19.03.18
Student nurses may not receive further loan payments this year, says RCN
Student nurses have been warned not to expect further student loan payments this year, according to the Royal College of Nursing (RCN).
Administrative errors in the loans system resulted in overpayments, affecting hundreds of student nurses across England.
Many have been left concerned over rent and living costs, with the largest overpayments reportedly being made to the poorest students.
The RCN says that these are often mature students with children or caring responsibilities, and no parental support.
Second and third year students received payments that had not been adjusted for the NHS bursary that they still receive, and others received grant funding despite unsuccessful applications.
The RCN has written to the Student Loans Company (SLC), urging it to use existing overpayment policies to reach an agreement with the education secretary not to recover the figures.
In the letter, RCN chief executive, Janet Davies, said that a sudden withdrawal of payment can have “disastrous results,” including an inability to pay rent.
“This action comes at a critical time when students are studying for exams and projects,” she added.
Davies also explained that she is “very concerned about the considerable amount of distress and disruption this error and subsequent action is causing.”
Top image: Viktor Gladkov
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