Are my Uni's student funding service right?

LittleSnowBear

I have recently mentioned the lack of money due to no job this summer. I was informed by some helpful members here that my loan is for an entire year (hence the no JSA for students) I have found my hardship application with the breakdown which they came up with stating I had enough money. If someone can explain this I would be gratefull.

Maintenance loan 7,093
Bursary 690
Assumed Income 1,575 (no idea what this is)
Housing benefit 309.96 (errr since when?)
Total income 9,667.96


Living costs 3,822 98pw
Rent 3,022.11 77.49 pw (not for a whole year if you do the math)
Travel expenses 359.90
books and equipment 600
creditors 180

I apparently have a surplus of 1,683.95 or 43.18pw

This is before tution fees which are not counted as something I have to pay but I did have to for this year
3145

This was the document they sent me which makes it clear they (my uni) do not count my loan as being for a full year.

I am confused

MrsManda

I think universities have their own individual criteria and way of working things out rather than there being centrally set rules. You need to know what this criteria is before you can judge whether they've made a mistake.
Presumably they're making their assessment based on information you have given them? In which case, did you put your income/expenses down for a year? I.e. could the reason they've only budgetted for 39 weeks of accommodation be because that is what you stated your accommodation costs? - 39 weeks is the academic year so if you only put the cost of your halls down this may account for how they've assessed it.

The assumed income is likely to be the minimum amount you are expected to earn in the 13 weeks you have off in the summer.
If you have a low household income you may be entitled to benefits during the holidays. Have a look here: benefits for students

LittleSnowBear

I don't live in halls I rent from the council and I have no income outside my student loan. Aside from the assumed income (a little rude to assume someone has a job, imagine if you went for JSA and the benefits agency wouldn't give you any because they just decided you have a job).

My issue is not criteria. It is the fact that I keep getting told that my loan is for a whole year. My university have told me any budgets are worked out by the weeks in the academic year. But them they told me I was entitled to nothing outside the academic year.

So therefore by their calculations I am perfectly able to afford to live for an entire year as long and the sun moves closer and knocks 13 weeks off the year.

THank you for the link but I am entitled to nothing I've checked

Fire_Fox

Your loan is meant to cover the entire year: that's why you get a lower amount in the final year, as you can claim JSA in the summer after you finish. They have assumed you have a part-time job as you have had nine months to get one if you were short of money!

Budget planner, complete and post on DFW board for comments:
http://www.makesenseofcards.com/soacalc.html

Also check out the 'Live on £4k for a year' thread - note that this is for an entire family, hence I think the living expenses of £3.8K allowed by the hardship fund is pretty generous!

student_advisor

The assessment for hardship is based on standard criteria that apply to each HEI in the country.

You are assessed over 39 weeks if you do not have children/a disability, 43 weeks otherwise.

£1,575 assumed income reflects your earnings capacity through part-time work or vacation work. This is set by the government and is used regardless of whether you actually work or not.

You should apply for a summer payment from the ALF, not a standard term-time payment. You should also have the right of appeal against the decision, however, you should be aware that some institutions will not have any money left by this point in the year.

A lot of students do work over the summer, or go back to their parents so don't have to.

Your student finance is meant to be for the full financial year, but is used over 39-43 weeks for calculations.

What provision have you made for yourself to cover your living costs during the summer vacation?

LittleSnowBear

I am apparently not entitled to any summer payments as I am not a lone parent.

I have no current income have been looking for work for months. 4k is my rent for a year so thats not going to work.

I have done budget planner after another and when I take tuition fees (this year only) into account and the fact that I have not been able to find a job I am working on a deficit. I acutually bugeted less for living expenses they just decided that number.

Cannot live with my parents I am classed as an independant student, I have an long term illness which they do not count as a diasablity (I do not quite fit the critera). I did not get a job at first because of this as I was worried I would not cope and have been applying for summer jobs and part time jobs since easter (no recent work experience letting me down)

Fire_Fox

LittleSnowBear wrote: »

I am apparently not entitled to any summer payments as I am not a lone parent.

