Hi, I know there have been other threads on this... but none that applied to my specific situation.
So here goes.
I'm in my fourth year of study and for the previous years have received the maintenance grant. I've been told this year that unless I prove estrangement from my mother (I've never known my father) then I will not be allowed to receive the maintenance grant!!
I moved out of my mother's house one month before my 16th birthday and went to live with my grandmother. My mother moved to Spain just after I turned 17 and after that I lived with my grandmother until I moved to uni two months before my 19th birthday, and returned there for summers. My mother and I have not spoken at all since Christmas 2009. Since this July, I now live with my partner, in our own private rented home and I'm 22 in just over a month.
My mother did 'sign' the form when I originally left for university, but it took her six months and eventually it was at the discretion of one SF employee who understood the issues I was having getting my mother to do anything to support my application (and Spain not having the right tax forms etc) that I was eventually able to receive my grant, so I did not receive any money until March 2009.
I have been told to get a letter from my doctor, social worker, or tutors explaining the situation. I do not have a social worker, my doctor says he cannot sign anything as he has no previous knowledge of my situation and my tutors have said the same. I have been to the CAB, who could not help me and I have called the Student Finance people several times and they keep telling me to get the same evidence from people I have ALREADY asked and been declined. We have offered to send proof of address for the years I was living with my grandmother, and my grandmother tried to adopt me too, we have offered to send off documentation to show that she was my LEGAL guardian until I turned 18, she had been receiving tax credits etc because I was living with her and they will not accept this!!!
I cannot contact my mother, I have no idea where she lives or if she is even still living in the UK. Even if I could, I wouldn't as I do not want her finding out any details about me, especially not where I live or how to contact me.
I am ENTITLED to this money, I have been receiving it for the past three years and my circumstances have not improved since. I just don't know what to do... my partner works but does not earn enough to pay rent, bills and all the other expenses for the two of us. If I don't get my grant, it's looking like I will have to withdraw from university and not complete my final year, just to be able to support myself as my health is not good enough for me to manage a job and full-time at university.