I am on the degree programme for my nursing course. This means I get a means assessed busary, and its weirdly means tested on my parents income, which is quite large. And so I get absolutely nothing. I can't have a student loan because I have had one before. I can't get benefits because I am a student.
At the moment I survive on money from my parents and the very small amount I saved I can't even afford my own rent. I work a little bit, but the course is full time and I don't have my own transport so its hard.
I hate relying on my parents, I find it demeaning and insulting. I supported myself for the past 2 years. I can't be assessed without my parents income unless I have been independent for at least 3 years (like many people I had support in my 1st yr) or unless I marry my partner which I have seriously considered.
I don't know what to do, I can't sleep at night for worrying about my parents giving me money. My partner doesn't earn enough to support me. I don't think i can get any money from hardship funds etc because my parents do have enough to support me. The point is that they shouldn't.
I am 21, I have lived away from home since I was 18, my partner has just bought a house for us, I just don't understand why my income is assessed on my parents.