SF demand for grant 'overpayment'

vigman

My daughter has just received a letter stating there has been a grant overpayment of c £3k for her final year 12/13.

The last year's calculations were based on me having to take early retirement and electing for that year's very low joint income to be taken into account.

The grant amount was paid in May 2013, just before she left university.

We will contact them tomorrow, but are extremely worried as we could not make a payment of this amount.

All our calculations were based on the requested P60s.

Please can anyone advise how to handle this?

TIA
Vigman

vigman

I have just looked over the paperwork and the situation appears to be:

4 x loan payments were made in 12/13, and then the grant that was claimed due to our loss of income was also paid!

SU surely should have realised that they had already made loan payments and not have then paid the grant amount as well (or converted the loan amount into a grant)?

There is also confusion over exactly what was due in total as my daughter was paid a Disabled Student Allowance.

Vigman

amiehall

Just to clarify, your daughter has left uni now and needs no further student funding for another year etc.?

You don't seem clear on whether there has been an overpayment or not. If there has been an overpayment, regardless of who is to blame, it does need to be repaid

If that's the case that she has had an overpayment and isn't returning to study anytime soon then there isn't a problem at all. Presumably she's received a letter asking for repayment. If she calls the number on the letter, they will accept a repayment of as little as £5 a month and she will get no hassle while she pays at this rate.

So don't worry about being able to repay the money, your daughter will have literally years if she needs it. First thing to do is establish whether there has actually been an overpayment.

amiehall

Oh I cross posted, it seems the overpayment really exists. In that case, I'm really sorry but as I said, they don't really care who is at fault for causing it, it needs to be repaid.

Your daughter should set up a payment plan and they will leave her alone to get on with her life

vigman

Thanks, Amiehall

Yes my daughter left Uni last July (2013)

This has only just happened this evening when the letter was opened, so we are trying to work through the history of payments.

If their payment schedule matches what has actually been paid by SF, then they have paid a loan for the year 12/13 AND a grant (and the DSA payments)

Surely, if this is their error, then repayment can't be enforced?

However, if it can be enforced, an option of £5 per month or similar would put an end to the current distress being caused (to daughter and parents!)

Vigman

amiehall

It's not weird to have a grant and a loan. I am paid both. You need to work out what year's earnings they assessed? Did you ask for a current year assessment? Then how much you earned for that year. Then write down the amount of loan and grant paid and see if they match up. If you need some help, then post your earnings and the payment amounts back here.

You should just forget the idea that if it's their fault, they will forget about it because they won't. Part of the t&cs your daughter signed when taking on the finance includes accepting that she will return any overpayment.

vigman

Thank you again.

Yes we applied for current year earnings assessment and from our submitted P60s:

Gross Joint Pay 12/13 £26,304.00
Tax: £ 2,055.60

Net Joint Pay £24,248.40

Payments stated as due in current letter from Student Finance (not yet checked against bank statement credits)

Maintenance Loan £1089
Maintenance Loan £1089
Maintenance Loan £1122
Grant £309
Maintenance Loan £1129
Grant £2675
Grant £300 (special grant for finishing an Arts & Crafts course)

Total £7713


Grant Overpayment 12/13 = £2984

Tuition Fees = £3465
Maintenance Loan £3300

Thanks again

Vigman

amiehall

That's your whole earnings for the year?! You're sure?

If that's true, then there's definitely been some sort of mistake. You get max grant if your earnings are under £25k and you're just over, so when they got your P60s there would have been a small repayment due. However, £2984 is the maximum grant entitlement for a continuing student in 12/13.

Your daughter needs to get onto student finance and get this investigated. It is a definite mistake if those are your entire earnings. For perspective, to legitimately lose all your grant would need earnings in excess of £50k.

Taiko

Indeed.

Can you just confirm whether or not you provided SFE with the P60's for year ending April 2013?

vigman

Thanks everyone.

Yes, I photocopied the P60's ending 2013 and these were the ones submitted with the appropriate form.

Two from pensions for me and one for my wife coming to the totals I have given.

The year before I was earning £48k and my wife £7.8k

There was no interest on savings as they were in accounts that only paid the interest at the end of fixed periods.

We will get on to SFE asap!

Vigman

vigman

........just been on to SFE and they had not received the latest P60s (which I sent by recorded delivery 20/5/2013!).

I am now writing a covering letter with further copies of the P60s.

Thanks to everyone for their help and advice, I will report back when the issue is settled!

Vigman