SFE term 3 payment reduced by 1.5k

Really hoping anyone could help, give some advice or even explain the situation a little.

Less than a month before my third installment of this year's maintenance loan, I've been notified that my maintenance loan has been reduced by 1500 pounds due to new information provided by my sibling. He applied last week for his first year of university, and I had applied for this year's maintenance loan last April, believing I would receive 1.5k more than I'm apparently going to, and kept my hours at my part time job as they were and have budgeted this whole year accordingly.

I'm now in an incredibly difficult position as I don't have enough to cover rent as I've spent a considerable chunk of my savings on driving lessons, as I've spent a whole year believing I would be receiving enough to cover my expenses, when it turns out that this is not the case.

I've called and emailed. Calls have gone around in circles, with the person on the telephone not appearing to understand the situation despite many attempts to explain, and then aggressively directing me to email. When I emailed, I received an automated response which directed me to call the helpline.

I really don't understand what's going on, I'm under incredible stress due to my financial situation and abominably little notice I've been given of the reduction in my payments, and I'm wondering why this has happened and if it has happened to anybody else.

Thank you for any advice.

Reply 1

Universities Forum Helper, Clearing and Applications Advisor

When you applied last April did you use a CYI form for your household income to be based on a later tax year?

Generally your funding for this year is based on household income in 22/23 and your siblings application for next year will be based on household income in 23/24.

Is there a chance that your sibling has incorrectly applied for funding for the current academic year and not for 25/26?

Reply 2

Leah SLC

Official Rep

Hi there. It's difficult to say what has cause this without looking into your application. As PQ mentioned your funding for this year is based on the 22/23 tax year income, and your brothers application for next year will be based on 23/24 tax year.

Has he indicated anything on his application relating to receiving any other types of income? It could potentially be a mistake he has made on the application.

Also current year income assessments can affect the amount you can receive, has this ever been applied for? Thanks, Leah.

Reply 3

backstreetboyz

Original post

by PQ

When you applied last April did you use a CYI form for your household income to be based on a later tax year?
Generally your funding for this year is based on household income in 22/23 and your siblings application for next year will be based on household income in 23/24.
Is there a chance that your sibling has incorrectly applied for funding for the current academic year and not for 25/26?

I don't think so, my mother just sent her financial information in. Would my brother applying for finance for the wrong year affect my payment for the current year?

Reply 4

backstreetboyz

Original post

by Leah SLC

Hi there. It's difficult to say what has cause this without looking into your application. As PQ mentioned your funding for this year is based on the 22/23 tax year income, and your brothers application for next year will be based on 23/24 tax year.
Has he indicated anything on his application relating to receiving any other types of income? It could potentially be a mistake he has made on the application.
Also current year income assessments can affect the amount you can receive, has this ever been applied for? Thanks, Leah.

He says he hasn't, is there a way for me to check this to be sure? I don't think I've ever applied for CYI assessments. I'd really appreciate any help with my application if you could look into it whenever possible, thank you

Reply 5

Drew SLC

Official Rep

HI there,

To check what academic year your brother has applied for then all he would need to do is log into his online account and check this. When you called us did they give you a reason as to why it was changed and can you also confirm who they told you to email?

Thanks, Drew

Reply 6

backstreetboyz

Original post

by Drew SLC

HI there,
To check what academic year your brother has applied for then all he would need to do is log into his online account and check this. When you called us did they give you a reason as to why it was changed and can you also confirm who they told you to email?
Thanks, Drew

Hi, I will ask him to do that, he made his application a month ago so I didn’t know it was possible for him to apply this year or that that would affect my application. When I called they simply said it was due to new information my brother gave them and didn’t seem to know exactly what it was, suggesting it could have been an increase in my mothers wage this April, although I thought that my SFE for this may would depend on my mothers wage for 22/23. He’s working to save up for uni, it seems unlikely that that could that affect my maintenance loan, but could that be it?

Reply 7

Drew SLC

Official Rep

Hi there,

If your mums wage increased in April that would not matter for your application for the 2023/24 academic year. If when you called it was something to do with your brother then I would advise you to calls us again with both of you there so we can access both accounts and check to see what has happened. We are open Monday to Friday 8am to 7pm.

0300 100 0607

Thanks, Drew

Reply 8

backstreetboyz

Original post

by Drew SLC

Hi there,
If your mums wage increased in April that would not matter for your application for the 2023/24 academic year. If when you called it was something to do with your brother then I would advise you to calls us again with both of you there so we can access both accounts and check to see what has happened. We are open Monday to Friday 8am to 7pm.
0300 100 0607
Thanks, Drew

hi, just to clarify i meant the application for 2024/2025 not 2023/2024, i was talking about my mothers wages for 2022/2023

Reply 9

SFE Jason

Official Rep

Original post

by backstreetboyz

hi, just to clarify i meant the application for 2024/2025 not 2023/2024, i was talking about my mothers wages for 2022/2023

Thanks. If you want to contact us as above so we can check this and further assist you. Thanks, Jason

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