Student Finance and PIP/Special Support loan

Hi, I’m curious to find out something as I’m very confused. Basically I’m in receipt of PIP and on my SFE application I was eligible to apply for “special support loan”. However I’m scrolling through many pages on Google, trying to find out what it is and I can’t seem to find a clear and concise answer.

However my main question I want to find out is, I’m currently in receipt of the maximum maintenance loan. If I was to be approved for the special support loan. Despite receiving the max amount of maintenance loan, will the special support loan be an additional on top up on top of the max amount of maintenance loan? If so how much up to could it be as well?

Thank you

Reply 1

Claire SFE

Official Rep

Original post by JB9343101

Hi, I’m curious to find out something as I’m very confused. Basically I’m in receipt of PIP and on my SFE application I was eligible to apply for “special support loan”. However I’m scrolling through many pages on Google, trying to find out what it is and I can’t seem to find a clear and concise answer.
However my main question I want to find out is, I’m currently in receipt of the maximum maintenance loan. If I was to be approved for the special support loan. Despite receiving the max amount of maintenance loan, will the special support loan be an additional on top up on top of the max amount of maintenance loan? If so how much up to could it be as well?
Thank you

HI there,

Special Support Loan is part of the Maintenance Loan and is awarded to students if you have disability, receive certain benefits or are a lone parent. If you receive PIP and you ticked the option for this on the application, we would need to seen your up to date award letter to confirm you will continue to receive this during your studies. You can upload this online with cover letter explaining you're sending this for the Special Support.

Thanks,
Claire

(edited 1 year ago)

Reply 2

JB9343101

Thank you for your reply. I’m still slightly confused. So I currently receive the max amount of maintenance loan due to household income. But if I’m receiving the max amount of the maintenance loan due to that reason above, how can the special support loan if it’s apart of the maintenance loan contribute if it’s already at the max amount without it? Does the special support loan change the max amount that can be awarded?

So for example the max amount of maintenance loan is £10,000
I receive the full £10,000 due to household income.

Where would the special support loan come into this due to being maxed out for that reason of household income?

Reply 3

Leah SLC

Official Rep

Hi there. Yes, you may be entitled to more funding if your are eligible for the Special Support Loan (SSL), even if you are already receiving the maximum Maintenance Loan (ML).

If eligible, the ML will be made up of the Maintenance Element and the Special Support Element.

The SSL element is deemed non-taxable and is not considered as student income by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).

Thanks, Leah.

Reply 4

JB9343101

Original post by Leah SLC

Hi there. Yes, you may be entitled to more funding if your are eligible for the Special Support Loan (SSL), even if you are already receiving the maximum Maintenance Loan (ML).
If eligible, the ML will be made up of the Maintenance Element and the Special Support Element.
The SSL element is deemed non-taxable and is not considered as student income by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).
Thanks, Leah.

Hi, I wanted to ask what is the amount of special support loan? And what determines the amount you receive?

Reply 5

Claire SFE

Official Rep

Original post by JB9343101

Hi, I wanted to ask what is the amount of special support loan? And what determines the amount you receive?

Special Support is determined based on your household income, your course, where you will be living during term time etc so this isn't something we can confirm amounts on here. The assessor will confirm this once they have received your evidence.

Thanks,
Claire

Reply 6

JB9343101

Original post by Claire SFE

Yes I understand that, however when I mean with regards to amounts. Is there a set amount “up to” with the special support loan?

For example the maintenance loan is up to for example £10,000

But what the special support loan what is that up to?

Reply 7

David SLC

Official Rep

Hi there. £4327 is the maximum amount for the Special Support Loan however as mentioned previously we must take different factors into account including household income when assessing this and cannot confirm how much you will be awarded until this is reviewed by an assessor. Thanks, David

Reply 8

JB9343101

Hi, I’m very confused with my award. And I’m struggling to get through to someone at SFE. Previously before I applied for the SSL, my award was £16,500 (maintenance loan with long course loan) for student studying in London and not living with parents.

However I’ve now currently applied for the SSL, and been awarded the full amount £4327, but my entire loan now is roughly £17,500 - I’m just not sure how that adds up? I was under the impression the SSL adds on to the maintenance loan even if it is apart of it anyway.

So in actual fact despite being awarded £4327 for the special support loan it’s only actually contributing £1000

Because I was under the impression the special support loan, doesn’t affect the amount of maintenance loan your entitled to?

Reply 9

Leah SLC

Official Rep

Hi there, The SSL makes up a part of the Maintenance Loan, it's calculated together. It's essentially the same thing, under a different name as it's only available if you meet a certain criteria. As previously mentioned, the assessor's are the ones who calculate it based on a few different factors. £4327 of your new award is the SSL element of the Maintenance Loan which is deemed non-taxable and is not considered as student income by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP). Thanks, Leah.

Reply 10

Boxy roxy

Original post by Claire SFE

HI there,Special Support Loan is part of the Maintenance Loan and is awarded to students if you have disability, receive certain benefits or are a lone parent. If you receive PIP and you ticked the option for this on the application, we would need to seen your up to date award letter to confirm you will continue to receive this during your studies. You can upload this online with cover letter explaining you're sending this for the Special Support.Thanks,Claire

Hi Claire , special support loan is different to special support grant? And also if the partner of the claimant is also a student and share a child together the claimant is eligible for the special support grant right?

Reply 11

Graeme SFE

Official Rep

Original post by Boxy roxy

Hi there,

We no longer offer a Special Support Grant, but we do offer the Special Support Loan. This is a higher Maintenance Loan.

Yes, if both you and your partner are students and have care of a child you can get this loan that way.

Thanks, Graeme

Reply 12

yeyehec

Original post by JB9343101

Hi, I’m very confused with my award. And I’m struggling to get through to someone at SFE. Previously before I applied for the SSL, my award was £16,500 (maintenance loan with long course loan) for student studying in London and not living with parents.
However I’ve now currently applied for the SSL, and been awarded the full amount £4327, but my entire loan now is roughly £17,500 - I’m just not sure how that adds up? I was under the impression the SSL adds on to the maintenance loan even if it is apart of it anyway.
So in actual fact despite being awarded £4327 for the special support loan it’s only actually contributing £1000
Because I was under the impression the special support loan, doesn’t affect the amount of maintenance loan your entitled to?

Did you receive this £1000 in 1 installment ,as it's meant to be paid in 3 installments on top of your maintenance.I want to know ,Did you get paid in that way ?

Reply 13

David SLC

Official Rep

Original post by yeyehec

Did you receive this £1000 in 1 installment ,as it's meant to be paid in 3 installments on top of your maintenance.I want to know ,Did you get paid in that way ?