STEP 2: The LEA checks your eligibility and works out how much cash to give you
What to do:
Complete and return the form. Enclose any bits and bobs the LEA have asked for, such as your passport or birth certificate (to prove that you are who you say you are) and, if you want the means-tested support, evidence of how much money your parents earn. If you’ve applied online, you’ll need to send in your passport and the like along with the ID you’re given on the website.
When to do it:
The form itself will tell you the deadline. If you don’t want to apply for the income-assessed portion (e.g. help with your fees or a bigger loan), you can skip several sections but need to submit your form earlier – usually by the end of April. If you do want to apply for the income-assessed stuff, you have until the end of June. Get the form in as long before the deadline as you can. Don’t just leave it in a drawer and forget about it till the last minute. The sooner you do it, the sooner you’ll know what your financial situation’s going to be and the sooner you’ll get your money (including your student loan). What’s more, if there are any problems, you’ll have time to sort them out. (The absolute deadline is nine months after the first day of the academic year when you start your course – after that you’ve missed your chance. But don’t even dream of leaving it that late. Get it in before you even start. Now. Pronto. Sharpish. Capiche?)
Why do it?
This is a no-brainer – if you don’t fill out the form, you won’t be able to apply for any financial support and may end up having to pay full tuition fees. You can also use this form to indicate whether you want to claim various bits of support for students with kids of their own.
Anything else?
Make sure you fill everything in carefully.
Only choose not to be assessed if you absolutely know your parents earn way too much for you to get anything and you really can’t be arsed filling in any more forms.
Fill out the loan request section if you want a loan for your tuition fees or your living costs, or for both (see Step 3).
Last updated on: 07 October 2008