Closed petition Make students eligible for government cold weather payments.
Student maintenance loans have only increased by 2.3% which falls short of inflation, leading to students struggling with the cost of living. The current cold weather poses a significant risk to students' health as some cannot afford their heating - they should be eligible for cold weather payments.
More details
The National Student Money survey identified the vast impact of the rising cost of living on students. Some key findings were:
- The average maintenance loan falls short of covering the cost of living by £439 a month, and the average student's parents contribute £150 a month.
- Bills are the third most significant cost for students and are the area of spending which has increased the most since 2021.
- 52% of students have considered dropping out due to finances.
This petition is closed All petitions run for 6 months
Related activity
Share your experience of increases in the cost of living for further and higher education students
On Tuesday 19 September, Paul Blomfield MP will lead a debate in Parliament on the impact of increases in the cost of living on further education (FE) and higher education (HE) students.
To inform the debate, he would like to hear how students and their studies have been impacted by any cost-of-living pressures. He may quote your contribution directly during his debate.
Find out more and share your ideas with him by midday on Monday 18 September:
Videos of the debate, the transcript of what was said, and other relevant material will be accessible shortly after the debate on this webpage.
What are Westminster Hall debates?
Westminster Hall is the second Chamber of the House of Commons.
Westminster Hall debates give MPs an opportunity to raise local or national issues and receive a response from a government minister. Any MP can take part in a Westminster Hall debate.
Debates in Westminster Hall take place on ‘general debate' motions expressed in neutral terms. These motions are worded ‘That this House has considered [a specific matter]'. This means that Westminster Hall debates don’t end in a vote on a particular action or decision.