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parental assessment for student finance

I can't make sense of the logic with the forms this year; perhaps someone could shed some light....

Son went up to uni last year (2008), and we filled in the parental income assessment for his grant, which was submitted with a stack of paperwork to prove we weren't telling porkies about our 2007/2008 income.

I expected the forms for the second year to ask for income for the subsequent tax year, 2008/2009. But no, it asks /again/ for the 2007/8 tax year - for the very same figures they've already had. And the phone support at student finance is adamant this is what the counties want - "to show nothing has changed".

The logic there defies me. Nothing can possibly have changed for 2007/8; they've had the figures and seen the proof. Assessments can vary if income varies significantly for subsequent years - but in /that/ case they'd surely want figures for the new tax year, not the same ones again.

Can anyone tell me the point - or is it all some big joke? Help!!!!

Reply to
Mike Scott
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I'm not certain, but I think SFE may have started to means-test loans on parental income for the year before the "previous" year, so they can set an earlier (more realistic) deadline for applications. Might be worth asking if someone higher-up in SFE (or NUS?) actually knows.

Even so, I agree it's a nonsense to ask for the same info again, and if they persist I suggest contacting your local MP / county councillor / local and national press etc.

Bear in mind that, regardless of the forms, you can opt to be assessed on current year basis (estimate, and revise later).

Would be glad to hear what the explanation turns out to be.

Reply to
Martin

Clutching at straws - were any of your original figures admitted to be estimates? Are they effectively now asking for estimates to become actuals?

Reply to
Roger Morton

No - the originals were firm figures, and backed up by P60s and the like the originals of which they required to see to prove them when last year's form was sent.

I've sent them the requested data with a rather, well, "firm" note about it all being a waste of time. I expect their response will be to ask to see the evidence. Again. :-( We shall see.

Thanks anyway.

Reply to
Mike Scott

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