Requesting to be Assessed as an Estranged Student
Students are considered estranged if there has been an irreconcilable breakdown in the relationship with their parents and there is no foreseen chance of reconciliation. If you are estranged from your parents, you can request that your funding provider assess you as independent due to your estrangement however, there is no guarantee your request will be accepted.
In order to submit a request to be assessed as independent due to your estrangement, you will need to supply your funding provider with suitable evidence in the form of a letter(s) or report(s) from professionals and people of high standing in the community e.g., police, doctors, social workers etc. which evidences your ongoing estrangement. One primary quality letter or report will be acceptable, but you are welcome to submit a package of evidence, including secondary evidence if you wish.
Depending on the circumstances surrounding your estrangement and the evidence supplied, if your request is accepted, you could be either assessed as independent due to your estrangement for the academic year or the duration of your course.
You cannot request to be assessed as independent due to estrangement because:
- Your parents don’t financially support you
- You don’t get on with your parents but are still in contact
- You don’t live with your parents
If you are assessed as independent due to your estrangement, you will be able to access student funding at the independent rate and will not be means tested based on parental household income.