Can you apply for just a student maintenance loan?

[ganesh]

My daughter will be going to uni in September and I am paying for her tuition fees. Although we don't live that far away she is thinking of getting a loan to cover rent if she rents a house with a friend.Is this possible to do without actually quoting facts and figures as it's still just an idea with no house in mind as yet?The web-site for loans is very confusing and I don't want to fill anything in yet.Anyone any experience with this?

[factor-fiction]

I'm not sure I understand the question. First, I didn't know there was an option to pay the tuition fees upfront- or are you just saying if she takes out a tuition fees loan you will give her the money so she can repay it as she wishes?
You can apply for a maintenance loan. It's available regardless of whether a student plans to spend it on a flat, on a car or on gambling. As to whether you can apply for less than the full amount, i recall you can but I also recall the Student Loan company website explained this. Ring them if necessary

[ganesh]

It seems that there are two loans in effect,one for tuition fees (£3000+) and one for maintenance (to pay for accomodation.) As she can live at home I was intending to pay her tuition fees and I'm sure you don't HAVE to get a loan.I was just wondering whether you could ask for a loan for the accomodation only so that she could pay for that (later) if she wanted to leave home.
The website doesn't explain it at all and I was asking if anyone knew. If I can't get understood on here then I may have trouble explaining to them.

[factor-fiction]

Sorry but it seems straightforward to me.
Maybe this link helps.
http://www.slc.co.uk/...support.html#section1

I'll repeat what i said before- there is amintenance loan you can apply for. What the money is actually spent on, and how much rent you pay, or who shares the flat, are irrelevant.
I'm not sure what the problem is with applying for the loan- if it's a little more than she needs for the rent then any surplus will help with living costs. I doubt very much she'll be awash with money if she takes out the loan. In practice I'm sure she'll need extra funding- either by getting a job, by getting an overdraft or from parental contributions.

[ganesh]

So does the 'financially assessed portion' mean that they ask loads of questions about our income and therefore not give her that? It doesn't look like a simple loan to me,where you can ask for however much you want (and spend it on gambling,if you like)

[factor-fiction]

You are right- you can't just get any size loan you want- it is limited to the standard maintenance loan (which isn't means tested) and a further loan which is means tested.
Have you looked at the Student Loan website which explains how it works?

[ganesh]

Yes,but I cannot find anywhere which says what the 'Standard maintenance loan' amount is,and I suppose that is what I need to know in order to work out what she can afford to do as we both want her to be 'independent' if she chooses to leave home.

[factor-fiction]

It is set out set very clearly on here.
http://www.direct.gov...hefirsttime/DG_171539

[ganesh]

Thank-you,gives me a rough idea if I was in London,(£4,950) and it still says the amount will vary according to household income etc.,so it looks like I won't know an amount until I fill in loads of forms,which I'd rather not do.I will contact the SLC and see if I can get an answer from them.

[ganesh]

Actually I misread the bit about London and I might just fill in the online estimate form and see where that gets me.thx for your help.

[factor-fiction]

The figure of £4950 is for outside London. The maximum is a lot more for London. It's all set out on the link. The link also says how much (72%) is not dependent on household income.
There's also a calculator on there so you can get a good idea of how much you'd get without having to fill lots of forms in.

[ganesh]

If I have read the estimation correctly it is £3,500 p.a and I shall work things out on that basis,not sure if that includes the 72% but that would be £2,500.(Between 2 and 300 a month which even in shared accomodation probably aint enough) but we will see.Thx .

[factor-fiction]

I think the figure of £3500 already takes into account the 72% figure. I suggest you use £3500 as a good indicator.

[ganesh]

yes I would hope so-I'll advise her to stay at home though-well maybe!!