Help With Student Loans - HERE!

Taiko

I'll have a look into this in depth tomorrow. If in the meantime you want some reference, I would suggest Schedule 1 of The Education (Student Support) Regulations 2011. Just Google it and have a read to start, and I'll do a more in depth reply when I've slept.

Phreaky

Cheers for that, I've had a quick look at the schedule and it seems that section 8 is the closest thing to her situation, although point d) is the contentious part - however, she found a list of regulations elsewhere on the student finance site (I don't have a link to hand immediately, i'll post it when she turns up) that said that point can also be interpreted as "being wholly situated for 3 full years out of the previous 5", which is the point she used to get them to accept her appeal to where it is now.

Can't seem to find anything that says what qualifies as evidence of this though, I'm guessing its at the discretion of the application clerk which is a bit wolly for my liking...

What is the correct definition of 'ordinarily resident'? She has classed herself as a UK resident for over a decade and still did so when she was in Aus (she never even got an Aus bank account, or anything like that as she stayed with friends).

Taiko

Ordinarily resident would mean that, upon finishing employment/education, it is not the intention to return home overseas.

Could you possibly post up, or PM me with, a breakdown of everything she has done since age 14? Also a bit of background on the parents situation would probably help. I realise that it seems the SFE advisor is trying to make you jump through hoops, but it's part of their job to do this I'm afraid. If I could maybe have a bit more information I'll be happy to put the case together for you, backed up with the regulations that are needed, so that every base is covered.

amiehall

I am an independent student with over 3 years of independent living with proof of earnings etc. for more than this period. Having originally sent evidence that wasn't what was required, I was given non-means tested loan to tide me over. This week I seem to have finally had my new evidence processed and I checked my online account after receiving a payment into my bank account.

I have been assessed as entitled to £4745 for the year which isn't the £4950 I was expecting. I have previous study that means I have no grant entitlement. I'm in my first year of a new course. I can't find any explanation of the amount as all my literature says £4950 for an English student. I wanted to confirm that £4950 would be the normal maximum loan amount before I speak to them when phones are open after the holidays.

veryconcernedstudent

Hi.

Basically a friend of mine who graduated this year informed me that her parents have split up and that's the reason she used to get a full grant and maintenance loan.
Her father is absolutely loaded, he runs his own company and owns a very expensive house in Plymouth and one in Spain, has very flash cars, multiple boats etc.
In contrast her mother is more or less broke. Now she had previously lived with her father because she doesn't get along with her mother at all, she hates the woman more or less and apparently both her parents used to live within 15 minutes walk of each other until 3 months ago when her father moved and she lived between the houses but lived with her father most of the time, she had his address on her drivers license etc. However after applying to university she then moved to her mother's house so that she wouldn't have to declare her father's income so she would get the full grant and loan and also the full bursary at de montfort (I think that's about £1000 a year extra).

Is this allowed or does it count as fraud as although she wasn't living with her father per se he provided her with money whenever she needed it (for instance he paid off her entire overdraft when the bank called it in) and she could rely on him for money if needed.

If it was just my friend I wouldn't be concerned but now her twin brothers are about to go to university and about to do the same thing and I would imagine her youngest sister will also do it when she goes to university in two years as well.

In my opinion this is wrong and on par with large scale benefit fraud and something should be done to stop it but I don't know who to contact in regards to the issue.

MrsManda

amiehall wrote: »

I have been assessed as entitled to £4745 for the year which isn't the £4950 I was expecting. I have previous study that means I have no grant entitlement. I'm in my first year of a new course. I can't find any explanation of the amount as all my literature says £4950 for an English student. I wanted to confirm that £4950 would be the normal maximum loan amount before I speak to them when phones are open after the holidays.

Presumably you are also recieving a maintanence grant? £4950 is the maximum loan if you live away from home and not studying in London. However it is reduced to take into account your maintanence grant (unless you qualify for a Special Support Grant rather than the Maintanence Grant). This is mentioned in the link below.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/StudentFinance/Gettingstarted/DG_171572

If you put your details into the student finance calculator (see link) you will get an estimate of what you should receive.

amiehall

I'm not entitled to the grant this year because of previous study. That's why I should get the actual full loan amount provided my independent status is accepted. I can't see any reason why I'd have an amount that wasn't the minimum or the maximum as with independence it's all or nothing. No parental information has been provided.

Oldernotwiser

amiehall wrote: »

I'm not entitled to the grant this year because of previous study. That's why I should get the actual full loan amount provided my independent status is accepted. I can't see any reason why I'd have an amount that wasn't the minimum or the maximum as with independence it's all or nothing. No parental information has been provided.

£4754 was the full living away from home loan in 2009/10, if that's any help.

Taiko

Amie, I think I've found the reasoning, however before I confirm, can you post up a study pattern, just breaking down the years in which you were at university, for both the current course and previous course?

amiehall

Taiko wrote: »

Amie, I think I've found the reasoning, however before I confirm, can you post up a study pattern, just breaking down the years in which you were at university, for both the current course and previous course?

I started a full-time 5 year course in 2006/7 which I studied for 1 year and 1 term into 07/8. I did part time study in 10/11 for which I received a fee grant and a small maintenance grant payment. I started my first year of a 3 year BSc this September.

Thanks very much for your help