Can we put pressure on the powers that be to raise the amount of the
Hardship Loan to at least double the present maximum. £250 max is
not worth the extra amount of work it gives admin staff. We have had
very low uptake on it, probably because the hassle of filling in
forms and proving one is in financial hardship by supplying
supporting documents just takes up too much
valuable student time to be bothered with. If the amount was higher
then more students would apply for it.
Its introduction has in fact caused more hardship than it has
relieved. £250 is just a mere drop in the ocean for students in
hardship. Students are having to wait until their first payment of
their loan is through before applying for the Hardship Loan and loans
have been taking up to 3 months to come through. Have found the
loans with long delays have been caused by silly errors at SLC end.
Many students who would in previous years have applied for Access are
now barred because they have not applied for the Hardship Loan
because their student loan has not come through.
I think it would either be best to drop the Hardship Loan and
increase the ordinary loan, or increase the amount of Hardship Loan.
Has it been named Hardship Loan because the delay in being able to
apply for it has CAUSED hardship?
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