I have no current income have been looking for work for months. 4k is my rent for a year so thats not going to work.

I have done budget planner after another and when I take tuition fees (this year only) into account and the fact that I have not been able to find a job I am working on a deficit. I acutually bugeted less for living expenses they just decided that number.

Cannot live with my parents I am classed as an independant student, I have an long term illness which they do not count as a diasablity (I do not quite fit the critera). I did not get a job at first because of this as I was worried I would not cope and have been applying for summer jobs and part time jobs since easter (no recent work experience letting me down)

The 'Live on £4k for a year' is living expenses, i.e. after rent/ mortgage and council tax so fits very well with the 'living costs' category in the hardship budget. You'd know this if you bothered to read the thread for inspiration. Also I hope you don't mind me saying, but is there any possibility you are suffering mild depression? Your posts are quite passive, even negative: we are making suggestions and you aren't willing to try them out.

Pop down to your nearest Connexions to get advice on how to update your CV and covering letter. You have plenty of transferable skills from your course - ability to work as part of team, on own initiative, time management, IT skills, research and communication skills, etc.

I have NEVER seen a budget that the DFW board couldn't find some wiggle room in. Often we can't see the wood for the trees in our own budgets! Also why are you paying tuition fees up front? These should form part of the student loan??

LittleSnowBear

I think at 27 i'm too old for connextions, but I have sought advice about my CV.

I only really need to get thorugh the next two and a half months as I will not be paying tuition fees next year and I will get a bigger loan in september too

My loan of 7000 take off 3000 for tuition fees leaves me with 4000 which is my rent i used my overdraft for bills and stuff.

I just needed to get through this year then next year I am back to the normal student funding and I can easily budget for that amount.

I have to pay tuition fees this year due to previous study when i left my old course due to illness I tried many of the suggestions prior to posting here my applcation to the summer fund was rejected due to not being a lone parent, I have asked my uni for advice they could give me none. I have got the odd few hours working here and there but am finding this impossible due to lack of recent work experience (off sick for 4 years), I have sent out CV's I apply for anything I can.

Fire_Fox

I was on incapacity benefits for two years and off work a year before that. I didn't have a problem finding another job afterwards BUT I took on a very basic role initially (bar work/ waitressing) and found a way to put my experience into a positive light in an interview setting. Instead of discussing my illness I spoke about what I had learned about health, what I had learned about myself, and what steps I was taking to become healthier than I'd been since childhood!

My health problems were insomnia, anxiety and depression, not what the average employer wants to hear! My self-care plan was to learn about healthy eating and physical activity in sufficient depth that I now work in the fitness industry. I also held a voluntary position (online community leader) during my illness. Have you considered voluntary work as a way to cement your proven ability to cope with full-time study and to provide a talking point that isn't your health? Also you mention your CV but your covering letter is more important, what is this like?

Floxxie

You do not need a job outside the home to get an income in. Take a look at 'up your income' the GIOL board for match betting etc. There are challenges run on the DFW board.

How are you going to cope with getting a job after your degree?

I have a long-term (in fact life) illness that is classed as a disability but I have never classed myself as such, I have always worked (and previously studied full time) and was not entitled to any help.
You need to start looking at the positives of being a student, work out how to make an extra income and decide what you are going to do when you finish.

MrsManda

Fire_Fox wrote: »

II also held a voluntary position (online community leader) during my illness. Have you considered voluntary work as a way to cement your proven ability to cope with full-time study and to provide a talking point that isn't your health?

I was unable to work for two years after I dropped out of university due to illness. As soon as I was well enough I spoke to my local voluntary service and found a placement working at a soft play centre. This worked wonders for getting a paid job as I was able to show I was capable of getting into work every day and doing a good day's work. It also meant I had a recent referee for my applications/CV rather than relying on references from school which were a few years old.

As an aside, if you dropped out of university due to illness previously, you shouldn't have had to pay for your tuition fees - I'd used 2yrs of funding in my first degree (first year and a first year repeat) yet I got full funding for my new degree because it was not my fault I dropped out last time/