex-DH.

Help, please! Or, at least, some pointers....

The Student Finance forms clearly state that the finance is based on household income - which includes the resident parent and their partner. So your DH's income and yours should be used on the forms. Your exDH's income isn't taken into account.

www.gov.uk/apply-for-student-finance/household-income

Thank you - sadly this is bad news but at least I won't end up in the clink.

That's the case in Scotland.

DH had to provide proof of income for my DD, whereas XH was not asked at all. DH and I had only been married a year, hadn't lived together beforehand so conceivably might not even have known DD. (She had gone travelling for a few years and hadn't lived with us).

It does seem a strange system. XH is very well off and does contribute directly to DD but guess many students are not as lucky.