Student Finance England problems?

LauraLou1982

Has anyone else had trouble with SFE? I applied for a loan, childcare grant, PLA etc in December and the loan went through quickly and was fine, however the childcare/PLA bit is a nightmare! First someone deleted off my files thinking I wasnt entitled to it, then they reinstated it as I am entitled (I am being seconded so I have nothing to do with burserys) but asked for a sworn declaration to prove I am single, which is fine so I sent one off two weeks ago and they lost it (the other bit of paperwork in the same envelope got there fine!) so sent in another one on Monday and they still cant tell me if they have recieved it as they are so behind...was told at the beginning of the week that once they recieve it I have to wait at least two weeks till they will get round to looking at it, and now today another person said they cant give me any timescales of when they will be able to look at it until its been scanned on!
I start uni in 3 weeks and this is really stressing me out! I keep getting told different information each time I call...has anyone else had problems with them?

devildog

LOL yes, think we have had trouble with them for the past four years!
Particularly with them losing stuff (again in same envelope as other stuff they acknowledge they have got)
Thankfully this current year is the last one that we have to deal with them

Taiko

Behind in January? But January is the quiet period.

Devildog, I haven't forgotten your query btw. Still working on various bits for you.

LauraLou1982

Yeah they reckon they are working on paperwork they recieved over two weeks ago, and are only scanning stuff they recieved on monday today! I just want to know if they have got it or not! Slightly annoying that I already had to wait a month for them to look at paperwork and request a sworn declaration, and once they recieve it I need to wait again for it to work its way through the backlog to the front of the pile! I start uni in 3 weeks, stress!

LauraLou1982

I wouldnt mind waiting if I knew I was going to get childcare/PLA help, but I could go through all of this and then get no help, in which case I need to have a serious look at my finances!

devildog

Thank you Taiko

LauraLou1982

Called again today, apparantly they 'found' my paperwork last Tuesday but it wasnt on the system so thats why every time I called up they kept saying they didnt have it. Now i have to wait 28 days (maximum!) to find out if I am eligible for any help.

Taiko, do you know what the criteria/threshold is for childcare grants/PLA etc is?

Taiko

http://www.practitioners.slc.co.uk/media/523728/grants_for_dependants_and_travel_grants.doc

Paragraph 57 should give you a bit more information.

LauraLou1982

Thanks Taiko thats very interesting and shall certainly be good for referring back to! It only says about thresholds for students with a partner though, not for lone parents. Will just have to wait and cross fingers that I shall get some help.
Thanks very much for your assistance!

Taiko

Sorry, felt sure it said there's no income thrshold for a lone parent, but listed the maximum you could claim per week, depending on how many children.

LauraLou1982

It probably did and I havent read it properly! Thanks for your help Taiko x