A National Union of Students report found 86% of parents now provide financial support to university students and many are paying hundreds per month; almost one in ten parents send more than £1,000 a month. The analysis highlights that maintenance‑loan household income thresholds have been frozen at £25,000 since 2008, while median wages rose sharply, effectively shifting costs onto families. The NUS called for an inflation‑indexed threshold and a one‑off readjustment to correct years of policy drift; it argued that incremental indexation will not undo the accumulated burden. Student‑finance teams and university student‑services offices face greater demand for emergency funds and welfare support as household contributions replace real loan generosity, with implications for access and student well‑being.