Not meeting LICO because you were on mat leave doesn't give you H&C reasons. Your argument doesn't work because when the parent returns to work their costs go way up due to childcare costs, costs of perhaps a larger home, activity costs, cost of feeding.clothing/diapers, etc. Your disposable income before children is very different compared to during mat leave or when you are raising children. With the current LICO levels it will be a struggle covering the costs of the whole family in a large city. Apply again. It is much more realistic than going through H&C which is a long process which can be costly and given the clear guidelines for PGP the H&C case is not very strong.
I’m sure you are aware that we’re talking about someone else, not me, right? We’re also talking about hypothetical but potential scenario, where CIC happens to check REEM’s income and rejected her application. None of that has happened yet, and no one knows for sure what would happen. She’s not at a point where she needs to completely abandon her application as you are suggesting.
Argument can be made for approving grandparents as they can help with child care which helps to cut the cost down. Besides, if she meets LICO for all her family members including her new borne, it’s even harder to penalize her for taking MAT leave. We can go back and forth and argue on her case. But, none of that matters in the end.
I made a suggestion based on what I would do if I were her. I know for sure that it’d be a PR disaster for this government if a woman was penalized for taking MAT leave, which caused PGP rejection. Appeal on H&R grounds is not too far fetched and the government that claims to promote women’s rights and equality would be more sympathetic to her case.
Again, that’s what I would do if I were her.