Closed petition: Scrap parental means testing for student maintenance loans

Closed on 18 May 2026

For many, student Finance England's maintenance loans are based on household income. Parent's aren't legally obliged to make up any shortfall, and students are financially responsible for their own expenses, e.g. food/rent. We think students should be treated independently.

In England, students under the age of 25 (unless in very limited exceptions) have their maintenance loan means tested against their Household Income (including step parents). The threshold above which the maximum loan decreases is set at £25,000, and has been since 2008. Many working class households are being expected to contribute increasing amounts towards education