not elegible for student finance? can you help?

songbirdwendy

I have been told today by student finance direct that my local authority has said Im not elegible for student finance due to 'arrears of 7 months' I have no idea what this is referring to? I did have a student loan in 1995 for an HNC course which I dropped out of due to it being basically completely the wrong course for me. This loan was in arrears ( I was in a violent marriage and part of his control was financial, leaving me with arrears in everything when I finally had the courage to end it) the student loan was paid off in full in September 2006 (my parents paid it when I ended the marriage as I was hoping to start open uni) and being completely frank I have no idea how much it was in arrears as my head was pretty messed at the time - although 7 months could have been the amount I couldnt swear to it...

Im supposed to start my course at leeds uni on monday and now have no idea what I should be doing - obviously without any finance I cant contemplate studying (im currently on income support as Im a single parent) but surely the fact I was once in arrears for a now non existent debt shouldnt exclude me from student finance? is this standard that if you've ever been in debt to student loans you cant have any further support ever?

am I right in assuming that this is the only thing that could affect it? I was left with other debt from my marriage but I didnt think that was relevant for student finance?

can anyone give me any advice Ive spent the last couple of hours in tears as Id set my heart on bettering myself and I feel im letting my children down, it would have been nice if theyd told me sooner - epecially as Ive been on the phone to them 4 times this week!

DrFluffy

If you've had help for one course, arrears or not, you are not usually eligible for help with a second, unless you are studying for a vocational qualification (nursing, med, dentalism, physio, archietechture, etc)

songbirdwendy

even though it was only a 1 year HNC course I was on? if I had completed the course I could have gone onto the 1st year of a degree from there and would have been funded for that.....

welf_man

At what point did you drop out of the HNC? If it was in the first year, and the SLC was informed reasonably quickly, and there are no outstanding arrears, and you are now doing a degree course, then I can't see why you should be completely ineligible.

Contact the Students' Union Advice Centre first thing on Monday and ask for assistance. If your youngest child is under 12 you retain eligibility for Income Support so you should be able to attend while it's being sorted, but you need to find out at least whether you'll get a Fees Loan before Dec. 1st, as this is when most universities inform the SLC who is attending in order to draw down the Fees payments.

You may also be eligible for a bursary and/or Access to Learning Fund award - again, ask the SU.

Did you speak to anyone abut funding before/during your application?

Good luck -

Mel.

Spectralis

According to the information I received from student advice at London Met Uni, students are eligible for up to 5 years funding. If you had compelling personal reasons for abandoning your course (and your circumstances would seem to qualify) then your HNC funding will be ignored and you will still be entitled to 5 years funding. If all your arrears have been paid there is no reason for Student Loans to refuse you funding. If the SLC won't sort this out get in contact with the CAB and your local MP to challenge their decision.

Oldernotwiser

Sorry to suggest the obvious,but when your parents paid off your loan, did they pay off the arrears and charges as well?