Help!!

the_devil_made_me_do_it

Due to illness, the Uni advised me to withdraw from the degree programme I was on & apply for a concession to re-start the 2nd year in October 2010.

The concession states that in order for me to go back to uni, a letter from my doctor would be required stating I am fit to return.

My withdrawl date was the 11th March 2010 & I also received a letter from student finance stating that due to withdrawing I was no longer entitled to any student loan/grant or tutition fee loan.

Obviously, I received 2 loan payments (last one being in January 2010), however, I did not receive the most recent payment as I am no longer entitled to it.

Problem I'm having is, I have put a claim form in for housing/council tax benefit. I am currently only in receipt of incapacity benefit, this is my only income now. However, housing/council tax department are still trying to class me as a student & say I am not entitled to any benefit. I have provided the letter from uni stating my withdrawl date & the letter from student finance stating I am no longer entitled to any assistance from them. The benefit department are claiming that because the uni have given me the option to return in October, that means I am still a student. I have tried to explain to them that it dosen't make any difference, I am not a student and I left uni on March 11th. If I wanted to, I could apply to another establishment & start on a brand new course.

Anyway, they have asked to see more of my bank statements to show the last time I received any money from student finance. However, I think even when I show them the statements they are still gonna be adament that I am still a student. I'm tearing my hair out as my rent arrears get higher.

Has anyone got any experience with this & if so, could you offer me any advice?

Thanks in advance.

Taiko

Sounds to me as if your university have placed you in suspension and not withdrawal, and as such you're still a registered student.

I'd really need to know more about the paperwork for the university. If you wanted to post up images on something like tinypic, do so and I'll take a look. Make sure to black out any details as to your identity though.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

Hi & thanks for your reply. I don't know how to post pictures on here, so I will quote the concession letter from the uni.

" For medical reasons, to be permitted ro withdraw from University with effect from 11th March 2010, and return to re-enter year 2 of the degree programme BSc Applied Psychology at commencement of the Michaelmas Term 2010.
This concession is to subject to receipt no later than 20th September 2010, of a medical report which clearly and unambiguously confirms that the student is fit to returm to University and resume her studies, and which is satisfactory to the college, Department of Psychology and the Faculty of Science.
The student's year 2 assesment is based solely on work completed and submitted during the acedemic year 2010/2011; no work already submitted, or marks achieved may be carried forward".

The letter I received from student finance states that:

"We have been informed of your withdrawal from your course by your Award Authority. We are therefore required to stop certain elements of your Student Finance payments. The payments that will be stopped are stated below: Maintenance Loan, Grant & Tuition Fee loan. Previous payments you have received may have to be repaid, if this is the case we will notify you seperatly".

The last payment I received from student finance was in January. I have not received any more payments since, so my income consists of my benefit.

I just haven't got a clue whats going to happen, I'm totally confused and frustrated.

* Just spoken on the phone to Student Finance & they have stated that I am not entitled to any financial assistance from them under my current circumstances.

student_advisor

if you're receiving incapacity benefit, you are already entitled to claim HB & CTB regardless of whether you are a student or not!!

get yourself down to student services or the CAB and get them to sort your council out as they have got it completely wrong

you may also be able to apply to SFE for an extension to your entitlement from SFE, but I'm not currently a specialist on that - taiko may be able to advise

the_devil_made_me_do_it

student_advisor wrote: »

if you're receiving incapacity benefit, you are already entitled to claim HB & CTB regardless of whether you are a student or not!!

get yourself down to student services or the CAB and get them to sort your council out as they have got it completely wrong

you may also be able to apply to SFE for an extension to your entitlement from SFE, but I'm not currently a specialist on that - taiko may be able to advise

I've never claimed a penny HB whilst a student, only CT exemption. When they have worked out my entitlement, they say that my income (student finance + IB) is ample so not entitled to any HB.

However, now I'm no longer in receipt of any SF, & I've put a claim in for HB/CTB, they are trying to say I'm still not entitled.

Taiko

Ok, the letter indicates you're in suspension, and therefore not actually withdrawn.

You can apply for continued support through suspension, however this would need a written letter of appeal to SFE for it, detailing that you've had to suspend for health reasons and that you need support continued as you would be unable to work and cannot therefore pay your contracted obligations.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

Thanks. Unfortunatly SFE didn't say anything to that effect when I telephoned them today. I actually don't want to be in receipt of SFE financial support. I'm not sure I want to return to this degree programme & don't want to loose out on Student loans if I start another degree due to having already had 2 full years of student loans/tuition fees.

student_advisor

the_devil_made_me_do_it wrote: »

However, now I'm no longer in receipt of any SF, & I've put a claim in for HB/CTB, they are trying to say I'm still not entitled.

they are wrong, please get an advisor to help you with this - I regularly have to ring/write to local councils to remind them of the rules

the_devil_made_me_do_it

I'm going to contact the local CAB or resource centre tomorrow about it & see if they can get an advisor on the case. This has been going on for at least 5 -6 weeks now & I'm concerned about my rent arrears mounting up.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

I have now got my housing/council tax benefit entitlement sorted after a long battle.

Does anyone know whether, as a disabled student, would I be entitled to housing benefit whilst a student at Uni? Is anyone in this situation at the moment or have been in this situation?

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Should be. And you should qualify for a DSA too.