SLC - Want me to pay back my grant? Advice please :(

BillyBobThorntz0r

Hi, I started uni last September and decided I couldn't afford to move away so stayed living at home - at least for the first year.

I applied for a loan for my tuition fees, which was successful, and then I was told I could receive a grant amount ~£900.

I took the grant of £900 and took a maintenance loan to match that amount. Giving me £1800 to live with through the year.

I have scraped along all year, and at the moment just on evens with my bank account - nearly entering my overdraft.

Today... I received a letter from the SLC stating that my LEA have told them that I must repay all my grant back to them, as soon as possible because they miss-calculated.

What am I supposed to do now then? Just give in and give them the £900 pushing me completely overdrawn? And then next year am I supposed to just increase my loan amount leaving me with over £12k's worth of debt at the end of my course - and that's someone living at home!

Why am I frequently on the short end of this money fiasco? Why do those getting massive grants get extra money from the uni - but those who are struggling like me, get money taken from them? :mad:

Has anyone got any advice for me? Do I have to give them the grant back? Do I have any claim to that money at all.

Any help is much appreciated!

Blacksheep1979

Just say to them that soon as possible will be when you are earning ie have graduated.

dmg24

Have you received a breakdown of the overpayment?

DrFluffy

This happened to me.

Any fees help paid directly to your university becomes an issue between you and the uni (as the LEA will just take back what they say is theirs and your debt lies with the uni). You can usually work out a repayment plan.

Anything else (ie anything paid directly to you) is not reclaimed until you graduate.

kelloggs36

I was overpaid by the SLC as they mistakingly gave me Parent Learning Allowance when I was not entitled. I was not asked to pay it back as they admitted it was their mistake. Query it, you may be able to keep it if they are sure it was not because of misleading info that you sent them.

BillyBobThorntz0r

It just says the one lump sum of what I received. The letter does state that they will start recovering the costs straight away if possible, or at the end of my course. But I don't think it's acceptable that they should ever have to take it. Based on my parents earnings, it was the correct amount I should have received.

DrFluffy

Then ask for a reassessment and for proof that you were overpaid...

Oldernotwiser

You're not likely to be able to manage financially if you've taken out so little of the maintenance loan. How are you managing to pay for your keep on so little money if your parents are on a low income? If you feel that the original calculation was correct then you need to argue it with your LEA; even if it's been a mistake then the mistake is theirs and I don't see how they can demand it back immediately. You could always take out more money than you need on next year's maintenance loan and pay them back with that if you lose the fight!

I'd also consider getting rid of the chip on your shoulder about this issue; you're not being targeted in any personal way, it's just that somebody somewhere's made a mistake.

saver2006

take out a higher maintenance loan- you shouldn't have to 'scape' by if you don't have to- makes sense right?

also- going overdrawn isn't the end of the world- as long as its interest free (which it should be- i'm guessing you have a student account) then it's not really a big deal- you'll live

the whole grants problem isn't a big deal- it was their fault- they'll either let you have the grant, re-assess you or let you pay back in affordable installments- you pick

no offence- but you're really not in that bad of a situation- the end of your post is exaggerting

p.s. 12K of debt is below the average student debt at the end of uni, if you're going to become a student you have to accept that you will be in debt- just like EVERYONE ELSE- you are not being targeted

BillyBobThorntz0r

Thanks for your replies. I've gotten by on my little amount of money by generally not spending any money on much.

I was never expecting on getting the grant year after year. My family do not have a low income - but do have large outgoings. It means I don't (well, I *thought* I did this year) get any grants, but my parents can not afford to give much in the way of financial support. It's at this point where I fall into a void where I'm not getting financial support form either end.

My post was never meant in a 'spoilt' manner like some of you may have thought, and I'm not worked up at all about this matter because I know £900 isn't going to be much for me when I come out of University. It's just aggravating that others in better situations than me have financial support from all sorts of places.

Oldernotwiser

But you only get a maintenance grant if your parents are on a low income; high outgoings don't come into it. Why did you apply for a grant if they're not on a low income? If you're living at your parents' home without paying much in the way of keep then your parents are giving you a good deal of financial support; don't discount this fact.

Although I think that you're sensible in not running up too much additional debt, I'd be aware that you may be missing out on a great deal of university life (and I don't just mean getting !!!!ed every night!) by scraping by all the time. This should be a time for having as wide an experience as possible, not just keeping out of debt. Employers like to see that you have used your time well at university by gaining experience and skills, not just studying for your degree. Some of this takes money!