Think I lost out on maintenance grant for the year 2011-2012

ammar64

Hi guys,

I've currently just finished the second year of my degree and received around £1100 maintenance grant for my second year of the course. My parents combined income was around £32k. I did not receive any maintenance grant for some reason for the first year of my course even though I sent PFF2 forms for both of my parents and supplied evidence of both of their incomes which combined to make £37.5k. I rang earlier on that year and the advisor said that I was above the threshold, but I definitely was not as I've just found both my parents p60s for year 2009-2010 and they combine to make £37.5k. Is it too late to receive the maintenance grant from first year? I really need the money to pay this years accommodation as I am on a 12 month let. Is £37k above the threshold?!

Thanks!

malc_b

Do a google for "student finance 2010" or whenever you started. This will give you, among others

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/StudentFinance/DG_183342

In guide to financial support for new full-time students it gives the rules for calculating the grant so you can see if they have got it wrong. You'll have to contact student loans to sort it of course.

BTW if your parent's income goes down you can ask to have the loan/grant assessed on the tax current year (after April of course) rather than the previous. Also, pension contributions can be used by your parents to reduce their income if that helps.

ammar64

malc_b wrote: »

Do a google for "student finance 2010" or whenever you started. This will give you, among others


In guide to financial support for new full-time students it gives the rules for calculating the grant so you can see if they have got it wrong. You'll have to contact student loans to sort it of course.

BTW if your parent's income goes down you can ask to have the loan/grant assessed on the tax current year (after April of course) rather than the previous. Also, pension contributions can be used by your parents to reduce their income if that helps.

Unfortunately the calculator for 2011-2013 doesn't seem to work as it had been archived. I used the new calculator for a rough average 2013-2014 and the grant comes to £936. I've just recently got of the phone to student finance and told the advisor my situation again. Only this time I've been told that it is too late to get reassessed as I could only do something 9 months into the course during my first year. Well I rang several times that year and I was told I was below the threshold, I was never told I could be reassessed?! Is it genuinely too late? I've just emailed their complaints department as this is just unfair. When I tried they wouldn't help and now that they want to help it's too late

devildog

I believe that you should have received a partial grant for the first year.
The total grant allowed was £2906, which would be decreased by £1 for every £5 of income between £25-£34,000 and then reduced further by £1 for every £15.17 between £34.000 and your parent's actual income.

malc is correct that you can ask to have a current year assessment if your parent's income goes down, but is has to be a reduction of at least 15%.

I don't know what rights you have with trying to re-coup the lost grant, hopefully by submitting a complaint they will at least look at your case.

Taiko

SFE have discretion, but any changes should really be within 9 months of the start of the relevant academic year.

Write a letter, provide evidence, and see what they say.

Voyager2002

Taiko wrote: »

SFE have discretion, but any changes should really be within 9 months of the start of the relevant academic year.

Write a letter, provide evidence, and see what they say.

In this case it seems that they made a mistake in their calculations, so there ought not to be any time limit on correcting the error.

Taiko

Voyager2002 wrote: »

In this case it seems that they made a mistake in their calculations, so there ought not to be any time limit on correcting the error.

I think the wording of the regulations is a bit ambiguous on this, but I agree that they should. Pretty sure they will to be honest, but it might have to be escalated when it really shouldn't be.

ammar64

Thanks for getting back to me guys, I'm awaiting the response to my complaint about the situation. They have up to 15 days to reply, so I think it's gonna be a tedious long back and forth thing. Will keep you updated!