| MP Demands Loan Payments for Southport Students |
| Monday, 08 February 2010 | |
 Local MP John Pugh has been deluged with students who are still awaiting overdue payments of their loans from the Student Loans Company.
Last September, it emerged that due to a 17% increase in grant and loan applications the company was facing a backlog of claims that had to be processed. However, they pledged that those who applied on time would be paid on time. Dr Pugh's office is in the process of helping students who are still waiting payment nearly five months later. "Many of the cases have exposed the shocking level of disorganisation across the company. In one case a lady contacted me after she had difficulty with the SLC. They had asked her to send information that would enable them to process a payment for her son, which she prompltly sent by recorded delivery. This information was then subsequently lost. "The SLC is clearly exteremely inefficient and have seemingly made no moves to reform. Late last year when media interest in the story was at its height, they publicly said that the backlog of cases was being cleared. Now that this media interest has subsided it appears they seem to think they can carry on as they were. But its February and its scandalous that many students have sill not received their loans. "Students use these loans to contribute towards their University fees or their costs of living. Without them, many people simply wouldn't be able to afford to study.Non-payment of these loans is causing many people distress and despair that should have been avoided." "It's not just young students who are suffering, but also mature students who in some cases have families to support." Michelle Hiden, a mother of two from Ainsdale, is one of the many people suffering. She is now facing the prospect of having to withdraw from her PGCE course at Wigan & Leigh College. "I submitted my appliaction in mid-September and I have been through hell waiting for it. When I initially expected to recieve the payment they told me that they could find no record of the course on their system and that I would have to wait. I re-submitted the details in November and I have still not had my loan through. The Course hours mean I have to take my Children to breakfast and after school clubs, and this has to be funded. I am borrowing money to pay for this, yet I have no idea how much money I will recieve from the SLC, or indeed when." |