The organisation in charge of administering loans and grants payment to students in England has hit back at claims that the recent funding delay has caused thousands of students to go without vital financial support.

According to new figures released from the Student Loans Company this week, almost 44% of applicants to the 2009/10 academic year received no maintenance grant, compared with just 30% the year before. This translates to around 136,000 individuals not receiving any form of statutory help.

Of the students that did receive a maintenance grant, almost 10,000 fewer actually received the full amount - this, despite reports of a record number of individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds taking up a place at university.

The figures appear to contradict the Government’s key message of increased support for those from poorer backgrounds and a widening of access to university. Sally Hunt, General Secretary of the University and College Union (UCU) has called for the Government to investigate the disparity, urging for immediate action to be taken.

She said:

“We do not believe the drop is consistent with the number of students applying to university from poorer backgrounds.

“The SLC and the government must urgently investigate if the students who most need financial support are the ones missing out.”

Shadow Universities Secretary, David Willets also condemned the recent SLC crisis, saying:

“The situation at the Student Loans Company just keeps going from bad to worse.

“At a time when many hardworking families are struggling to stay afloat, it is particularly worrying to learn that students from less wealthy backgrounds have been hit hardest of all.

“The government's new processing system collapsed as soon as it was launched, but even after an independent inquiry ministers still won’t accept responsibility or take action to resolve the problems.”

Current levels of maintenance support start at £50, rising to £2,906 for students from poorer backgrounds – typically those with a household income of below £25,000.

The Government has begun a review into higher education this month, with some university leaders calling for a complete overhaul of the student funding system.

Source: Student Loans Company