independent at 29?

r 1 minute ago #1

Hi, have just started part time ou study myself, however my son moved back during covid, basically left his full time job to do music production full time whilst living with me.
He lives with me and I am responsible for bills etc.
When researching the payments, I said he was an independent student as he's over 25 and said he shouldn't say he lives with me because he is supposed to be able to fund himself.
I am only on minium wage, and trying to keep both of us fed and watered is pretty hard, as he can't afford board. There's nearly £2,000 difference because the independent payment and living with parents payment.
I would have thought that my parental financial responsibilites would have stopped by age 29? or am I incorrect?

Hi there,

It's correct that, since your son is over 25, he's entitled to the maximum Maintenance Loan automatically. However, if a student still lives at the parental home then they get the lower 'parental' rate: this applies regardless of their age.

Thanks, Graeme

r 1 minute ago #1

Hi, have just started part time ou study myself, however my son moved back during covid, basically left his full time job to do music production full time whilst living with me.
He lives with me and I am responsible for bills etc.
When researching the payments, I said he was an independent student as he's over 25 and said he shouldn't say he lives with me because he is supposed to be able to fund himself.
I am only on minium wage, and trying to keep both of us fed and watered is pretty hard, as he can't afford board. There's nearly £2,000 difference because the independent payment and living with parents payment.
I would have thought that my parental financial responsibilites would have stopped by age 29? or am I incorrect?

f you’re under 25 and do not financially depend on your parents

Your household income does not include your parents’ income if:

you have supported yourself financially for at least 3 years
you have been married or in a civil partnership at any time before the start of your course
you spent at least 13 weeks in the care of your local authority before you turned 16 - in this case, you might be able to apply as a care leaver
you’ve had no contact with your parents for over a year - in this case, you might be able to apply as an ‘estranged student’

If you’re over 25

Your household income will not include your parents income if you are over 25, as you will be classed as an ‘independent student’

I can't find anywhere where it says that if your over 25 we will give you a reduced rate. Many thanks for your help in this, however as you can imagine it is causing a great strain between me and my grown independent son, who happens to live with me.

Hi there, We have a number of ways of assessing funding for students. We have Living with parents rate, Living away from home rate and Living in London rate. Your son will be eligible for the living with parents rate if he lives with yourself during the academic year. Thanks, Angela

As I stated, I am on a minium wage job, with a 40 mile round trip to go to work, recovering from cancer, with inflation hitting record highs.

I am seriously ripping my hair out, as I cannot afford to support him, which causes a great distress. As I understand it, I am left with no alternatives but to make him an independent student, by asking him to find alternative accomodation.

Which in my eyes he already is.....

As stated ""If you’re over 25

Your household income will not include your parents income if you are over 25, as you will be classed as an ‘independent student"

O.K, but in relation to helping with the situation, and to where it states, that although he is an independent student, he will get a reduced rate, because he isn't an independent student, as he is living with a minium wage parent at the age of 29?

Could you please show me where it discusses the reduced rates for over 25 independent students who have lived away from home for 3 years is please?

This is just a question about where you live? Not a statement that you are not an independent person?

Could you please give me details of what funding parents of "independant" students can get because of reduced maintainance loans?

O.K, but in relation to helping with the situation, and to where it states, that although he is an independent student, he will get a reduced rate, because he isn't an independent student, as he is living with a minium wage parent at the age of 29?

Could you please show me where it discusses the reduced rates for over 25 independent students who have lived away from home for 3 years is please?

This is just a question about where you live? Not a statement that you are not an independent person?

Could you please give me details of what funding parents of "independant" students can get because of reduced maintainance loans?

Hi there,

Students over the age of 25 are automatically assessed as an independent student, therefore the parents of that student are not required to provide any income details to support or link to the application. The part you are referring to is just the living location to confirm if the student will be living on their own throughout the academic year or if they will be living with their parents which is a separate part of the application.

The Reduced Rate Maintenance Loan is only awarded if the student is attending a placement year or NHS funded year.

Thanks, Clare

So does that mean that he can get the over 25 rate for £9,978, that is a great relief, could you please tell me what he has to do for this.
Many thanks

I think you are missing the point, the calculator and calculations do not work if you are living at home past the age of 25.
After the age of 25 you are classed as being an nondepdant indepenant student, e.g. you would get £9,978.

My son is 29, he is not a dependant child at the age of 29, I cannot claim child benefit, or any other benefits even though I am on minium wage.

When you say that he lives at home, he gets the reduced amount of £8,400 for his travel and studies.

Thus he is NOT independant, he is a dependant.

How can he be independant and get the reduced rate?

It states that parental income is not factored into the calulations, but obviously they are, are there is a £1,578 descepancy.
Or in other words, well over a months wages for me.

Parents income can only be taking into account for students under the age of 25, any student over the age of 25 is an Independent Student whether they live at home with parents or not. Thanks, Angela

So how can he get the higher rate?

This would be awarded if was living elsewhere/away from home. Thanks, Angela

ok thanks, so why he is living with me HE IS NOT AN INDEPENDANT STUDENT, that's all I wanted to know, will have to inform he has to move out, as I can't afford it.