Student Finance Overpayment! Advice Needed

2

Hi everyone,

I’m hoping for some advice or to hear from anyone who’s been in a similar situation.

Student Finance England told me I’d been overpaid by £11,500 because of issues with how my parents’ self-employed income was assessed. They’ve now taken away my entitlement for the last three years, which feels really unfair.

I’ve already appealed, sent in all the evidence they asked for, and SFE confirmed they’ve got everything on file. It’s been about a month now, and I’m still waiting to hear the outcome.

It’s such a huge amount of money, and I’m honestly so stressed while waiting. Has anyone else had this happen where SFE reassessed due to self-employment income? How long did it take to get a decision, and were they reasonable about the repayment? I am also worried as I am due to move to Australia on a working holiday visa, if it comes back I do in fact owe this amount I have no issue with setting up a payment plan but the fact it is going to be hanging over my head is awful and I’m worried it will affect my credit, etc in future, plus I won’t be able to pay much towards in it the coming year as I plan to travel around for most of it which I hope won’t be an issue.

Any advice, experiences, or reassurance would mean a lot. I just want to know what to expect while I wait this out.

Thanks!

Reply 1

Stephen SLC

Official Rep

7

Hi there, when did you submit the appeal exactly, and since then what was the last correspondence you had received from us? Stephen

Reply 2

discredited-flow

OP

2

Original post

by Stephen SLC

Hi there, when did you submit the appeal exactly, and since then what was the last correspondence you had received from us? Stephen

Hello,

I submitted the appeal on the 15th of August, I also contacted my local MP for support and they sent an email the following week, I was told that I thought receive the outcome of the appeal today but I am yet to receive anything, so I am going to call up later😀Thank you.

Reply 3

discredited-flow

OP

2

Last correspondence from you guys was the 12th of September

Reply 4

Leah SLC

Official Rep

7

Hi there. What correspondence did you receive on the 12th September from us? Thanks, Leah.

Reply 5

discredited-flow

OP

2

It was an email to apologise for the wait times!! Called today and they said I would hear back before the 9th october

Reply 6

discredited-flow

OP

2

I think what has happened is I first started University in September of 22, so my sfe was based off the 20/21, one of my parents fell ill so i filled out a CYI to have my loan reassessed for the 22/23 year, now my parents have confirmed that income and it didn’t drop by 15% so now my whole 3 years have been recalculated and I should’ve only received the minimum according to student finance, but my overall household income for the past 3 years has been under £35,000, I’m not sure if i should send in some more recent tax returns or wait till the outcome? so will they reasses my whole 3 years when I appeal so will it have fresh eyes over it please ? Sorry about all the questions it’s just causing me a great deal of stress x

Reply 7

Graeme SFE

Official Rep

8

Original post

by discredited-flow

I think what has happened is I first started University in September of 22, so my sfe was based off the 20/21, one of my parents fell ill so i filled out a CYI to have my loan reassessed for the 22/23 year, now my parents have confirmed that income and it didn’t drop by 15% so now my whole 3 years have been recalculated and I should’ve only received the minimum according to student finance, but my overall household income for the past 3 years has been under £35,000, I’m not sure if i should send in some more recent tax returns or wait till the outcome? so will they reasses my whole 3 years when I appeal so will it have fresh eyes over it please ? Sorry about all the questions it’s just causing me a great deal of stress x

Yes, that's right - in cases like yours the assessment teams can remove all of the income-assessed part of your Maintenance Loan, which is why the overpayment can be so large.

However, if they then receive acceptable evidence to confirm your parents' income then can look to reinstate you entitlement. Although - based on what you've said - it could be that we've made a mistake with your entitlement: if that's the case we're sorry about this.

One last thing, where was it you saw that an update was expected around the 9th, is this on your account?

Thanks, Graeme

(edited 2 months ago)

Reply 8

discredited-flow

OP

2

Thank you!! I’ve had an update and they have reassed my first year of university and the overpayment has now gone down to £6000 ish, I’m assuming they will also be recalculating my second and third year and I will get those in due course? Thank you

Reply 9

discredited-flow

OP

2

also I will told over the phone it would be by the 9th

Reply 10

Leah SLC

Official Rep

7

If you have had an update already then it sound like it's maybe been processed quicker than the original timescale. It's hard to say if you will receive another update as we can't access accounts here. You might be best contacting us directly to check if the other years have been reassessed. Thanks, Leah.

Student Finance Overpayment! Advice Needed

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