Student loans Company enquiry, withdraw course,new course

mogimorgan

Attended Uni.of Huds from Sep '06 - Jan 07 and left before finishing the year. I now owe my local eduction authority 1120 for over paid mantaniance grant, e.g Jan-easter. But needed it for living cost as couldn't return home till april. I am not disputing this.

However I which to apply for again for Sep08 entry, and I am wondering how this will affect me. I cannot afford to pay this back, the 1120 at all. Anyone know were I stand.

THANKS!

The_One_Who

I think if you withdraw early then you do have to pay back the money, but if you contact them and say you cannot afford to pay it back they might be able to sort out a repayment plan or something for you.

The situation for further funding is a bit different in England and Wales (I'm in Scotland) do I don't really know much about it. I think you are allowed an extra year, so you should get funded. As I say, I don't know much about it.

roxalana

I think it will be worth checking with the SLC as it depends what kind of demand for payment it is.

In terms of your funding for the future course, as the rules stand (assuming no further changes from the government) you should be fine as you are allowed 1 year false start (a part year counts as 1 year in terms of your new funding) which will mean you may have to self fund any repeat years (hopefully you won't need that though).

If it is just normal repayment out of your salary that started the April after your course your income during your studies will mean you won't repay whilst studying.

If they ahve demanded the money back because you weren't due it (kind of an immediate payment type thing, then contact the SLC as you can't get funding for the new course if you are in arrears.

truthseeker_4

I'm from England and I've suspended studies this year, and going back next year, i am well confused about what i owe/don't owe. When you phone they tell you different stuff, then sent me a leaflet saying something different again

Roxalana, when you say you can't get new funding if in arrears...so say i owe some percentage (or all, not sure!!) of the tuition fees for the year i suspended early from, will i not be able to get any more funding for next year until i have paid all this back?!

rainbowtrout

I've had an overpayments from the SLC before and it is an immediate demand type thing (bit unfair when it's a year down the line and you've already spent the money!). However the university offered to help me out, you could contact the university you are going to attend to see if they have any hardship funding.

Sol00

mogimorgan wrote: »

Attended Uni.of Huds from Sep '06 - Jan 07 and left before finishing the year. I now owe my local eduction authority 1120 for over paid mantaniance grant, e.g Jan-easter. But needed it for living cost as couldn't return home till april. I am not disputing this.

However I which to apply for again for Sep08 entry, and I am wondering how this will affect me. I cannot afford to pay this back, the 1120 at all. Anyone know were I stand.

THANKS!

Hi. I used to work for SLC so I'll try and help.

As a previous poster had said you are entitled to a 'false start', whereby you can repeat a year for whatever reason and receive funding for it. When a student re-applies, the LA will adjust your Maintenance Grant for that year ie. if you were overpaid your MG by £500 in 07/08, you would have £500 taken off your MG entitlement for 08/09. This is almost always how it works, but I would suggest you check with your LA to be sure.

imported_goldie

Sol00 do you know if you are allowed to keep the maintenance loan (not the grant) for the year if you defer in January?

mogimorgan

Sol00 wrote: »

Hi. I used to work for SLC so I'll try and help.

As a previous poster had said you are entitled to a 'false start', whereby you can repeat a year for whatever reason and receive funding for it. When a student re-applies, the LA will adjust your Maintenance Grant for that year ie. if you were overpaid your MG by £500 in 07/08, you would have £500 taken off your MG entitlement for 08/09. This is almost always how it works, but I would suggest you check with your LA to be sure.

Thanks for that. I was "apartantly" overpaid 1120!!! Somehow anyway. I think it was because the official last day of recorded attendance at the uni was 2nd december, even tho i didnt leave until later. theres noway I could pay this all back, nor would I be able to attend uni if I didnt get the full mantance grant as I would struggle with the full amount taken off!!

So if i am entilled to the full grant of 2835, they will take the full amount off the first year? So because I withdraw from my first year, I can't realy go back can i? lol mental. Surely they could share the 1120 over the 3 years so it doesn't affect it too much?

Yes its a final demand immediate repayment to the LEA etc etc.

bestpud

imported_goldie wrote: »

Sol00 do you know if you are allowed to keep the maintenance loan (not the grant) for the year if you defer in January?

Going on what mogimorgan has posted, I'd say not.

You posted about this a while ago - have you not contacted your LEA to ask for definite yet?

imported_goldie

I got the impression mogimorgan was talking about the maintenace grant which is not payable back, I am talking about the maintenance loan (which you can have as well as a grant)and you pay back when you leave Uni.

bestpud

Ah, yes I see what you mean.

However, it is still money that is paid for people who are studying. If a student stops studying then they are not entitled to benefit from the heavily subsidised loan, surely?

You really need to ring your LEA and ask them.