Help needed

mandy130

Where do I start....

In 2005 I started a degree in uni, I did not complete year one and was allowed to redo year 1 in 2006. I stopped attending almost immediately after starting but did not inform student finance. I did not have to pay tuition fee's for 2006 as the uni wrote to slc and told them that i enrolled but never attended so fee's did not have to be paid.
I have now been excepted into uni again on a different course, but as I recieved grants before the slc want me to pay them back and have awarded me the loan but no grants.
I am due to get just over 1k every 3 months and im getting my tuition fee's paid also. Thing is I have 3 children and I am a single parent and this is not enough to live on and i have also been told that i wont get the childcare grant. What can i do?

ok....before you all start saying well you attended uni and applied for grants but didn't attend yes I did, but i was also in a domestic violent relationship and had to flee my home and move 180 miles away because of it, I have told slc that I have no objection to paying back money if that is what i owe, but do I have to lose all my grants....can i not pay it back over a period of time?? the local lea said no and really dont seem to care and the slc are telling me that they only do what the LEA are telling them to do.

I know this is all my own fault but I really would like to move on with my life and get back to HE and get a good job....support my children and be happy, I dont know what else to do and I dont know who else to ask....which is why im here asking you guys.

Thanks in advance.

Mandy x

RachelRa

I believe you can claim exceptional circumstances... but you need to talk to your Uni. They will tell you what you can do. They will be the ones to help you, not the SLC or your LEA.

Oldernotwiser

As a lone parent I imagine that you're living on benefits. You're able to carry on claiming benefits as a student, although your loan and grant are deducted from them as income. On this basis, does it actually make any difference to you whether you receive a maintenance grant or not?

I'm afraid that I don't know why you can't get the childcare grant and don't know what you can do about that. Sorry.

Bubbles_Blossom_Buttercup

I think they are being totally unreasonable with you and it is certainly not your fault for being in a violent relationship. Good for you for wanting to do things with your life instead of sitting around mopping about what could have been.

I would suggest speaking to someone from LEA if you can and making sure that they listen to your circumstances, and make sure your firm in telling them that you cannot afford to pay it all back in one go but are willing to make payments.
I wuldnt have thought they could really refuse if you are willing to pay, but then again i havent really had any experience with them so im not really sure.

As for money while your at uni, this site has a great "boost your income" section which gives some great advise on getting somemore money and also for working from home. I dont know how to do links (sorry) so just type "boost your income" into the search thing.
Also could you possibley do a couple of hours at a supermarket while the kids are at school (or could a friend watch them for free if they are below school age) i think shifts start at 3 hours for some supermarkets and youd also get money of your shopping bill (most supermarkets give out a card that gives you a percentage of your food).
Or you could do ebay, declutter the home and make some sound money at the same time cant be too bad!
Carboots are always good for stuff that wont sell on ebay.

Ive really hoped ive helped even a lil bit.

Good luck with everything. xx

Bubbles_Blossom_Buttercup

oh and there are lots of charitable trusts that im sure would be more than willing to help you out. Some of their grants start from about £30 but can go up to £2500, every lil bit helps right.

And i have a link!!

studentcashpoint.co.uk

mandy130

Thanks so much for your advice, I am going to see student support at the uni next week to see what advice they can offer me too. I have written a letter to the lea explaining my situation and the situation in full that i was in, hopefully they will listen....will let you all know.

Mandy x