New research from the National Union of Students finds parents are increasingly covering students’ living costs while maintenance loan thresholds remain frozen. The NUS reports 86% of parents provide financial support and some send more than £1,000 monthly to students, arguing inflation and frozen household income thresholds have stealthily shifted costs onto families. The NUS urged the government to uprate parental income bands and to implement a one‑off recalibration to reflect long-term freezes. The report spotlights affordability strains that influence student wellbeing and access, and calls for policy changes to prevent widening socioeconomic inequality among undergraduates.