Recovery Of Overpaid Grant - HELP!!!!!

NewCustomerOnly

Thanks amiehall, I'll suggest that today and keep you posted!

jennifernil

Taiko wrote: »

Should've been the 9/10 year income for the 9/10 academic year.

I don't understand how that is possible.

9/10 income is from April 09 to April 10. 9/10 Academic year is from September 09 to June (?) 10.

At the time you need to apply for funding for 9/10, you would not know the income for 9/10.

Indie_Kid

jennifernil wrote: »

I don't understand how that is possible.

9/10 income is from April 09 to April 10. 9/10 Academic year is from September 09 to June (?) 10.

At the time you need to apply for funding for 9/10, you would not know the income for 9/10.

I believe (I'm sure my parents did this) you can send the P60s in later. And I'm sure the deadline was longer for income assessed than non-income assessed.

jennifernil

But a P60 for 9/10 would not be available until April 10, by which time the Academic Year 9/10 is almost over.

redpete

NewCustomerOnly wrote: »

She has tried contacting them but can never get through and is starting to panic - advice pleeeeese? Should she just pay up, not attend hearing or is there another action she could try?

Has she tried writing to them asking for the details or has she only tried phoning them?

Taiko

jennifernil wrote: »

I don't understand how that is possible.

9/10 income is from April 09 to April 10. 9/10 Academic year is from September 09 to June (?) 10.

At the time you need to apply for funding for 9/10, you would not know the income for 9/10.

Normally, a student would've provided income for the tax year 07/08 for the 09/10 academic year. However, if the parents believe their income for the 09/10 tax year will be 15% lower than the 07/08 year, they can apply for the current income assessment based on estimates of their income for 09/10. The parents are then sent letters in April 2010 asking them to provide P60's for that year.

In the eligibility guidance, it states that if a current income assessment has been awarded for a previous year, then that income is to be brought forward to the next academic yeaer as well, making the 10/11 assessment based on the 09/10 tax year, rather than the 08/09 tax year. In effect, this would mean a student who began a 3 year course in 09/10 and had a current income assessment that year would only be required to provide the financial information in the first year, as it would be used in 3 years worth of assessments.

jy168

So what taiko is saying:
09/10 academic year - provide income in tax year 07/08

But if income is estimated to be 15% lower than 07/08 tax year then:
09/10 academic year - provide current year assesment (I am assuming you also have to provide 07/08 tax year information aswell to prove income is 15% lower)

But what I dont understand is why would they want 07/08 tax year instead of 08/09 tax year? It is the most recent income information.

This is from the student finance website
direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/StudentFinance/Gettingstarted/DG_171580

"If you apply for finance that takes your income into account ('means-tested' or 'income-assessed' finance), as a student you’ll be asked to estimate your income for the academic year. Student Finance England may ask you for evidence of this income at the end of the year.

If your parent(s) or partner are supporting your application for 'income-assessed' finance, they’ll need to submit evidence of your household income. For the academic year 2010/11, they should supply evidence for the 'prior tax year' 2008-09 (6 April 2008 – 5 April 2009).

Student Finance England use the 'prior tax year' as this will be the last completed tax year before the first date from which you could apply for student finance.
The evidence should match the amounts given on your application.

Student Finance England use this evidence about your household income to work out how much financial support you’ll get. To find out more, see ‘Applying for finance: income assessment for full-time students’."

From this I dont see how I have to pay back the grant given in 09/10 academic year when I have been assesed on 08/09 tax year and not 09/10 tax year? Am I missing something?

Taiko

Because it's the regulations!

liney

Taiko wrote: »

Because it's the regulations!

Student Finance England use the 'prior tax year' as this will be the last completed tax year before the first date from which you could apply for student finance.
The evidence should match the amounts given on your application.

Well if they ask one thing then do another, it's not suprising people get confused! If you apply before April 5th, you will never have the current years P60's, so the last completed tax year will always be the year before not the current year.

Taiko

Schedule 4 of The Education (Student Support) Regulations 2009 lists the definition as:

(l)“prior financial year” means the financial year immediately preceding the preceding financial year;

I find it extremely hard to believe that SFE, despite their failings, would've asked for the wrong tax year in this instance.