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Unemployed migrant worker + overpayment?

Hi,

I received an email to send evidence of employment for academic year 2023/24 (not 24/25, which is weird) as migrant worker but due to some serious health issues and a surgery I went thorough in september 2024, I am unemployed (still work cash on hands here and there, but cannot prove it).

Also, I live in the UK for 5 years now and I believed I wouldn’t need to update SFE anymore so I didn't worry about it, but I realised my status didn’t change yet and I received the maintenance loan in October and January.

On top of that, I recently requested my uni to change my study mode to distance learning as I’m not doing well mentally and I don’t want to quit my studies, so I know I won’t be eligible for maintenance loan anyway.

Give the situation, what should I do? I don’t have the payslips requested and absolutely no means to repay the maintenance loan in full, I can barely pay my phone bill. I also don’t want to quit my studies but if the fee loan gets cancelled as well I’ll have no other choice but drop out since SFE hasn’t paid to the university yet. So what would be the next steps or my options? I have no idea what to do and I have no money.

I appreciate any help.

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 1

Leah SLC

Official Rep

Hi there. What course intake are you on (September, January, June etc)? Do you have any evidence you could not work during this time due to your health issues? Thanks, Leah.

Reply 2

drivemed

Original post by Leah SLC

Hi there. What course intake are you on (September, January, June etc)? Do you have any evidence you could not work during this time due to your health issues? Thanks, Leah.

Hi Leah, thank you for your reply. I have my private doctor's invoice (it was paid in my home country). I could also ask my doctor to send me a report about the surgery, however I would prefer not to since I don't feel comfortable in sharing with SFE what kind of procedure it was since it's very embarrassing and private.

It's a very delicate situation and this past few months of recovering took a huge toll on me mentally. I appreciate any guidance!

Reply 3

Leah SLC

Official Rep

Thanks for clarifying. They would require your last payslip (if employed) or invoice and corresponding bank statement (if self-employed) before you stopped working.

If you are no longer employed then we would also require your P45.

We would require a cover letter advising of this so the migrant worker team are aware of the situation.

Since your funding is based on your employment, if we don't receive the evidence then you would go into over-payment for the Maintenance Loan (ML) during the time you weren't working.

Typically we would require a sick note/ payslips showing Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), along with Statement of fitness for work (FIT note) showing the end date or period that you were not fit to work. If self-employed we only need the sick notes.

Thanks, Leah.

Reply 4

drivemed

Original post by Leah SLC

Thanks for clarifying. They would require your last payslip (if employed) or invoice and corresponding bank statement (if self-employed) before you stopped working.
If you are no longer employed then we would also require your P45.
We would require a cover letter advising of this so the migrant worker team are aware of the situation.
Since your funding is based on your employment, if we don't receive the evidence then you would go into over-payment for the Maintenance Loan (ML) during the time you weren't working.
Typically we would require a sick note/ payslips showing Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), along with Statement of fitness for work (FIT note) showing the end date or period that you were not fit to work. If self-employed we only need the sick notes.
Thanks, Leah.

Thank you for your reply. Just to clarify, in case I don't send the evidence since I don't have them, will the tuition loan be cancelled as well? If they do, will I need to apply for a new funding?

Since I have no means to repay the ML it before graduating, what happens if I go over-payment?

Thanks once again

Reply 5

SFE Jason

Official Rep

Original post by drivemed

Thank you for your reply. Just to clarify, in case I don't send the evidence since I don't have them, will the tuition loan be cancelled as well? If they do, will I need to apply for a new funding?
Since I have no means to repay the ML it before graduating, what happens if I go over-payment?
Thanks once again

Hi there,

You'd receive a letter confirming any overpayment and ways to back this back - either an affordable monthly direct debit or repayment plan - but the department would be able to advise on this further.

Depending on the evidence you send, the assessors may advise you apply on a tuition fee loan only application - however, they will review and determine this. Currently evidence takes 6 working days to process from when we receive it. Thanks, Jason