PDF Parents' Guide To Student Finance 2010/11 discussion

A question about : PDF Parents' Guide To Student Finance 2010/11 discussion

Do you have a similar guide for Scotland?

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• Do you have a similar guide for Scotland?
• I was wondering the same thing also my son received ema last year but I was told by my local council authourity that this year he doesnt qualify
• No, the figures are for England only. Although SLC administers the loan payments for all students, it only looks after Student Finance England (not Wales, Northern Ireland or Scotland - they each have their own separate department), yet the logic in the guide is the same for everyone, no matter where in the UK you are.
• Good afternoon folks
  This is my first ever forum so here goes ....
  My son received full EMA when he was in each year at college - it was termed EMA guarantee and although my financial circumstances since changed for the better the Learner Support Service confirmed that he was still entitled to it, in full from Sept 2008, as it was a "guarantee" so it was immaterial that my household income had later increased.
  My son has now gone to uni and received the standard loans/fees but only a small grant (due to the increased household income). Fair enough I thought but my research showed that if he started getting EMA from Sept 2008 (which he did) and then go on to university in the next 3 years (which he did) then he would be guaranteed the maximum Maintenance grant (which he didn't get).
  We wrote to Student Finances asking about the Higher Education Student Support Guarantee (which is what I thought it was called) but they have assured us (twice) that he's been awarded the correct grant amount of Ј489.
  Are Student Finance right? Have I mis-read it all?
• Welcome!
  Might be helpful if you quoted the 'chapter and verse' you got that 'guarantee' about the maximum Maintenance grant from. It's not something I've ever heard of (which doesn't mean a lot since mine never got EMA!)
• I have 2 kids at uni and do not qualify for a grant for either of them just loans - with the fees this is already Ј7000 per year each which will have to be paid back. They are both having to rely on mum and dad to make up their rents and clothe and feed them etc etc the loans to "maintain" them do not even cover the rent and mine are both self catering to try and save money. My daughter worked 2 jobs for a year to help pay for herself, Also the biggest joke of all is that the loan comes in 3 payments AFTER the rent has to be paid!!!!!! We are having to pay out over Ј1100 this week for my sons rent yet his loan which does not cover that amount will not be paid in until next week. Total shambles.
• Elaine F I do recall reading the same thing although I do not remember where and it was nothing that I chased up(think I just sort of forgot about it) Gonna go and do my own investigations on it now
• Likewise
• There is info on it on the UK Gov website and "providing it is approved by parliament"! .....students "could qualify" Terms and conditions apply.
  Cashing in the guarantee
  The earliest you'll be able to 'cash in' the guarantee is 1 September 2010 - and you'll need to do so within the time limit.
  It is still not actually that clear though although must admit am scanning through as have to go out.
  Anyone care to look and give their take on it?
  Have found another thread on here dated 8 Jan 10(don't know how to link it) and apparently it was withdrawn!!
  https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/....php?t=2191287 perhaps I can link it after all
• Best bank account advise for a student in further education please...
  I am a 23 year old full-time student.
  I decided to return to education last year (I have been in work since I was 16) and have been back at college for 1 year. I currently have a classic (Lloyds TSB) account and I am always in my overdraft.
  I do not qualify for a student account from any bank (that I can find) because I am 'only' in further education.
  I get ALG (the older students version of EMA) the standard Ј30 a week. I also earn about Ј200 pound each month. This makes a total of Ј320. All the 0% accounts I can find required much more to be paid in each month.
  My bank sent me a letter recently saying that I would be charged Ј5 a month for using my overdraft from December onwards. Things are already VERY tight money wise, I really can't afford to pay the extra fee. I could really do with a 0% overdraft or at least an account that will not charge me an extra fee on top of my overdraft interest.
  Any ideas?
• Welcome PurplePanda!
  You are probably right about not being entitled to a student account, and you may struggle to change accounts, but I'd just like to check that you have looked at Martin's articles on bank accounts? This one has a bit about overdrafts, and while getting a 0% overdraft may be out of your reach, there are some suggestions about what to do if that's the case.
• Thanks Sue, But I had looked over that article top to bottom before posting. It didn't have any suggestions for someone in my particular circumstance.
  Does anyone else have any suggestions that may be helpful?
  Thanks.
• I have just read the guide Parents guide to student Finance, where it states that "maintenance loan does not count as income." I'm afraid it does count as income if applying for help with health costs (filling in an HC1 form) and even counts if you choose NOT to take the loan. To quote the notes "We will consider a student loan to be income if you would be entitled to claim one, whether or not you choose to take it up"
  How can that be right?
• The HC1 form is a bit of a law unto itself: you'd think that certain situations would 'fast track' you into entitlement, but that's not the case!
  Although I don't think that student loans is something which SHOULD fast track you, because situations can vary so much.