St Peter’s
RC Sixth Form
Higher Education: Suplementary Grants
Supplementary Grants
see also new information about Child Tax Credit
and The Parents Learning Allowance
if you have:-
- A disabilitity
- Dependants (a dependant is classed as someone ‘wholly or mainly financially dependent on the student’ and can include spouses, an adult dependent, or children).
- Childcare costs.
- Special travel costs relating to particular circumstances, e.g. for a compulsory part of medical or dentistry course, or overseas courses
- Or are leaving care to enter higher education.
You might be able to apply for extra help in the form of supplementary
grants. Contact your LEA (or equivalent) for more details. Supplementary
grants for disabled students and care leavers are not means tested and
do not have to be repaid.
Supplementary grants for students with dependants, lone parents and students
with travel costs are.
Any income from any ‘dependants’ is taken into account in
means-testing for a supplementary grant.
Child Tax Credit from the Inland Revenue
Students with dependent children are eligible for Child Tax Credit from
the Inland Revenue. Child Tax Credit takes the place of the local education
authority Dependant’s Grant for children. Students receiving the
maximum amount of Child Tax Credit are entitled to free school meals for
their children.
Students with children will be entitled to claim the new Child Tax Credit
which, for the first time, will be paid to parents whether or not they
are working or studying. To qualify for Child Tax Credit, you must be
aged 16 or over and be responsible for a child under 16 or for someone
aged 16, 17 or 18 who is in full-time education, or who is registered
with the Careers Service or equivalent. You qualify for Child Tax Credit
at a higher rate if your child or one of your children is under one year
old or is disabled.
The money you get depends on your circumstances. To find out whether you
are eligible call: 0800 500 222 or visit the website:
https://www.taxcredits.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/
The website allows you to check how much you could get and to make your claim online immediately. The payment will be made into your bank account direct from the Inland Revenue every week or every four weeks.
The Parents Learning Allowance
This is to help with course-related costs for students who have dependent
children. How much you get depends on your income and that of your dependants
(including your husband, wife or partner). Jobcentre Plus will not count
this grant when they work out your benefit entitlement for 2003/4.
Who’s eligible? Full-time students with dependent children who receive
childcare grant or whose dependants’ income (including that of your
husband, wife or partner) is below:
- 3,000 for a couple with one child.
- £4,000 for a couple with two or more children.
- £4,000 for a lone parent with one child.
- £5,000 for a lone parent with two or more children.
If your dependants’ income is above the threshold you may still
be eligible. However, dependants’ income above the threshold will
reduce the amount of grant pound for pound down to a minimum grant of
£50.
The maximum amount of Parents Learning Allowance will be £1,300
and minimum £50.
Higher Education pages updated 23rdJune 2003