The Student Room Group

Independent status question

I looked at this guide linked below:

http://www.practitioners.slc.co.uk/m...ide_1516_d.pdf

It says to be considered independent: "You’ve supported yourself for at least three years before the start ofyour course. This includes any time you:- were in paid, full-time employment"

I am not employed full time but instead part time because I couldn't find any full time paid work. I work part time (20 hours per week) and earn about £7488 per year. Does working part time automatically make be ineligible for it?

Oh and also i'm 19.

I've seen the limit mentioned as £7500, I earn £7488 per year .. that's £12 less than the limit, would that still be okay?

This is the most important question for me:

I started working in the middle of a tax year (08/2013) and so for that tax year I will earn less than £7.5k. There are mixed answers on the forum about this but do the 3 years of self support have to be from April to April? I started from 08/2013 .. so could the three years of self support be 08/2013 - 08/2016?

In terms of TAX YEARS (APR - APR) this is what I mean:
08/2013 - 04/2014 = £5000
2014/2015 = £7500.
2015/2016 = £7500
04/2016 - 08/2016 = £2500

This would obviously make me ineligible because since the tax year goes from april - april, it splits up my yearly payments.

Would this be okay for student finance as proof of self support for three years?
08/2013-08/2014 = £7500
08/2014-08/2015 = £7500
08/2015-08/2016 = £7500

This makes full 36 months of self support prior to my course and passes the £7.5k limit too. In the application forms and the regulations schedule 4 doesn't mention tax years but only "three years" so would this be okay?

Oh and also, I even worked for two months (08/2012 and 09/2012). That would make 38 months, should I include that too?
(edited 8 years ago)
Hi,

We take every case on an individual basis so you may still qualify as independent. Send as much evidence as you can (p60's. payslips etc) making sure that in total these cover a 36 month period. If you can think of any other evidence that might help your case then send that as well.


Hope this helps.
Original post by Mark Lee - SFE Official Adviser
Hi,

We take every case on an individual basis so you may still qualify as independent. Send as much evidence as you can (p60's. payslips etc) making sure that in total these cover a 36 month period. If you can think of any other evidence that might help your case then send that as well.


Hope this helps.


Thanks for the reply. I'm about to take a gap year just so that I can get the independence status ... Could you please make sure that I do qualify for it? I don't want to waste a year.

In a different thread you have said, that it has to be from tax year to tax year (at the end):
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2265212
Hi,

According to our regulations, the three-year period doesn't have to be consecutive. So you should be O.K.


Thanks

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