Applied in June, but eligibility has still not been approved.
Hi,
My question is about eligibility for student finance. I am a dual national British-Australian. I lived in the UK until the end of 2021, but lived in Australia temporarily from December 2021 - August 2022. I started my PGCE in September 2024. Therefore, I had been living in the UK for 25 months prior to the start of my course, rather than the required 36. I had applied for student finance, but had not had a resolution by the time my course started, and still have not.
SFE have been asking me to prove that my absence was temporary. I have provided all the evidence that they have asked for including:
My British birth certificate and passport
A letter signed by my employer in Australia stating that my employment was temporary
A letter signed by my husband's employer stating that his employment in Australia was temporary
Flight details documenting our return
Bank statements demonstrating that we maintained a British bank account for the duration of our time in Australia, and British financial obligations.
The last thing I heard from SFE was a request for my husband's temporary work contract (provided) and whether we owned a property in the UK while we were away, which we did not.
Can you confirm how I can talk to the assessment team? As stated, I applied in June. It is now November. I have quit my job, and started teacher training. I cannot fund it myself. I need to make a decision about whether I drop out of the course before 1st December when I will be liable for the full course fees.
It seems a failing that I am in this position, having applied close to six months ago.
Student finance processing times are not my responsibility, and if I have to drop out because this has not been resolved because of their processing times I have been totally failed by the service.
My question is about eligibility for student finance. I am a dual national British-Australian. I lived in the UK until the end of 2021, but lived in Australia temporarily from December 2021 - August 2022. I started my PGCE in September 2024. Therefore, I had been living in the UK for 25 months prior to the start of my course, rather than the required 36. I had applied for student finance, but had not had a resolution by the time my course started, and still have not.
SFE have been asking me to prove that my absence was temporary. I have provided all the evidence that they have asked for including:
My British birth certificate and passport
A letter signed by my employer in Australia stating that my employment was temporary
A letter signed by my husband's employer stating that his employment in Australia was temporary
Flight details documenting our return
Bank statements demonstrating that we maintained a British bank account for the duration of our time in Australia, and British financial obligations.
The last thing I heard from SFE was a request for my husband's temporary work contract (provided) and whether we owned a property in the UK while we were away, which we did not.
Can you confirm how I can talk to the assessment team? As stated, I applied in June. It is now November. I have quit my job, and started teacher training. I cannot fund it myself. I need to make a decision about whether I drop out of the course before 1st December when I will be liable for the full course fees.
It seems a failing that I am in this position, having applied close to six months ago.
Student finance processing times are not my responsibility, and if I have to drop out because this has not been resolved because of their processing times I have been totally failed by the service.
Reply 1
Hi there,
Our assessments team is not customer facing and would not be able to take a call. When was the last time you have provided evidence and have you had a response about this evidence or has it not been processed as of yet? Our timescales are quite high just now as we are really busy. The are estimates and subject to change.
Thanks, Drew
Our assessments team is not customer facing and would not be able to take a call. When was the last time you have provided evidence and have you had a response about this evidence or has it not been processed as of yet? Our timescales are quite high just now as we are really busy. The are estimates and subject to change.
Thanks, Drew
Reply 2
Original post
by Drew SLCHi there,
Our assessments team is not customer facing and would not be able to take a call. When was the last time you have provided evidence and have you had a response about this evidence or has it not been processed as of yet? Our timescales are quite high just now as we are really busy. The are estimates and subject to change.
Thanks, Drew
Our assessments team is not customer facing and would not be able to take a call. When was the last time you have provided evidence and have you had a response about this evidence or has it not been processed as of yet? Our timescales are quite high just now as we are really busy. The are estimates and subject to change.
Thanks, Drew
I appreciate this, but it's been going on since June and I have quit my job, and started the course. Are you saying that there is no way to speak to them?
I submitted the most recent evidence 30 minutes after they requested it on 7th November.
Reply 3
Hi there,
Yes there is no way to speak to them as they are not customer facing. What was the evidence that you sent to us on the 7th of November and how did you send this to us?
Thanks, Drew
Yes there is no way to speak to them as they are not customer facing. What was the evidence that you sent to us on the 7th of November and how did you send this to us?
Thanks, Drew
Reply 4
A copy of my husband's contract of employment in Australia stating it was a fixed term contract and therefore temporary. I submitted it online as per the instructions I was given.
Reply 5
Hi there,
Yes this type of evidence can be uploaded from your online account. It is taking approximately 28 working days to process.
Thanks, Drew
Yes this type of evidence can be uploaded from your online account. It is taking approximately 28 working days to process.
Thanks, Drew
Reply 6
Ok, but if I haven't heard from them by the 1st December I have to quit my course as I cannot fund it myself. Are you saying that there is no way that I can have some kind of indication from SFE about my eligibility, given I applied in June?
Reply 7
Hi there,
We would not advise on your eligibility until the evidence has been processed.
Thanks, Drew
We would not advise on your eligibility until the evidence has been processed.
Thanks, Drew
Reply 8
It just seems unfair that through no fault of my own I face having to quit my course, and pay half my course fee myself because SFE won't talk to me and have taken since June to process my evidence and reach a decision. Is there no way that the assessment team can prioritise my case given the tightness of the deadline and the fact that I have been waiting for approaching 6 months?
Reply 9
Hi there,
We are unable to high level this type of evidence unfortunately.
Thanks, Drew
We are unable to high level this type of evidence unfortunately.
Thanks, Drew
Reply 10
What is the complaints protocol please?
Reply 11
Hi there,
You can email your complaint to us. You should include;
Your Customer Reference Number (CRN).
Your date of birth.
Your full name and address (this should be the same as the one we hold in our systems for you).
Details of what happened and when – include everything you want us to consider or investigate.
What you think we should do to put it right.
A contact number and a convenient time to call you.
[email protected]
Once received you would get an acknowledgement email within 5 working days and the full complaint would be processed in 30 working days.
Thanks, Drew
You can email your complaint to us. You should include;
Your Customer Reference Number (CRN).
Your date of birth.
Your full name and address (this should be the same as the one we hold in our systems for you).
Details of what happened and when – include everything you want us to consider or investigate.
What you think we should do to put it right.
A contact number and a convenient time to call you.
[email protected]
Once received you would get an acknowledgement email within 5 working days and the full complaint would be processed in 30 working days.
Thanks, Drew
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