Overpayment

Sophis

Hi

Just wondering if anyone can help, I'm currently at uni and relying on student finance last year I was told that I was entitled to all grants and they paid them to me, my partners estimated income was £15900 yet he earned £17500 (due to a late pay rise which should have been given to him by his employer 2 years previously, but was added to his wages last year) which is the only thing that has changed. Now for him earning that £1600 extra they have said I have a £6500 overpayment, I expected them to say I had an equivalent overpayment, but even after they received my partners P60, they sent a reassement saying I was still entitled to it, now they have received the finalisation form their saying I'm not entitled to it, I really don't know what to do as my partners wages just cover the bills, so we relied on the grants to buy food, pay childcare, travel expenses etc. Now they are taking everything away from me in overpayment and I get just £1000 a term in student loan which doesn't cover everything, although they assess I need £3400ish in grants to be able to live, I can't have them because of the overpayment. I feel the overpayment is their fault as we sent them everything as soon as they asked for it, they even reassessed it after receiving my partners P60, but it has taken them till December this year to decide I'm not after all entitled to anything. Does anyone know if there is anything I can do, as this is putting us under serious financial strain.

Thanks Debbie

nimbo

Unfortunately there is nasty fine print that allows them to take back any overpayment when they discover them... (They did it to me for fee etc in April of my second year, seriously stressing me through my placement)...

Do call the fiance office at the university, as you may be eligible to apply for the hardship fund (or access to learning fund, or whatever your university call it)...

Look on the turn to us website as there may be grants that you can get from them... (Some may only be £200 - £300 each, but they may help)...

At my university to get the grants awarded by the university is only given the those who get the maintenance grant - (it's then paid in January / April)... Is this going to affect this eligibility for you also (for your universities version of this)?

Are you already applying for the childcare element of the loans? (They don't cover 100% but it may help if you haven't already got it)...

Did the letter give details of any way your allowed to appeal? If so follow it...

Good luck, and hopefully someone will be able to come along with some help for any appeal...

nimbo

Are you able to get any support from WTC, or FTC? Or even housing benefit? I know people on my course get some elements of support... If you haven't already it might be worth looking into...

Sophis

Thank you for your reply, will have to look into housing benefit as we where receiving this before I went to uni, but hb stopped this because of the amount I was awarded by student finance, not sure if we will be able to back claim due to student finance overpayment, bit definitely something I could look into. Thanks again