The Student Room Group

Estrangement

Hey

Im trying to apply for a higher maintenence loan for 19/20. I've applied for independent status as i am estranged from both of my parents; my mother passed away and i have had no contact with my father in 10+ years. My grandparents raised me and i now live with my partner and i have supported myself financially (at the start of the academic year) for 2 years and 11 months so once month below the threshold.
Ive never had a social worker report and not been in care, im now 21.
Ive spoken to student finance who told me to send them my mothers death certificate and a report written by a professional person i.e teacher, doctor, unfortunately i do not know anyone who meets their criteria, so that have advised me to send a letter to them to explain my full circumstances and they will assess whether they can accept that.
Im really worried i wont be able to sort this out before September and if i dont i wont be able to go to uni this year,
has anyone else had to send a letter like this? did they accept it?

any help or advice would be appreciated as im super stressed about this
Hmm, are you sure there's no one you know within a professional position? If it's the same as passport countersigning here is a list of all the people that fall under a "professional" status

Examples of recognised professions include:

accountant
airline pilot
articled clerk of a limited company
assurance agent of recognised company
bank or building society official
barrister
chairman or director of a limited company
chiropodist
commissioner for oaths
councillor, for example local or county
civil servant (permanent)
dentist
director, manager or personnel officer of a VAT-registered company
engineer with professional qualifications
financial services intermediary, for example a stockbroker or insurance broker
fire service official
funeral director
insurance agent (full time) of a recognised company
journalist
Justice of the Peace
legal secretary (fellow or associate member of the Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs)
licensee of a public house
local government officer
manager or personnel officer of a limited company
member, associate or fellow of a professional body
Member of Parliament
Merchant Navy officer
minister of a recognised religion (including Christian Science)
nurse (RGN or RMN)
officer of the armed services
optician
paralegal (certified paralegal, qualified paralegal or associate member of the Institute of Paralegals)
person with honours, for example an OBE or MBE
pharmacist
photographer (professional)
police officer
Post Office official
president or secretary of a recognised organisation
Salvation Army officer
social worker
solicitor
surveyor
teacher or lecturer
trade union officer
travel agent (qualified)
valuer or auctioneer (fellow or associate members of the incorporated society)
Warrant Officers and Chief Petty Officers
Reply 2
I literally do not know anyone of that status, I haven't seen my doctor in years, I dont know any teachers or anything. Even if I did go to my doctor
She barely even knows me I've seen her like twice and she doesn't know my circumstances either. I'm literally at a loss
Original post by woof1012
Hmm, are you sure there's no one you know within a professional position? If it's the same as passport countersigning here is a list of all the people that fall under a "professional" status

Examples of recognised professions include:

accountant
airline pilot
articled clerk of a limited company
assurance agent of recognised company
bank or building society official
barrister
chairman or director of a limited company
chiropodist
commissioner for oaths
councillor, for example local or county
civil servant (permanent)
dentist
director, manager or personnel officer of a VAT-registered company
engineer with professional qualifications
financial services intermediary, for example a stockbroker or insurance broker
fire service official
funeral director
insurance agent (full time) of a recognised company
journalist
Justice of the Peace
legal secretary (fellow or associate member of the Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs)
licensee of a public house
local government officer
manager or personnel officer of a limited company
member, associate or fellow of a professional body
Member of Parliament
Merchant Navy officer
minister of a recognised religion (including Christian Science)
nurse (RGN or RMN)
officer of the armed services
optician
paralegal (certified paralegal, qualified paralegal or associate member of the Institute of Paralegals)
person with honours, for example an OBE or MBE
pharmacist
photographer (professional)
police officer
Post Office official
president or secretary of a recognised organisation
Salvation Army officer
social worker
solicitor
surveyor
teacher or lecturer
trade union officer
travel agent (qualified)
valuer or auctioneer (fellow or associate members of the incorporated society)
Warrant Officers and Chief Petty Officers
Original post by beardy1
Hey

Im trying to apply for a higher maintenence loan for 19/20. I've applied for independent status as i am estranged from both of my parents; my mother passed away and i have had no contact with my father in 10+ years. My grandparents raised me and i now live with my partner and i have supported myself financially (at the start of the academic year) for 2 years and 11 months so once month below the threshold.
Ive never had a social worker report and not been in care, im now 21.
Ive spoken to student finance who told me to send them my mothers death certificate and a report written by a professional person i.e teacher, doctor, unfortunately i do not know anyone who meets their criteria, so that have advised me to send a letter to them to explain my full circumstances and they will assess whether they can accept that.
Im really worried i wont be able to sort this out before September and if i dont i wont be able to go to uni this year,
has anyone else had to send a letter like this? did they accept it?

any help or advice would be appreciated as im super stressed about this

Hi there,

If you don’t have any professional people to confirm your estrangement to us, we can still potentially assess you as an independent student.

We recommend that you send in a letter describing your situation in as much detail as you feel comfortable with, and advising why you are unable to provide evidence from a professional. Make sure the letter is signed and dated.
If you have any supporting evidence you can send this in too and it will all be reviewed by the Independent team.

Thanks, Ashley.

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