**1st YR STUDENTS FINANCIAL HELP**

[fireflyfairy2]

Hi

I have posted on student parents once or twice before and received some help an advice, I hope you can help me again

I applied to my local Education Library Board for financial assistance for Uni in the faint hope that I would get SOME help..as the fee's are horrendous for Uni...aren't they?
I got a letter in today saying they are processing it and they think i am entitled to "living costs" and "fee support"
I assume fee support is help with the Uni fee's, but im not sure what "living costs" would come under. I don't need student halls, i'd be coming home to my DH and 2 kids... Are the living costs becuase I have 2 kids? Im not sure.. I hope some of you wise mn'ers who have entered the Uni territory before me can gimme some advice.. Thanks FF2

Hi. I'm not too sure of this myself, but I think this probably refers to the parent learning allowance, which If I remember correctly is a grant of just over £1000 a year. Definately ring them up and ask them to clarify though. And if you're claiming housing benefit make sure the council know WITHOUT A DOUBT that this is not taken into consideration, I am still having terrible trouble getting them to understand this!

Hi Littlelamb and thnx for replying

I have been on the phone to a man that was in my class at college and he's doing teacher training.. he says it qualifies as "existance costs" in other words, a grant that i don't have to pay back.
No, I don't claim housing benefit.. in this case im glad 'cos it'd probably prove to be one more thing to get hassled over!!]
They should let me know in the next few days how much help i shall be entitled to.. i had initially thought i wouldn't get anything as DH is self employed and we don't get any other money.. but then this is maybe WHY im entitled to it..as we have no other benefits?? I dunno.. hmm thats something to ponder eh? LOL

Hi firefly

It depends on what your income is, as to whether you'll receive any extras such as Dependents Allowance, Parent Learning Allowance. The fee support you get is dependent upon your income as well and is means tested. If you're entitled to any help for that, then your family income must be below about £36K (as I 'think' this is approximately the most you can earn before you have to pay all your fees). For example, my family income is £27K and I only have to pay £200 out of £1200 fees. Regarding 'Living Costs', you may be entitled to something, but, in my case, I was told that this meant a Student Loan. In a booklet I've got, it states that 'Living Costs' is either 'Student Loan', 'Other grants' (such as Higher Education Grant)' or money from the 'Access to learning Fund'. The latter two are dependent upon income and students are normally eligible if their incomes are below about £19K), so if your income is higher than this, 'Living Costs' may mean that you are simply entitled to take out a loan. Not sure exactly about above figures, but they are somewhere close. Hope ths helps!

I get quite a lot of help despite being at home, with 3 DS's and a lowish paid DH (just under 18k), I get no help with childcare (£61 a week) BUT i get a total of almost £7.5K including the loan. I was pleasantly surprised, but I did make sure I listed all our outgoings and sent to them with anote saying they were all prior commitments, having three kids meant bills were an essential and so was feeding them!

CTC want to know about the grant though, they take this into account (How is this fair when the grant income assessment included the CTC which will now be deducted?)

Hi!!

I got news today that i am getting a bursary for £1,145.00 To cover fees Im happy.. and still waiting to see what else i can get LOL