Student loan responsibilities while seperated

I seperated from my wife 4 months ago and went to live with my new partner. I have 2 daughters who live with my wife, one is at University and the other may apply to go in 2010. I was not intending to divorce until we have been seperated for 2 years.

My new partner has a daughter who will be going to Uni in 2009.

I pay all the mortgage, half the services bills to my wife and £100 a month assistance to my dauhgter at Uni. I also pay my new partner £200 per month to cover my costs in her household.

My wife thinks she will be able to change my daughter's Student loan so that it is based in her small income alone.

My new partner is worried that her daughter's Student loan will be reduced because, as a resident in her house, my income will be used in the assesment.

I am very worried. Can somebody please advise me who and what I am liable to pay. Which household is entitled to apply using single parent status?

Your wife is the single household.

In terms of what you are expected to pay, do you mean in terms of spousal maintenance?

Amanda

By "what do I have to pay" I meant which student loan application will be affected by my earnings - the daughter of my new partner (where I now live), or my own daughter who lives at my wife's address.

Spousal mantenance is also a worry. I pay so much to my wife's household that I have very little left over. So if my neqw partner's daughter's Student Loan is reduced due to my residence, I would not be able to contribute.

My new partner thinks that if my wife applies for single parent status in a Student Loan application she will be committing fraud. Is this so?

No, she is a single household. And that is what it comes down to, "households". You and your new lady are living as one, therefore your wife's is a single household.

I am not convinced however, that they can take your income into account on the student loan form there as you are not step dad, but you may wish to check that out.

Amanda