Extra help for students with Dependants (With Notes) This presentation will offer some guidance to the levels of financial support available to those students with Dependants.

What Help Is Available? For full-time students with dependants: Parents’ Learning Allowance Childcare Grant Adults Dependants Grant Supplementary Grants are for full-time students with dependants. Supplementary Grants are available in the form of: Parents’ Learning Allowance Childcare Grant Adult Dependants Grant Students can indicate they wish to apply for these when they complete their application for student finance. The income assessment for supplementary grants is the same as the income assessment used to work out the student’s entitlement to Maintenance Grant and Maintenance Loan. It is possible to receive more than one supplementary grant so long as students meet the criteria for each. All three grants are non-repayable.

Parents’ Learning Allowance For full-time students with dependent children who are on a low income: Depends on the household income Up to £1,538 per year Not taken into account when working out benefits entitlement. The Parents’ Learning Allowance (PLA) can help with course-related costs for full-time students who have a dependent child(ren). The exact amount of PLA someone can get will depend on that of their household – partner, dependants etc. Students may be eligible to this Allowance each year. The Social Security Agency or Housing Executive should not take PLA into account when calculating benefit entitlements.

Childcare Grant For full-time students with dependent children in registered or approved childcare: Cannot be receiving childcare part of Working Tax Credit or Universal Credit Not taken into account when calculating benefits. One of the higher expenses for students with dependants is Childcare Costs. To qualify for the Childcare Grant applicants must be - a full time student; with a dependent child (or children) in registered or approved childcare. The childcare provider cannot be a family member. In Northern Ireland Childcare Providers are registered with their local Health and Social Services Trust. Students cannot claim the Childcare Grant as well as the Childcare element of Working Tax Credit or Universal Credit The Social Security Agency or Housing Executive should not take this Grant into account when calculating benefit entitlements.

Childcare Grant continued Entitlement depends on household income and childcare costs Up to 85% of actual childcare costs Maximum £148.75 per week for one child Maximum £255.00 per week for two or more children Entitlement to the Childcare Grant depends on:- Dependents income (combined earnings of the student, their spouse/partner and the child(ren)) during the prior tax year; and the amount of childcare costs. Students must:- provide details of household income; and declare if they or their partner receive the childcare element of Working Tax Credit or Universal Credit. Eligible students receive 85% of the actual cost of registered childcare up to a maximum amount. The maximum amounts are - For one child - Up to £148.75 per week (85% of actual costs of up to £175 a week) For two or more children – Up to £255.00 per week (85% of actual costs of up to £300.00 a week)

Adult Dependants Grant For full-time students with an adult who is financially dependent on them Depends on household income Up to £2,695 per year Taken into account in benefits calculations Let’s now look at Adult Dependants’ Grant (ADG). This is for - full time students with a spouse, partner or other adult family member who is financially dependent on them. Entitlement to ADG depends on - the student’s income; the income of the adult dependant(s). Students may be eligible for up to £2,695 per year from the Adult Dependants’ Grant. ADG is taken into account by the Social Security Agency or Housing Executive when calculating benefit entitlements, and can affect, for example, Housing Benefit.

Special Support Grant Eligibility to the Special Support Grant (SSG):– The student is a single parent The student has a partner who is also a student The student has certain disabilities Depends on the household income Up to £3,475 per year Special Support Grant - SSG There is additional help for students who may be eligible to receive means-tested benefits such as Income Support and Housing Benefit. This will generally be lone parents, other student parents if they have a partner who is a student, and students with disabilities. How much a student receives will depend on a means test. The maximum amount is £3,475 and it is usually paid in three instalments with the maintenance loan. The amount is the same as the Maintenance Grant, but it will not be offset against the Maintenance Loan. Additionally, it does not count as income when working out income related benefits or tax credits

How and when to Apply To apply for each of these grants you should fill in the relevant section of the paper student finance application form or online page If you want to apply for the Childcare Grant, Student Finance NI will send a separate Childcare Grant application form to fill in You and your Childcare Provider will have to provide details of the childcare costs 3 times during the year You must also provide copies of your children’s long birth certificate The process of applying for these grants is additional to the process of applying for the main financial support products – Maintenance Loan and Maintenance Grant. The student will have to provide additional information to support their application. To apply for a Parents’ Learning Allowance, Childcare Grant or Adult Dependents Grant the student should fill in the relevant section of the paper application form for student finance. This can be completed online or on paper. If they want to apply for a Childcare Grant we will then send them a separate Childcare Grant Application Form (CCG1) in order to provide information about the child’s needs and details of the childcare provider. The form can be found and downloaded online at www.studentfinanceni.co.uk or students can contact their local Student Finance office. Students must also send in their children’s long birth certificates. Three times during the childcare period we will send the student a Confirmation of Childcare Payments form (CCGS2) to fill in. This asks for details of weekly payments they have made to their childcare provider. The Childcare Provider will also be required to verify that childcare was provided on a separate form – CCG2P. If the actual amount is more or less than estimated in the original application, we will reduce or increase the next instalment of Childcare Grant.

Other Support Available Help to cover 2 main expenses, ie tuition fees and day to day living costs Help for students who have a disability Assessed through Student Finance NI Specific queries should be directed to the student’s local Student Finance Office www.studentfinanceni.co.uk Financial support is also available for students to help meet their two main expenses of tuition fees and day to day living costs. There is additional financial support available for students who have a disability. There is more information in our other presentations and on our website. Use the Education Authority (EA) finder on our website www.studentfinanceni.co.uk to get the telephone number and email address of the local student finance offices.