Overpayment of Childcare Grant

lulu29_2

hello all, looking for some friendly advice!!!
Have been overpaid childcare : ( and obviously have to pay it back to Student Finance Wales. I am still in uni studying, currently get parent learning allowance and the special support grant. Student Finance are plannign on taking the overpayment in one hit in January when I get my next installment. This is going to leave me very very short (£1500 to last me until May) Can I ask them not to do this or is it the way it works,.

Many thanks in advance : )

Poolie

You could try and talk to them to see if they can offer you a payment plan rather than the full installment in one go.

mummytofour

I am in the same situation and the same amount too.
As I am in yr 3 I decided to live with it, somehow....

Taiko

To override it, SFE would need to do Manual Payments for you. As this involves a fair bit of paperwork, I know they're not keen on it.

It can be done, but it's at their discretion. They do not have to offer you it.

abby1234519

quick question, do you get child tax credits and housing benefit whilst being a student parent?

MrsManda

abby1234519 wrote: »

quick question, do you get child tax credits and housing benefit whilst being a student parent?

Yes it is possible, but it does depend on your circumstances.

for information on extra help for Student parents see here (includes info on CTC):
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/StudentFinance/Extrahelp/DG_171503

For information on other benefits (inc. HB) see HE Students on a low income:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/On_a_low_income/DG_10034876

hoochi

i also have an overpayment of childcare grant i recieved a few hundred pounds dec 31 to pay for childcare up untill apr when i get my next instalment which has not decreased so i have nothing to pay fees i have rang them up as they have taken it in one lump and they say they cannot spread the payment out but, i am curently on my 2nd year of a foundation degree so i appreciate they dont have another to take th epayments form but my 3rd installments includes other grants they could take it from, any advice would be appreciated

forgot to say when i spoke to them they said because there was an overpayment of childcare they would not not pay any more untill that payment was paid

Taiko

Complete nonsense, there is even a proforma for them to arrange manual payments to defer this, or lessen the burden.

Sign of things to come.

hoochi

thanks taiko i asked if i could speak to a manager to see if they could do anything as im desperate i will have to pull out if i dont get anything and i told the lady this i was nearly in tears on the phone but she just said she cant help, do i need to speak to a certain department ? or is there any reason at all they cannot spread the payment over the last 2 instalments, i understand the payment has to be made but to leave me 400 for 4 months i think is unreal thanks

hoochi

just wanted to update you, i have telephoned again and spoken to a different lady and asked if they could spread the payment over next 2 instalments etc and she has also said the rules are that is there is an overpayment they have to take it all from next instalment, really stuck now dont no what to do, thanks anyway for everyones help

Taiko

Regulation 115(3)(a) seems to indicate overwise.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2009/1555/regulation/115/made

The methods of recovery are—
(a)subtracting the overpayment from any kind of grant payable to the student from time to time pursuant to regulations made by the Secretary of State under section 22 of the 1998 Act;

In fact, Paragraph 78 of their own overpayments guidance says they should consider deferring the overpayment if it would cause financial hardship.

http://practitioners.studentfinanceengland.co.uk/pls/portal/url/ITEM/841CCB75CDCB6024E0430A0AC7A96024