Student Parents

FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS WITH CHILD DEPENDANTS

Students studying full time Higher Education courses may be entitled to additional financial help from their funding body.  If you are receiving Student Loans and Grants, or financial support from NHS Student Bursaries, you are advised to make enquiries about the following supplementary grants…

• Parents’ Learning Allowance – an additional non-repayable grant paid directly to students to help with course costs such as books, materials and travel.
• Childcare Grant – if you use an Ofsted registered childcare provider, you may be able to apply for non-repayable assistance towards your childcare costs.

Further details about Parents’ Learning Allowance and the Childcare Grant can be found on the Directgov website at http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/StudentFinance/Typesoffinance/DG_171503

You can also contact Student Finance England (0845 300 5090) or NHS Student Bursaries (0845 358 6655) to make enquiries about your eligibility and the assessment process.  Please note that both grants are income assessed, so if you live with a partner/spouse their income details will be used to calculate your entitlement.

The Access to Learning Fund (ALF) provides discretionary financial assistance to students to help them access and remain in Higher Education.  Students who need financial help to meet extra costs that cannot be met from other sources of support, and those who may be considering leaving Higher Education because of financial problems are particularly encouraged to apply.  The ALF can also help to alleviate unexpected financial hardship.

Students with child dependants are one of the priority groups targeted and students are encouraged to make an application as soon as possible as funds are limited.  The application form and guidance notes can be found on the Portal at https://portal.sgul.ac.uk/org/lis/reg/student-centre/student-finance-pages/other-sources-of-funding

Further details can be obtained from Helen Williams (Student Finance Advisor) by emailing hwilliam@sgul.ac.uk.

Please note that students studying Nursing, Midwifery and those on the foundation year of the 6 year Medicine programme need to apply to Kingston University’s Access to Learning Fund.  You can contact their Student Funding Service at studentfunding@kingston.ac.uk or on 020 8417 355

Child Benefit is a tax-free non means tested payment that you can claim for children aged 0-16 (and aged 16-19 if they are in certain types of education or training).

Full details can be found at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/childbenefit/ and http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/ChildBenefitandChildTrustFund/Childbenefits/index.htm

If you have a child under the age of 16 (or aged 16-19 in certain types of education or training) you can apply for Child Tax Credits.  Full details can be found at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/start/who-qualifies/children/index.htm and http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/TaxCredits/index.htm

Students who work whilst studying may also be eligible for Working Tax Credits.  Full details can be found at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/start/who-qualifies/workingtaxcredit/ and http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/TaxCredits/Gettingstarted/whoqualifies/WorkingTaxCreditthebasics/DG_172728

Please note that if you receive the Childcare Element of Working Tax Credit, you will not be eligible for the Childcare Grant from Student Finance England or the NHS.

Most full-time students cannot claim income-related benefits but you may be able to claim if you:

• are a single parent
• have a partner who is also a student, and one or both of you are responsible for a child

Income-related benefits you may be able to claim are:

• Income Support
• Housing Benefit or Local Housing Allowance
• Council Tax Benefit

Benefits for students depend on your personal circumstances such as your income (including any savings you may have) and whether or not you live with a partner/spouse.  More details can be found on the Directgov website at http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/On_a_low_income/DG_10034876

If you were claiming income-related benefits before commencing the course you are advised to contact Jobcentre Plus and/or your Local Authority’s Housing Benefit section to find out how your Student Finance may affect these benefits.

Depending on your circumstances, if you have school-age children you may be able to apply for free school meals.  For further details and to find out how to apply, please make enquiries at your child’s school.  There are also more details on the Directgov website at http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Schoolslearninganddevelopment/SchoolLife/DG_4016089

Students who are working whilst studying may be able to claim Statutory Maternity Pay through their employer.  Please check the Directgov website for the eligibility details, as this is only available to people earning over a certain weekly wage.  Further details can be found at http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Expectingorbringingupchildren/DG_10018741

If you are receiving an NHS bursary for living costs, you can apply for a continuation of your NHS bursary payments whilst on a break from study for maternity purposes.

Students can expect to receive their normal monthly bursary payments, including any dependants’ allowances, for up to 45 weeks (although this can be extended in exceptional circumstances).

Full details can be found on the NHS student bursaries website at http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/1667.aspx.  If you have any further queries about this, please contact the NHS student bursaries helpline on 0845 358 6655.

Any questions?

The SGUL Student Finance Team is based in Registry (just behind the Student Centre) and we are available to give confidential advice to all students.  If you have any queries about the above, or any other financial matters, please don’t hesitate to contact us.  We are…

Miss Helen Williams                                                  Mrs Jude O’Brien

Student Finance Advisor                                         Student Finance & Policy Officer

hwilliam@sgul.ac.uk                                                 jobrien@sgul.ac.uk

020 8725 5997                                                              020 8725 0962

Student Parents Association

Email student-parents-association@sgul.ac.uk for more details or visit their web page: