Agony aunt

Have you got a burning question about your finances? Have your financial circumstances changed? Are you confused about your notification award letter or assessment?

Our agony aunt is here to answer your questions! If you'd like to have a response emailed to you, please submit your student email address. All advice is confidential and non-judgmental.

We never publish any names on the website and we reserve the right to edit your question before publishing it.

Email your question to: studentadvice@brighton.ac.uk

I’m a lone parent receiving Income Support and Housing Benefit, what’s going to happen with my funding?
If you are receiving Income Support as a lone parent, you should be eligible for full funding (including a Special Support Grant). The tuition fee loan, university bursary and Special Support Grant and Parents' Learning Allowance are all disregarded as income, but the Maintenance Loan is taken into account as income whether you decide to take it out or not. You’re probably over scale for Income Support, but you need to be reassessed for Housing Benefit. A certain amount is taken off the loan for books and travel (currently £693) and the rest is calculated over 42 weeks for Housing Benefit purposes. This should give you a rough idea of what you will now receive. Your Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit will remain unchanged.
You should always tell the DWP and local benefits office whenever you have a change in circumstances without delay.

I’m a lone parent receiving Income Support and Housing Benefit, what’s going to happen with my funding?

If you are receiving Income Support as a lone parent, you should be eligible for full funding (including a Special Support Grant).

The tuition fee loan, university bursary and Special Support Grant and Parents' Learning Allowance are all disregarded as income, but the Maintenance Loan is taken into account as income whether you decide to take it out or not.

You’re probably over scale for Income Support, but you need to be reassessed for Housing Benefit.

A certain amount is taken off the loan for books and travel (currently £693) and the rest is calculated over 42 weeks for Housing Benefit purposes.
This should give you a rough idea of what you will now receive.
Your Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit will remain unchanged.

You should always tell the DWP and local benefits office whenever you have a change in circumstances without delay.

I’ve received my notification award letter which shows assessment as final, but I don’t think I’ve been assessed correctly.
Does it say whether you have been financially assessed? If not, it means they have made a provisional assessment and have awarded you the minimum funding (tuition fee loan and £3,497 Maintenance Loan). It could be they may be waiting for more information from you; you haven’t asked to be mean-tested or they have a backlog of assessments.You should check the status of your application either online or phone them as it may be you that’s holding it up. If the assessment is complete, it will show an amount within the box that says 'assumed contribution to living costs'. This is how much your parents/partner are expected to contribute towards your spending each year.
Remember, if you are calling during a busy period eg start of term, you need to be patient and persevere. Unless you know your customer reference number and you come in to see an advisor in person, we cannot contact you on their behalf. This is due to confidentiality and data protection.

I’ve received my notification award letter which shows assessment as final, but I don’t think I’ve been assessed correctly.

Does it say whether you have been financially assessed? If not, it means they have made a provisional assessment and have awarded you the minimum funding (tuition fee loan and £3,497 Maintenance Loan).

It could be they may be waiting for more information from you; you haven’t asked to be mean-tested or they have a backlog of assessments.You should check the status of your application either online or phone them as it may be you that’s holding it up.

If the assessment is complete, it will show an amount within the box that says 'assumed contribution to living costs'. This is how much your parents/partner are expected to contribute towards your spending each year.

Remember, if you are calling during a busy period eg start of term, you need to be patient and persevere. Unless you know your customer reference number and you come in to see an advisor in person, we cannot contact you on their behalf. This is due to confidentiality and data protection.

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Agony aunt

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