BC Student Loan Aid Not Quite as Advertised
It was a case of 'the hand being quicker than the eye'.
Yes, even while their BC award, bursary and loan repayment aid programs were still posted on government websites, some students and grads who applied this year were shocked to receive letters stating that their program was gone.
There seemed no hint that student aid cuts were coming.
Students graduating in the following educational or training programs had expected the advertised student loan reduction grants or repayment assistance. Instead, their eligibility was in some cases cut off retroactively:
Residential Care Aides
Home Support Workers
Early Childhood Educators
The care aides and home support students were informed in letters that loan reduction would only go to students who had graduated on or before March 31, 2009.
Debt 101 lacks details about the letters that went to Early Childhood Educators, but their loan assistance program was also declared cancelled.
Health care students lost their bursaries, but have kept their Loan Assistance programs for now.
No awards will be given to the high-achieving high school students who would normally receive the Premier's Excellence Awards.
Pacific Leaders graduate fellowship was also suspended for 2009, although the overall Pacific Leaders program wasn't cut.
At least one program was cut so suddenly that applications being processed were stopped mid-way. This was the BC Debt Reduction in Repayment (DRR) Program.
Low-income grads who had struggled to stay in good standing for the minimum five years required before Debt Reduction must have been shocked to have their applications turned down even while the program remained posted on government websites as if it had not ended.
The same may have been true for others, including the Permanent Disability Benefit Program (which was later reinstated until July 31).
Debt 101 made last-ditch efforts to let people know they could still apply for the Permanent Disabilities program, which forgave the BC student loans of those who were eligible and applied. Our efforts included confirming details with officials, adding new content and and alerting media and community organizations. We also expanded our "Nine Days" Countdown on the website, which began just to mark the end of federal Debt Reduction and Interest Relief.
Unfortunately, given the short time-frame for warning people, many eligible people with permanent disabilities did not realize they could apply for help from the PDP through July 31. There had been reporting errors at some media outlets and misinformation by some StudentAid BC call centre clerks. The removal of the PDP application form from government websites also left people thinking that the program was already over. Tough luck for the low-income permanently disabled people who needed this help.
On the positive side, our recent Debt 101 'campaign' did prompt last-minute applications. We hope that all those who applied in time will be accepted and helped. We also hope that people use the Debt 101 Forum if their application gets denied for unconvincing reasons.
Although a lot of BC student loan aid is now gone, some programs remain, and Debt 101 will keep building resources for people who need help with their BC Student Loans.
© Jeannine Mitchell 2009-2011
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