Scottish students - travel expenses.

eklynne

Just a wee reminder that SAAS are accepting travel allowance applications from today.

littlepinkstars44

applied for mine first thing this morning!!

laney85

Done mine yesterday.......wonder how long its going to take ?

eklynne

laney85 wrote: »

Done mine yesterday.......wonder how long its going to take ?

The website states 21 days but I have never waited more than 10.

organic_wanabe

eklynne - do you mean you have never waited more than 10 days for the status of your application to change, or do you usually receive the money within 10 days? Also, does it usually get paid directly into your bank in one go and do you receive anything in the post detailing how the figure they allow is calculated? Sorry to ask all these questions, but this is the first time my DS has done it and he is a bit vague about the process!

I noticed in the press, a month or so ago, that in future it is likely that Scottish Student Travel Expenses may be in the form of a loan rather than they way it is processed now. I haven't seen it mentioned again - has anyone any information on this?

eklynne

organic_wanabe wrote: »

eklynne - do you mean you have never waited more than 10 days for the status of your application to change, or do you usually receive the money within 10 days? Also, does it usually get paid directly into your bank in one go and do you receive anything in the post detailing how the figure they allow is calculated? Sorry to ask all these questions, but this is the first time my DS has done it and he is a bit vague about the process!

I noticed in the press, a month or so ago, that in future it is likely that Scottish Student Travel Expenses may be in the form of a loan rather than they way it is processed now. I haven't seen it mentioned again - has anyone any information on this?

Hi,
well this is my 4th year applying and previously the money has always hit my account within 10 days or earlier. I know this because the applications used to be taken around about the 10th - 15th of December and I have always had my money before Christmas. However, if you have a nosey at last year's travel expenses claim thread, you'll see that some people didn't get theirs until January. I have no idea why this is. This year is different obviously as the applications are being taken in January. I hope this won't change the turnover time. Fingers crossed. Also, be aware you won't get an award letter at all, not even an email, so just tell your lad to keep checking his account.

my_definition

i think the people who apply on the first day or asap get processed a lot faster. I was quite slow in the first 2 years but last year i did it very fast and had the money earlier than a lot of my friends. fingers crossed it comes quickly this year!

sadie33

how do they work this out, i drive 32 miles there and back to get to uni.... i have explained via letter as to why i cant take the bus or train, this is simply due to having a disabled child i have to get into childcare ect.. by the time we get through the morning routine these forms of transport have already left and i would miss them... i applied on wed so i am hoping to hear soon.. what sort of payment can be expected, mind you anything to help with the cost of petrol is a blessing x thanks in advance x

pretzelnut

sadie33 wrote: »

how do they work this out, i drive 32 miles there and back to get to uni.... i have explained via letter as to why i cant take the bus or train, this is simply due to having a disabled child i have to get into childcare ect.. by the time we get through the morning routine these forms of transport have already left and i would miss them... i applied on wed so i am hoping to hear soon.. what sort of payment can be expected, mind you anything to help with the cost of petrol is a blessing x thanks in advance x

I would like to know this also.

I have to drive 50 miles to college and live in the middle of nowhere, I set of at 8 am and arrive at college at 9.15, sometimes later if the traffic is a nightmare. I also have to arrive some mornings for 8am.
I have 3 children under the age of 8. I finish at 4.30 and dont arrive home till 7pm most nights as its takes an hour to get 300 metres down the road as we are right next to a hospital, and we both kick out at the same time, Some evening I have to stay late, nature of the course so dont arrive home till 9 / 10pm. This would be even later / not possible via bus as they dont run.

If i were to get a bus to get me to college on time I would have to set off at 5am and have 4 bus changes. So am I expected to get my kids up at 4am, just so I can travel by bus. There also isnt any buses early enough to get me to college on time.

So I have no option but to travel by car.

Plus if I travelled by bus I would have to go into England to come back into Scotland. And use 2 different bus companies.

Never mind how much it would cost me in childcare if i had to travel by bus setting off that early and arriving home that late.

Im the 1 who at college lives the furthest away, so am I wrong in assuming I'd receive the most out of all my class mates.

Im really curious how they work this out. Do they have some sort of route planner program which gives them the cheapest possibilty avaialble. I havent wrote to them, as I assumed they would somehow know, that travelling by car was the only option.

Would it be a good idea to ring / write to them, and tell them all the above, just incase in assuming too much?

sadie33

i emailed them a letter to explain why i had to use the car and i hope they accept my explantion, if they require proof of my sons disability i will send them his dla entiltement and docs letters. I hope that it will be okay but who knows.. i am hoping someone can give me more advice, i drive 64 mils there and back 3-4 times a week, i am around 35 in fuel a week just for uni.. it will be interesting x

pretzelnut

Yeah it will definitely be interesting, 100 mile round trip 3/4 sometimes 5 times a week for me. Although I only claimed for 3 as thats all the days I actually have to be in college, the other days are days I choose to go in because I need to use the facilities again due to the course im on, its not something I can do at home.

I may give them a ring tommorrow, purely out of curiosity.