Parental Means Testing

Lockwood Smith has said that he regrets the tough parental means testing that came in with the student loans scheme.

I’m glad to see this, as the concept of means testing 24 year olds on their parents’ income is something I have never supported.

The loans scheme itself is exceedingly generous with its interest write-offs. But the parental means testing of allowances has always been the sore point for me.

Personally I would love to see National adopt a policy of lowering (or abolishing) the age of parental means testing, and in return having a more sensible loans scheme where people are discouraged from unnecessary borrowing.