Student Finance: Maintenance Support for EEA National child

Cl seeks help with student support for her sons.

Cl told me her sons were refused student support as ineligible, except for tuition fees on grounds their mother is British National.

Cl explained she was originally from Ghana, she married Dutch national (also from Ghana) who supported her 2 son’s application to come to UK from Ghana as his dependants just over 4 years ago.

Her sons attended school and college in UK but since their arrival there were 2 changes in circumstances.

Cl has naturalised as British in 2012.

Cl and her husband divorced round about same time and he left UK to live in Holland.

Sons are now 19 and 21 they are allowed to work and have done jobs through an agency but would rather continue their education at university.

she consulted immigration solicitor who told her sons would be eligible to apply for settled status in January 2015

Cl works full time.

In this circumstance, would Cl’s sons be able to rely on their stepfather who worked in the UK for more than 3 years before the divorce while they were children now adults were in education or does their mother’s subsequent naturalisation as a British Citizen supercede this?.

Thanks a lot Joanna. This is most helpful.