Student can’t afford to pay rent after loan is halved
ANXIOUS TIME AS HE FACES 40-DAY WAIT TO SEE IF HE CAN GET TOP-UP
A NOTTINGHAM student has been left feeling “concerned and anxious” after his loan funding was halved – meaning he can’t afford his rent and has little money for food.
Matt Lee, 19, received three letters in the space of three months this year stating his student loan was half of what it should be and when he raised this with the Student Loans Company, he was told his “information was still being processed.”
This week the Nottingham Trent University student received another letter stating his funding would only be around £4,000 and not the £8,000 he was hoping to receive to cover his accommodation and provide him with enough for food and other necessities.
The latest form he’s been asked to fill in by the Student Loans Company could take up to 40 days to be processed.
Matt, who has just gone into his second year studying journalism - and is from Chelmsford, Essex - said: “I got three of the same letters in the space of three months saying I would be getting £4,000 and when I queried this, I was getting passed on by different people and not getting anywhere. I was told this was the case because my information was still being processed.
“There were some forms I had to fill in after that which didn’t ask for my financial information or my parents’ so I assumed it was the start of a process to get it resolved. After all that, I was told this week that I needed to provide another tax return and for some reason, the option for me to upload this online wasn’t available so I’ve had to pay to post that to Student Finance.
“I’ve been told that can take 40 days to process now so it’s a waiting game that means I can’t afford my rent and really need to budget my food tightly.”
Nottingham Trent University (NTU) have contacted Matt’s landlord to arrange a delayed payment of his rent, but he must still pay as much as he can this month.
Matt added: “The university have said that in a worst-case scenario, I can access its student hardship fund too. It’s been so frustrating though because I don’t know what I can do with a loan this small. “There have been instances where I’ve had to miss out on birthday celebrations for friends because I can’t afford going out. I’m feeling concerned and anxious and times are difficult enough at the moment.” A spokesperson for the Students Loans Company said: “If a student has not sent evidence that has been requested then they may not immediately receive their full entitlement.
“In these cases, a standard funding package is made available with a topup payment made as soon as their full application is processed. In this case, Matt’s application was correctly processed and he was awarded standard funding for the start of term. SLC requested financial evidence from his parents to determine his extra entitlement. Once we have received this, and it has been fully processed and eligibility confirmed, he will receive a top-up of his entitlement.”
Nottingham Trent University have been approached for comment but had not responded by the time this edition went to press.
I don’t know what I can do with a loan this small... times are difficult enough at the moment
Matt Lee