I have been having trouble applying for finance as an independent student and would like a conclusive answer.
I have lived away from my parents since September 2011 and have been living independently for over 5 years. I moved to study a college course in Bristol (an extended diploma). This lasted from September 2011 to July 2013 and the course fees were fully covered by the college (me being 18 at the time).
During this time, I was also pursuing a small business that I had started with a friend of mine in Nov 2010 and is still active to this day. However, I have never been employed by the company nor have I made any money from it as of yet (it has only lost me money).
Up until when I started my first paid job, 14th Sept 2014, my parents had been covering me for my living expenses. Ever since that first job, I have been fully supporting myself financially.
I am now 23 (24 in 2 weeks) and am planning to start a course in London on 18th September this year.
“If you have supported yourself financially for a total of thirty-six months prior to the start of your course, you can apply to be assessed as an independent student on the grounds of self-support. These months do not have to be consecutive, but you must show you have been earning a sufficient amount to be financially independent.”
From this and every other reference I can find, I should be able to classed as an independent student, although only just.
Here's a summary of how I have been supporting myself to date, split by the last 3 tax years:
04/14 to 04/15
Job 1 (part-time) = 14th Sept 2014 - 3rd Jan 2015 = £3,590
Housing Benefit [Part1] = 4th Jan 2015 - 5th April 2015 = £800
Jobseekers [Part1] = 12th Feb 2015 - 5th April = £370
Total: £4,760
04/15 to 04/16
Housing Benefit [Part2] = 6th April 2015 - 5th April 2016 = £2,190
Jobseekers [Part2] = 6th April - 18th August = £1,200
Job 2 (part-time) [Part1] = 19 August 2015 to 5th April 2016 = £4,950
Total: £8,350
04/16 to 04/17
Job 2 (part-time) [Part2; last pay slip] = 6th April 2016 to 23rd April 2016 = £1,100
Housing Benefit [Part3] = 6th April 2016 - present = £1,020
Job 3 (part-time) = 20 May 2016 to present = £6,360
Total: £8,480
Course start date = 18th September 2017
14th Sept 2014 to 18 Sept 2017 > 36 months/3 years
I am having trouble getting an answer on how I should proceed. I have not yet had a conclusive answer—it simply isn’t clear. I have had some say that I shouldn’t have a problem and others have said the opposite.
Every source that I can find (like the above quote) states that I would be classed as an independent student—supporting myself financially for 3 years prior to the start of my course, not the start of the academic year—that I have otherwise been told (also restricting my online application).
Why should I have any trouble being considered an independent student? Please tell me. How should I proceed? If I’m not classed as an independent student and, instead, my parents’ income is taken into account, the amount of finance I’ll get for my maintenance loan would seem to be reduced from £11,002 (living in London) to around £9,000.
If this is because, instead of 3 years prior to the start of my course (which is stated everywhere!), it is 3 years prior the start of the academic year, then I find this all a bit ridiculous. This means 13 days have lost me £2,000 from my maintenance loan when, technically, I’ll have been supporting myself for 3 years prior to starting my course (what you should be counting). This just doesn’t seem right. What can you suggest?
Many thanks.