Audiology Placement financial help

[shaikha]

I've got a placement in London. and my wages are exactly the same as students who have got their placements locally in the West Midlands. (shouldn't I be getting higher? isn't there some kind of London allowance?)

I've calculated my living and travel expenses...and it seems that by the time I finish my placement I will be in-debt ~ and VERY hungry

Is there any advice anyone can give me? any financial help I can apply for?


Many Thanks

[la09]

Hi, usually for jobs in London there is automatically extra money to allow for the higher cost of living. Have you checked to make sure you're definately not getting more money?

[lux]

According to AfC, NHS staff do get extra money. It depends on where in London or the South East they work. For places just outside the M25, you would get about 900 pounds. For Central of London (e.g. Guy's and St Thomas and Charing Cross) you would get about 3,000 pounds. For places between the two you get get a figure thats somewhere in the middle of those two fiqures.

You are right in a sense that you are getting paid the same as someone in Brimingham fro example. Both of you would be on Band 1 but for those working in London they would High cost living allowance. In theroy that would cover the cost of living in London compared to anywhere else.

[PRH]

I think it all depends on which trust is paying you. On the manchester course 1 trust pays all the students, regardless of which hospital they are placed in. This is much easier administratively I imagine. ....but, it can lead to financial inequalities.

For example, I have heard of students here who have been allocated a placement where they have to do lots of driving as it's a community based service. The trust would be happy to reimburse driving costs, but can't as the student is technically not on their payroll.

Situations like this really suck, and I guess it's something that the universities really should be trying to sort out

[shaikha]

Thanks all.

I'm a little confused on who decides whether or not one receives london weighting allowances?
When I contacted my Trusts HR they said my University tutor told them I shouldn't be given HCA.

Is there anything I can do?

I've tried chasing the issue with my tutor but she said salaries have always been the same-
but all yr our tutors told us the salary all depended on where we were placed.

[incus]

this seems unfair. If you're a member i suggest try BAA board lead for education (sorry not sure who it is)

Thanks all.

I'm a little confused on who decides whether or not one receives london weighting allowances?
When I contacted my Trusts HR they said my University tutor told them I shouldn't be given HCA.

Is there anything I can do?

I've tried chasing the issue with my tutor but she said salaries have always been the same-
but all yr our tutors told us the salary all depended on where we were placed.

[shaikha]

this seems unfair. If you're a member i suggest try BAA board lead for education (sorry not sure who it is)

Thank you very much

I will try that. (I just had an email from my tutor who said its the SHA who decide)---its VERY unfair...instead of saving (like students with placement locally) I'm falling into debt!

[lux]

Thank you very much

I will try that. (I just had an email from my tutor who said its the SHA who decide)---its VERY unfair...instead of saving (like students with placement locally) I'm falling into debt!

I suspect that most unis is linked with one of their local trusts which is paying for your placement year. If they are outside of London then they might be reluctant to pay for the HCA.

However during my placement year, I seemed to get HCA payment despite the fact that I was registered with Portsmouth PCT.

[shaikha]

I suspect that most unis is linked with one of their local trusts which is paying for your placement year. If they are outside of London then they might be reluctant to pay for the HCA.

However during my placement year, I seemed to get HCA payment despite the fact that I was registered with Portsmouth PCT.

your very lucky! my tutor says she already asked the SHA and they said I won't be receiving the HCA.
I've just emailed her for a direct contact number....

[ssuumm]

it depend on the people paying the salary. im like you, i have to travel and pay rent but i get payed less than the bham students do! about 3,500 less! not fair but thats how it goes. i am in lots of debt already, but thats the price you pay!

[Bugaluggz]

I trained at Southampton and everyone on the course was payed by Portsmouth NHS trust. This was to ensure that we all had the same holiday and sick pay as well as all being payed at the same time.

If you are being payed by one trust then I don't think you will get the London allowance because the Trust wont actually know where you are doing your placement year.

Maybe try your university and see if the finance department can help, they might have a bursary that you could be entitled to?