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Thousands wait for student money | Thousands wait for student money |
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Tens of thousands of English students may still be waiting for maintenance grants, latest figures suggest. | Tens of thousands of English students may still be waiting for maintenance grants, latest figures suggest. |
The Student Loans Company said that as of 18 October, 985,000 had applied for support, up 9.1% on last year. | The Student Loans Company said that as of 18 October, 985,000 had applied for support, up 9.1% on last year. |
Some 844,000 had been approved - though 39,000 were interim assessments - while some 70,000 were still being processed. | Some 844,000 had been approved - though 39,000 were interim assessments - while some 70,000 were still being processed. |
The National Union of Students has called for the student loans chief executive to resign and opposition politicians are also critical. | The National Union of Students has called for the student loans chief executive to resign and opposition politicians are also critical. |
In a statement, the SLC said: "We are very sorry that some students have had difficulties with their student finance applications this year and we are working very hard to resolve those issues as quickly as possible." | In a statement, the SLC said: "We are very sorry that some students have had difficulties with their student finance applications this year and we are working very hard to resolve those issues as quickly as possible." |
Some 698,000 (83%) of those approved had received a first payment, its figures showed. | Some 698,000 (83%) of those approved had received a first payment, its figures showed. |
On the face of it, this left about 146,000 whose applications had been approved but who had not received a payment. | On the face of it, this left about 146,000 whose applications had been approved but who had not received a payment. |
But people can apply for different things: a maintenance grant, maintenance loan, tuition fee loan and perhaps a special allowance such as a childcare grant. | But people can apply for different things: a maintenance grant, maintenance loan, tuition fee loan and perhaps a special allowance such as a childcare grant. |
Some opt for only a tuition fee loan and would not have expected a maintenance payment at the start of term. | Some opt for only a tuition fee loan and would not have expected a maintenance payment at the start of term. |
The SLC broke down the 146,000 figure to BBC News as follows: | The SLC broke down the 146,000 figure to BBC News as follows: |
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But as well as the 39,000 with interim assessments another 31,000 applications were described as "currently being processed" and 39,000 had been asked to supply further information. | But as well as the 39,000 with interim assessments another 31,000 applications were described as "currently being processed" and 39,000 had been asked to supply further information. |
The Conservative Party - highlighting these aspects of the figures - said that often these students said they had already provided the information that was being sought. | The Conservative Party - highlighting these aspects of the figures - said that often these students said they had already provided the information that was being sought. |
'Severe impact' | 'Severe impact' |
The shadow universities and skills secretary, David Willetts, said: "These figures illustrate how the system has collapsed this year. | The shadow universities and skills secretary, David Willetts, said: "These figures illustrate how the system has collapsed this year. |
"Ministers have created an over-complicated system and have failed to tackle the problem. Now students and their families are the victims. | "Ministers have created an over-complicated system and have failed to tackle the problem. Now students and their families are the victims. |
"Even though we are well into the academic year, more than one in 10 students is still waiting for a proper assessment." | "Even though we are well into the academic year, more than one in 10 students is still waiting for a proper assessment." |
He said the crisis was having a particularly severe impact on new students and those from poorer households, while disabled students' applications seemed to have been placed near the bottom of the pile. | He said the crisis was having a particularly severe impact on new students and those from poorer households, while disabled students' applications seemed to have been placed near the bottom of the pile. |
"There is a real risk of the crisis becoming a tragedy, for example if the problems lead to higher drop-out rates or fewer applications next year," he said. | "There is a real risk of the crisis becoming a tragedy, for example if the problems lead to higher drop-out rates or fewer applications next year," he said. |
'Broken promises' | 'Broken promises' |
The National Union of Students (NUS) has called for the resignation of the loans company chief executive and the Liberal Democrats called the figures shameful. | The National Union of Students (NUS) has called for the resignation of the loans company chief executive and the Liberal Democrats called the figures shameful. |
WHAT IS AVAILABLE, 2009-10 Tuition fee loan: up to £3,225Maintenance loan: up to £3,564 non-means tested+ up to £1,386 means testedMaintenance grant: £2,906 on household income below £25,000tapers up to household income of £50,020Maintenance loan reduced by 50p for every £1 of grantBursaries determined locallySpecial Support Grant instead of maintenance grant of up to £2,906 for those eligible for means tested benefits (loan not reduced) | WHAT IS AVAILABLE, 2009-10 Tuition fee loan: up to £3,225Maintenance loan: up to £3,564 non-means tested+ up to £1,386 means testedMaintenance grant: £2,906 on household income below £25,000tapers up to household income of £50,020Maintenance loan reduced by 50p for every £1 of grantBursaries determined locallySpecial Support Grant instead of maintenance grant of up to £2,906 for those eligible for means tested benefits (loan not reduced) |
NUS President Wes Streeting said: "This year, hundreds of thousands of students have been affected by late payments or lost documents and have endured a miserable start to term. | NUS President Wes Streeting said: "This year, hundreds of thousands of students have been affected by late payments or lost documents and have endured a miserable start to term. |
"The SLC has given students a string of broken promises about when they should expect to receive some or all of their loan payments. | "The SLC has given students a string of broken promises about when they should expect to receive some or all of their loan payments. |
"SLC bosses have failed to acknowledge the distress they have caused to students and have sought to apportion blame anywhere other than their own doorstep." | "SLC bosses have failed to acknowledge the distress they have caused to students and have sought to apportion blame anywhere other than their own doorstep." |
The loans company (SLC) has faced repeated complaints over poor service after it took over the processing of the whole system this year. | The loans company (SLC) has faced repeated complaints over poor service after it took over the processing of the whole system this year. |
Previously initial applications went via local authorities. | Previously initial applications went via local authorities. |
The SLC has admitted to problems with its scanning system. | The SLC has admitted to problems with its scanning system. |
The provisional figures it has published - "due to high levels of public interest" - show that it has approved a smaller proportion of claims this year: 85.7% of those received compared with 88.7% under the old system at the same point last year. | The provisional figures it has published - "due to high levels of public interest" - show that it has approved a smaller proportion of claims this year: 85.7% of those received compared with 88.7% under the old system at the same point last year. |
The number of students receiving their first maintenance payment was up from 677,000 to 698,000. | The number of students receiving their first maintenance payment was up from 677,000 to 698,000. |
But this was a smaller proportion of those received (71% against 75% in 2008) and of those approved (83% this year compared with 85% in 2008) . | But this was a smaller proportion of those received (71% against 75% in 2008) and of those approved (83% this year compared with 85% in 2008) . |
Ministers have set up an independent review, headed by former South Bank University vice-chancellor Sir Deian Hopkin. | Ministers have set up an independent review, headed by former South Bank University vice-chancellor Sir Deian Hopkin. |
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