refused student finance as lived abroad- please help!

jimjam1

and to DD too!

Taiko

It's no problem, although this time of the year I cannot always take on cases like this.

Just putting this here for reference for myself in the morning. http://practitioners.studentfinanceengland.co.uk/portal/page?_pageid=133,4210372&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

devildog

Taiko, That's a useful bit of info to save
jimjam1 fingers crossed for you

Taiko

devildog wrote: »

Taiko, That's a useful bit of info to save
jimjam1 fingers crossed for you

It's the actual assessors guidance, that isn't published on the main website.

You don't need a login to access practicioners, so it's available to anyone who wants to find out.

devildog

Yes but you now how it is-you can never find those type of things when you need them(at least I couldn't last year when I was on a mission)

Taiko

It's not advertised, you'd have to know exactly what it is you're searching for too. Would be easier if they did publish it in a more well-known place

jimjam1

So shall i just wait now? I stupidly sent of an appeal 10 seconds after the bad news, it was more of a rant than anything else. I told the Student Union, who I have a meeting with tomorrow at 10am. She said that i so get more than 1 appeal,so if i didn't get my point across, we can try again.

Taiko, i've sent you the appeal/rant to your inbox.

THANK YOU, you have no idea how bad I felt earlier this week. Like you said, nothing is guaranteed, but, i'm more positive now.

jimjam1

BAD NEWS, they replied. No luck. Gutted

As per Schedule 1, Part 2 of the Education (Student Support) Regulations
2009 No.1555, in order to be eligible for student support, you must meet
the following criteria:

2.—(1) A person who on the first day of the first academic year of the
course—

(a) is settled in the United Kingdom other than by reason of having
acquired the right of permanent residence;

(b) is ordinarily resident in England;

(c) has been ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and Islands
throughout the three-year period preceding the first day of the first
academic year of the course; and

(d) subject to sub-paragraph (2), whose residence in the United Kingdom and
Islands has not during any part of the period referred to in paragraph (c)
been wholly or mainly for the purpose of receiving full-time education.

As per the above, you will not be considered eligible for student finance
unless you can prove that your absence was of a temporary nature. Your
application clearly states that you left the UK to work in China.

If you can provide evidence which shows this move was temporary such as a
temporary job contract stating a start and end date or specific temporary
wording, for yourself or proof of a home maintained in the UK your
application may be reviewed. However unless this can be provided, your
appeal remains unsuccessful at this time.

The Student Loans Company (SLC) is a public body and is bound to administer
the student support scheme within the legislative framework laid down by
government. Entitlement to funding is entirely governed by the relevant
provisions of the appropriate student support regulations, stated above.
Unfortunately this is not a question of discretion, the SLC are bound by
these regulations.

Whilst I appreciate that this may not be the response you were hoping for,
I believe that Student Finance England has applied the Education (Student
Support) Regulations 2009 correctly in this case.

jimjam1

So is this it? I now have to give up everything i have started and find somewhere to live and go onto benefits again for a year?

They are right, the second contract only had a start date and does not suggest it was temporary. But, i turned up to work at 9am on the 1st day and i had walked out by 9.05am. The only reason i took the second job was to fund my return. it didn't work out like that.

I can get my psychiatrist and psychotherapist to write letters saying it was my intention to go home to study. I really didn't want to stay in China, and, again, when the Olympics started, anyone in the host cities who didn't have a permanant visa would be asked to leave until after the special olympics in Sept 08. I could have gone back after this time, but, i chose not too.

God, i feel terrible and sick!

Taiko

Ok, you jumped the gun on this. I was getting your appeal watertight, hence the timescales I needed.

Unfortunately, you've shot yourself in the foot, so now I cannot use the argument that would've made you eligible.

I'll have a look at other routes, but I don't see you getting support now.