Urgh! Why'd it have to change!?

killerpeaty

Hello all, long time lurker of the MSE but I tend not to post a lot.

[background, not essential to read]
My situation in september was newly disabled student starting my third year of a normal BSc course. Both my parents were employed with a healthy income, a sister who had just graduated but unemployed, a brother who is full time carer to his wife and my long term boyfriend who was starting his new teaching job.
[/background]

THEN at the end of october my boyfriend's dad had what we thought was a heart attack but turned out to be some kind of warning sign. Five days later (now early november) my dad had a massive stroke while driving and ended up in a coma, which he will never wake from. He was self employed, so his business has been shut down by our family, he and my boyfriend were very close. My boyfriend's uncle was also diagnosed with cancer that week, so it wasn't a great time in our lives. My boyfriend tried very hard at his job, but the stress of it all got to him and he had to quit unfortunately. So my family income is now a quarter of what it used to be and I cannot borrow from my boyfriend either.

I've called student finance, they told me to send a letter, which I did. I went to my uni's advice centre and they told me to get a change of circumstances form, which I cannot find! I made further investigations on the site itself and it is SO confusing! This stupid process of everyone telling me something different every time is driving me up the wall! I missed 3.5 weeks of uni, a class test and had 5 assessments due before christmas which most had disappointing results. I just can't cope with the stress of my course, my family, my boyfriend and money right now... Can someone please please please just tell me how to change my circumstances on the form?
(sorry for blabbing about all of this)

Thank you for your time!

melancholly

can't help with student finance, but just wanted to say you should urgently see your tutor and put in for exceptional circumstances. they will be able to facilitate you getting support and perhaps extended deadlines. that may give you some breathing space to focus on other more immediate problems.

ask for help from your uni - they may be able to help with hardship funds and things like that.

killerpeaty

Thank you : ) From the standpoint of concessions, I'm ok, at my uni (or at least my department) all concessions are decided at the end of the year so as it's an ongoing thing I was told to submit towards the end of the year or when he dies.
From the access to learning fund standpoint, I'm struggling with that, I need 3-6 months (one of those two..) worth of bank statements, but as you can probably imagine most of the post was mislaid (including my internet banking password). But thank you for reminding me to go to the bank, I will put it onto tomorrow's to do list.

stephyt23

So sorry to hear what you've been going through, sounds like a really tough year.

Isn't the change of circs form on your student finance account? I'm sure there is an option somewhere when you log in to tell that about changes.

MrsManda

Have you heard back from SFE about the letter you sent?
You used to be able to download the change of circumstance form but I think you now have to ask SFE to send it to you if you want to change household income details.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/StudentFinance/Gettingstarted/DG_171586

Make sure you're getting all the support you can from student support services, your tutor and friends.
Depending on how you are feeling it may be better for you to consider deferring the rest of the year and starting again in September.
In any case it's worth keeping hold of any letters/emails which explain your circumstances so that if required, you already have evidence of extenuating circumstances not only for your university but if you do end up needing to repeat the year it's useful to have the information to give SFE.

*lots of hugs*

killerpeaty

Hi, I've heard nothing from student finance, they are being helpful over the phone but less than helpful when actually sending me forms. For my ergonomic assessment, they lost it for roughly 6 months ha ha.

I thought for the first three weeks that I didn't want to continue uni, then decided that I should see my results from the last assessment session. So far this year I have 0 (missed the test), 58 (due about a week after the stroke, sent by email to my very kind lecturer), (the rest are from the second assessment which was approx one month after I returned- baring in mind I had to catch up on 3 weeks) 68, 68, 68 (disappointing), 70(ok) and 75(that's more like it!)... So I'm thinking that I may be ok for my aims of a 75 average this year considering the final exams are worth 80% of the total mark. I think, if I had any mark below 65 then I would have intermitted.

In terms of support from my friends, they have truly been amazing, I am very lucky. One drove roughly 80 miles to bring me my clothes, most of them gave me copies of notes of lectures I missed (in one case, even when I didn't take that module :rotfl: ) and some tutored me for the things I couldn't understand. In terms of support from the uni, my lecturers have been very understanding, it helps that, due to having FMA, I am not supposed to be penalised grade-wise for non-attendance of seminars.

So yeah, the biggest failure of support have been student finance and the hospitals itself. (did I miss any questions?)

Thank you for replying

green_hat778

Hiya

Sounds like you're going through a really tough time, I'm sorry to hear that.

A lot of Universities offer a student councelling service if that's something you might be interested in, it should be free and doesnt have to be intense or scary, just thought it might be helpful to talk things through with someone who can offer an understanding ear, and can help you work through any other issues you might have, such as dealing with the student loans company (which is hard work at the best of times).

Also, might be worth going in and having a chat with the student funding unit at your university, they might be able to direct you to the form you need, and can also give you any information on emergency loans/other funds availible to you at the moment if you need them.

Make sure you keep the evidence of your extenuating circumstances as you will need this, the administration office for your course should be able to go through any details on the process you might be unsure of if you're concerned.

Hope things improve, your scores sound really good so you're doing well all considered!