Problem with student finance childcare grant please help!

tyruma

I am in the final year of my degree...
During the first 2 years of my course i was a single parent, so i was automatically entitled to the childcare grant from student finance England.... I sent the forms for student finance off as normal for this academic year, but then me and partner decided to move in together, so i sent the relevant forms and evidence to student finance as they requested...they wrote back with my adjusted entitlement for my maintenance loan and grant, but the childcare grant was not included.
Since August 2012 i have rang them every week, no one at SF seems to be able to help me in explaining why i am not entitled to the childcare grant...i was told to appeal, which i did, just to get an email back 3 weeks later sayin g it was not a case for appeal and should not have been advised to do so, they now say they are assessing it AGAIN.
I am being told by SF that the reason i am not entitled to childcare grant is because my circumstances changed after the start of the academic year?? this is because in December 2012 we took a mortgage....they havent explained why i havent had any support at the beginning of the year either?? I proved my rent etc then sent our mortgage, council tax etc when we moved in december.
I have no idea what is going on?? Can anyone help? I am desperate, i may have to leave my course as i am really struggling and i am not sure if i am entitled or not??
They have recently asked me for proof of my financial obligations from before my course started in 2010, eventhough they know i was a single parent now and im not aymore.
I have 4 children, but only 1 of them needs childcare....
Sorry bit long winded but trying to explain everything best i can

LauraLou1982

Sorry I dont have advice but I can sympathise! I am a single parent, starting a 3 year degree in two weeks and am waiting for them to tell me what childcare help/PLA etc I am entitled to! Its been muck up after muck up, from someone deleteing my first application thinking I am not entitled, to them losing my sworn declaration they asked for to prove I am single!
I start in two weeks and still dont know if its even going to be viable for me!

tyruma

They are a nightmare, they all tell you something different, if you are a single parent you will get 85% of your childcare costs paid and you will get PLA...i had no problems when i was a single parent, but know i have a partner they do not want to help!
Good luck with your course LauraLou