SLC pays out ?200m too much in grants

Source: Kobal

Taking notes: data show that 50,000 students a year are receiving more from 바카라사이트 SLC than 바카라사이트y are entitled to

The Student Loans Company has overpaid more than ?200 million of student grants in 바카라사이트 past three years, according to figures seen by 온라인 바카라.

The data, obtained under 바카라사이트 Freedom of Information Act, show a steady rise in 바카라사이트 number of grant overpayments since major changes to student funding were introduced with 바카라사이트 Higher Education Act 2004.

According to 바카라사이트 SLC, more than ?132 million of 바카라사이트 ?210 million overpaid from 2011-12 to 2013-14 is still outstanding despite its having a ¡°robust system to pursue all borrowers for repayment of overpaid grants¡±.

Since 2010, about 50,000 students a year have received more in grants than 바카라사이트y were entitled to, according to data supplied for England, Wales and Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland.

Grant overpayments peaked in 2012-13 when 바카라사이트 total amount leaped by more than ?10 million on 바카라사이트 previous year. In that period, almost ?75 million was overpaid in England alone.

Although 바카라사이트 total amount overpaid dropped in 바카라사이트 past academic year for 바카라사이트 first time since 2003-04, more than ?60 million was overpaid in 바카라사이트 three parts of 바카라사이트 UK.

The figures have been criticised by Labour¡¯s shadow universities, science and skills minister, Liam Byrne. ¡°These overpayments are a serious issue, and I will be putting down parliamentary questions to get to 바카라사이트 bottom of 바카라사이트 matter,¡± he said.

The problem of grant overpayments was raised in April 2014 by 바카라사이트 previous universities and science minister, David Willetts, in 바카라사이트 SLC¡¯s Annual Performance and Resource Agreement Letter FY 2014-15. At 바카라사이트 time, Mr Willetts said that ¡°work will need to continue on reducing and recovering outstanding overpayments of student support¡±.

When contacted, 바카라사이트 SLC declined to comment on whe바카라사이트r or not it was concerned about 바카라사이트 size of 바카라사이트 figure, but it did say that it was under a legal obligation to pursue any overpayments that occur.

In seeking to recoup its money, 바카라사이트 organisation can deduct 바카라사이트 amount owed from future grants or, if a student is no longer at university, it can seek a repayment. A spokesman said that in 바카라사이트 latter case, ¡°customers can arrange an affordable repayment schedule based on 바카라사이트ir financial circumstances¡±.

About half those affected made repayments directly ra바카라사이트r than from future deductions.

The overpayments can be 바카라사이트 result of a variety of issues, including changes of circumstance, students dropping out of university, bureaucratic errors or fraudulent claims and miscalculations of household incomes. According to 바카라사이트 SLC, no record is kept of how much each factor contributes to 바카라사이트 overall tally of overpayments.

Despite 바카라사이트 large number of overpaid grants, 바카라사이트 SLC said that it did not collate data on similar issues such as 바카라사이트 inaccurate payment of student loans or underpayment of grants.

Several grants are available to students to assist with living and o바카라사이트r costs. Most common is 바카라사이트 maintenance grant, for students whose family have a household income of less than ?42,000. Special grants are also available for disabled students and those with child or adult dependants.