ESA has been deducted 3 weeks before student Loan is due?

daniblore

Hi all I was wondering if anybody could help me. I'm studying at the Open University this year starting in October and there's now a new change where you can receive a part-time Maintenence grant/loan if you study at the OU. I'm not due to be paid it until the 15th of October. I receive ESA and I am in the support group( i get the highest amount of ESA) and have been for years. I also receive enhanced rate PIP. I let the DWP about the change in my income 2 weeks ago and that I would be receiving the grant on the 15th of Oct and sent them copies of my award letter from student finance. I thought I was doing the right thing by letting them know early so I wouldn't get overpaid. Received a letter yesterday (18th of sept) stating from the 6th of September I am to receive £80 less every two weeks which means I'll be £160 down until I get my grant. Can they do this? I'm going to be struggling so much until my grant comes in and I phoned DWP up this morning as I was very upset and was not told they would deduct my ESA before my grant even comes in! The woman said that they start the deductions in September even though my course doesn't start until October! I'm going to be struggling a lot now and I have no idea what to do. The woman on the phone lied to me a few weeks ago when I declared my change in circumstance and she told me my ESA would only start being deducted once my loan comes in.

calcotti

Does the student loan documentation have anything on it that suggests it covers a period beginning in September?

TELLIT01

The dates the Student Loan are taken into account are fixed around the University term dates, not necessarily the actual date the individual course starts. Unfortunately the person you spoke to first time around either didn't know her facts or wilfully mislead you. There is little you can do about the money being taken into account but you could make a formal complaint if you can remember the date and approximate time you spoke to the original person.

daniblore

calcotti wrote: »

Does the student loan documentation have anything on it that suggests it covers a period beginning in September?

Nope, the course begins on the 6th of October on and it says I'll be receiving my grant/loan on the 15th:( they need to wait for the Open University to confirm that I'm actually studying and have started for 2 weeks before they pay me.

daniblore

TELLIT01 wrote: »

The dates the Student Loan are taken into account are fixed around the University term dates, not necessarily the actual date the individual course starts. Unfortunately the person you spoke to first time around either didn't know her facts or wilfully mislead you. There is little you can do about the money being taken into account but you could make a formal complaint if you can remember the date and approximate time you spoke to the original person.

wow so the woman on the phone had definitely given me the wrong information. I even expressed my concerns with her and she reassured me that the money wouldn't start to be deducted until after I received my grant. How do i go about making a complaint?