The Maintenance Loan, on the other hand, is part means-tested. The specific factors taken into consideration include your family income, whether or not you plan to live at home and also where you intend to study. For example, it is lowest if you live outside London and decide to stay at home and highest if you go to a university in London and have to find your own accommodation. Our table Financial support & family income summarises the position.
The figures in the table Maintenance loan amounts are based on a course lasting for 30 weeks. This is the maximum amount you could expect to receive as a Maintenance Loan. But you might well be asking what determines what you, yourself, might get. The good news is that roughly 75% of the loan comes to you regardless of your family circumstances. The remaining 25% or so depends on the family income, both from you and your parents. If your parents are separated, divorced or widowed then only the income of the parent with whom you normally live will be assessed. However, if that parent has remarried, has a partner of the opposite sex or has entered into a civil partnership, both their incomes will be taken into consideration. Certain allowances are deducted for other dependent siblings, personal pension payments, etc, to arrive at the family residual income. If this is less than £61,061 then the family would not be expected to make any contribution. Depending on where you are planning to live/study, you will receive one of the three maximum Maintenance Loan rates shown. Where the residual income is higher than £61,061 the family will be expected to contribute something towards your living costs up to the maximum given in the table. The higher the residual income the greater the contribution expected.
The rules and regulations are different for Scottish students. For example, their Maintenance Loan rates are somewhat lower, especially for students going to London, and the proportion assessed on the basis of family income is considerably higher. Full details are available on the SAAS website.
If you are considered to be an independent student (e.g. over 25, or married, or in a civil partnership, or have supported yourself for at least three years prior to becoming a student, or care for a child), you will be assessed for the Maintenance Loan and any other applicable grants on your own income plus that of your spouse or partner where appropriate. Your parents will not be expected to contribute to your living costs. In addition, specific grants are available for students with children or an adult dependent, and for students with a disability. Child Tax Credit may also be available to provide further support for students with a family.
