The Minimum Income Standard (MIS) is an approach developed by the Centre for Research in Social Policy (CRSP) at Loughborough University to determine how much money different groups in the population need to have for a minimum acceptable standard of living. This Report, published by HEPI and TechnologyOne in partnership with CRSP, develops a MIS for students. It details what students agree is needed to reach this minimum standard and compares it with the current support available, finding that support falls short. It calls for the level of support to be increased so all students can have the opportunities and choices necessary to participate in higher education and wider society.
The UK's only independent think tank devoted to higher education.
Some years ago I was responsible for the administration of grants. The rules at the time based household income on ‘income available for tax purposes’. ( that may not be exact!). The effect was that families whose tax returns were submitted via accountants frequently declared ‘nil income’ for tax purposes and therefore received full maintenance awards. 2 cases I still recall: 1) a farm declaring a loss of just under half a million and a business owned by the wife. declaring a profit which matched the losses to the penny. Therefore ‘nil income for tax purposes’ . (private school education afforded). And another with homes ( wife’s name) here and in Spain, income earned in Middle East, mother no income father not resident for tax purposes. Both cases meant affluent families qualified for full maintenance awards and fees. If these tax rules and the grant situation still pertain…. And I suspect they do… then please extend your analysis and search for a fairer distribution of public funds to support students seeking higher education.