Student Finance want £2600 off me!?

Rich_G

Hey guys, I am sure I am not the only one in this situation or someone must of had this trouble!

I am studying BSc Applied computing with multimedia technologies. Basically my initial claim was income based and I was to get £6652.00 over the academic year.

In December last year I phoned them to tell them my Daughter had been born and I would like to add parents learners allowance to my claim.

I have sent: Working tax credit entitlement (partner & me though I do not work) birth certificate, bank statements with expenses highlighted. A form my partner had to fill out. As this wasn't enough I sent the, 4 years worth of bank statements for me and my partner.

I got a letter today saying they had over paid me by £2906.00 (the exact amount of my maintenance grant) and that they want it back.

I do not work, I am a full time student. My partner is on maternity leave (Average earnings of £13,000 per year) and we have had a baby and all of the expenses that come with it. Now they think I should get LESS money?!

This would basically point at the fact they think that £16,746 per year, as a couple with a baby is more than enough to live on.

I am not looking for a free ride, but a fair one. Doe's this all seem fair and correct? Right now I am genuinely scared about my and my families future and annoyed at the fact I will probably have to stop my course and go and get a full time job to feed my daughter.

Sorry for the essay, but any advice would me very much appreciated.

EDIT: Also, they keep saying my partner is my sponsor? What does this mean? she is not supporting me through my course? My money pays the rent and food (JUST!)

Taiko

Need a bit more information.

How old are you?
I assume you are not married, is this correct?
Was this your first child?

Rich_G

Hi Taiko,
I am 26, not married and yes, first child. My partner has informed me my figure of £16,746 is too high its more like £13,746. Sorry, wrote this in a rage.

Rich_G

Having phoned them today they have requested that I get my partner to send in a PFFF2 form. Which I printed and sent today. Along with a current year income assessment form filled out by her and a letter from me complaining about the situation. fingers crossed.

Oh and they also said to "ignore" the letter saying I owe them £2906. To which I got a little mad trying to impress how scary a letter like that can be.

Taiko

Thing is, they are right to send you that letter.

Your partners income needed to be declared, even if it was £0 she'd have still had to declare it. In that respect, they are correct in asking you for the money back.

It sounds as if SFE are doing a nice thing here in fairness. For not declaring the partner, they could've terminated all of your support. Instead, they're giving you the chance to rectify this. My advice would be just to get that PFF2 form sent in as soon as possible.

The assessment for PLA is done differently to the maintenance grant assessment. There's a chance you may be entitled, but without doing a full financial assessment and seeing all the documents you've sent to SFE, I couldn't tell you.

Rich_G

I think if you had gone through the last five months of what I have with them, you wouldn't be saying that. But thanks anyway.

marywooyeah

Rich_G wrote: »

I think if you had gone through the last five months of what I have with them, you wouldn't be saying that. But thanks anyway.

RichG Taiko is MSE's resident student finance expert and he knows everything about student finance! he's trying to help you and I appreciate you are frustrated, heaven knows student finance have caused me plenty of grief but as Taiko says your issue can be sorted if you fill in the forms and submit them. I know its a bit of a ballache but if it gets it sorted it'll be worth it.

Taiko

Maybe I should consider putting a "Minimum of 100 posts" rule onto my advice.

bestpud

Rich_G wrote: »

I think if you had gone through the last five months of what I have with them, you wouldn't be saying that. But thanks anyway.

Looks to me as though you brought the problems on yourself by making what could be termed a fraudulent claim!

carpedieme

Sorry to hijack your thread and good luck op with finance problem, could someone tell me how to start a new thread regarding student finance please? I have posted many times but never started a thread and cant seem to see how to start one ( easy instructions please am not very good on the computer !!! ) thanks

melancholly

carpedieme wrote: »

Sorry to hijack your thread and good luck op with finance problem, could someone tell me how to start a new thread regarding student finance please? I have posted many times but never started a thread and cant seem to see how to start one ( easy instructions please am not very good on the computer !!! ) thanks

there's a long running thread for student loan help that is often best to get the experts to notice and reply. it may be worth posting on there.

otherwise, there's a button at the top of each forum saying 'new thread' and you just need to click on that. it's a blue rectangle just above the green banner saying 'Threads in forum'.