Will there be time?

greyskymorning

Hello fellow StudentSavers!

I have a few questions and SAAS are being about as much use as a chocolate fireguard here!

My partner and I are both going into higher education this September. We will be moving in together on a permanent basis this July. We have a flat bought. I've been trying to fill out the SAAS application, but it's extremely complicated given our situation. We currently live apart, and won't be able to move in together until July. In order to be exempt from parent's contribution, however, we have to be living together when we make an application.

I've spoken to SAAS about this a bit and the advice they've given to me doesn't make much sense. They told me to fill it out anyway and then amend it later on, but won't that overcomplicate matters?

Regardless, the question I've been pressing them with is would we still be guaranteed to receive our loan/tuition fees if we waited until July to fill out the applications, when my partner and I will be in our home permanently? I don't want to leave it too late, so advice would be appreciated.

Another question is I was checking things on the SAAS website, and according to their budgeter if I receive the maximum loan amount (£4510, I think) then I will receive £150 a week total living costs, but this is what their FAQ states about payment:

The amount of student loan you can get for living costs varies depending on your circumstances. The loan covers 52 weeks from the first day of the academic year of your course.

I may be being a daft lassie, but doesn't that mean the loan would be paid out in 52 installments rather than 30 which the £150 a week suggests?

Help!!!!!!

Lokolo

If you leave it until July to fill in the info you will not get your loan on time.

What they are saying is fill it in now, get everything sorted with the basic sides, setting up everything etc. then when it comes to July/Aug fill in a change of circumstances form and your money will change to whatever.

The installments come in 3, Sep, Jan and Easter. And the £150 is related to 30 weeks. The whole loan amount if for the whole year. Basically in the whole of the year you will get £4510, simple as.

The £4510 will be split up into 3 payments, like 33% 33% 34%.

laurenzo99

are you studying in Scotland?

I personally didn't apply to the July before my first year and i was sorted in time.

greyskymorning

laurenzo99 wrote: »

are you studying in Scotland?

I personally didn't apply to the July before my first year and i was sorted in time.

Yes I am a Scottish national studying in Scotland, and my partner is a N.I. national studying in Scotland.

I think I should apply before July to be on the safeside, and I think it should be okay, but I don't want to leave it too late and have to rely on overdrafts to see us through until the payment goes in! More advice would be helpful, if there's anyone else that can give it.

Thanks to Lokolo and lorenzo99 so far.

laurenzo99

Just to add that what Lokolo said about the installments is incorrect- this was how it was paid pre Sept 2007.

It is now paid MONTHLY (first one just after registration) and then start of the each month, with last payment in May.

Don't have documents at hand but pretty sure your total loan is split into 10 equal amount- with double being paid in Sept (date dependent upon registration) and then rest accross October- May.

What uni are you studying at?

Lokolo

laurenzo99 wrote: »

Just to add that what Lokolo said about the installments is incorrect- this was how it was paid pre Sept 2007.

It is now paid MONTHLY (first one just after registration) and then start of the each month, with last payment in May.

Don't have documents at hand but pretty sure your total loan is split into 10 equal amount- with double being paid in Sept (date dependent upon registration) and then rest accross October- May.

What uni are you studying at?

You would think I was wrong but I got paid student loan this year of which it was 3 installments....

[edit] proof its paid in once at the start of each term, i.e. 3 times a year:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/StudentFinance/FinanceForNewStudents/DG_069896

"Student Finance Direct will usually pay the money into your bank account in three instalments - one at the start of each term."

laurenzo99

Hmmm thats strange, see quote from SAAS

"For the majority of students, we will pay any support due on a monthly basis"

I do appolgise Lokolo, as evidently some students are still paid in three installments. I simply thought that the WHOLE system had been switched since everyone i know at uni gets paid monthly. Yet as the website states the "majority" do so obviously is dependednt on something

Maybe it depends if you are scottish citizen and whether you study at a scottish uni?

The_One_Who

In Scotland the loan gets paid monthly now to "help budgeting and be more like a wage" or so I've heard. It only covers September to June but is meant to last you the whole year. I think if you are a Scottish student studying outside Scotland then the loan is still paid in three installments though.

I'm not sure about your situation, but surely if your circumstances change (ie, you start to live together) then your payments should be re-assessed.

Lokolo

The_One_Who wrote: »

In Scotland the loan gets paid monthly now to "help budgeting and be more like a wage" or so I've heard. It only covers September to June but is meant to last you the whole year.

I'm not sure about your situation, but surely if your circumstances change (ie, you start to live together) then your payments should be re-assessed.

There we go laurenzo ^^^^

laurenzo99

how confusing!

Anyway it will state on your awards certficate how and when your payments will be made.

I would say apply earlier rather than later, just incase

oldsongsnewstereo

Can't remember the exact details of my SAAS loan but your correct in saying that it's monthly. It's paid out on either the 5th or the 7th (can't remember which) of every month for 9 months as this is the same date that payment for acc is required at most Scottish university owned halls. Your first installment will be double what you'll recieve every month afterwards to help you buy textbooks and booze during freshers! I'm a Scottish national studing within Scotland to. It's different south of the border.

About amending your details: Fill out the form with your current details and send it away to SAAS. It should be very simple to phone them up at a later stage to change these. I had to change my details when I switched my UCAS from an English to a Scottish uni and it was done within 5 minutes over the phone.

Hope you enjoy your studies.