Student Loans Co/LEA Error...Help

dexters_mum_2

Hi
Brief overview: 24 year old Student/ Husband Seld Employed, Started Course Sep 06, Living & Studying in Wales.

Had a letter on Saturday from my LEA saying that as I had not provided my husbands Tax Return for the year, then my Assembly Learning Grant (ALG) was being withdrawn and I had to pay back the £900 I received in Sep 06.

I was not asked to provide a tax return at any point, and, as my husband's accountant pointed out, the deadline for submitting a tax return is 31st Dec, so it could have been that he had not submitted it yet.

Anyway, we had had husbands return back and he was due tax back, so he's been up to the LEA offices today and found they are closed until 2nd Jan. We wrote a letter stating we had not been asked to provide the tax return and enclosed it asking them to process it ASAP when they return.

Today, I recieved a letter from SLC stating they will recover the overpaid monies from my next loan installment, which is £1097, due on 8th Jan, leaving me £197 from then, until April's installment.

I am almost certain I am entitled to the ALG as my husband has not earned over £13K this year.

Can anyone advise how I should approach SLC tomorrow when they reopen, as I am just really worried about this as it is not my error, it is either the postal service, as I didnt get a letter requesting the tax return or an error on the part of the LEA and I really don't want to be penlaised for it.

Cheers,
DM