Student Finance Centre

Students with dependants

The financial support available for a full time undergraduate student with children, and in particular lone parents, is more diverse than that for many students. This section intends to act as a guide to the available sources of funding and how to access them.

We are able to compile a financial statement detailing the funding available, which will help when calculating your income as a student. Please contact us if you would like to discuss your situation further.

• Statutory funding from Student Finance England

  In addition to the funding detailed in the Full-time undergraduate from the UK section, students with dependants can apply for the following:

  • • Parents Learning Allowance: Up to £1,508 (for those with dependent children).
    • Adult Dependant's Grant: Up to £2,642 (if you are supporting an adult dependant).
    • Childcare Grant: Can cover up to 85% of registered childcare costs (max payable £148.75 for one child, £255 for two or more children).

  Applications for each of the above are made directly to Student Finance England, alongside your main student funding application. The amounts payable will be assessed on your personal and financial circumstances. In addition, if you are a lone parent you are entitled to a Special Support Grant instead of a Living Cost Grant. This grant is also paid up to a maximum of £3,250 but is disregarded for benefits purposes.

  Are you an NHS-funded student?

  If you are studying an NHS course a different funding system applies. You may be eligible for tuition fee support, an NHS bursary and a reduced amount of student loan as detailed in our NHS funded students pages.

• Child Tax Credits and Child Benefit (HMRC)

  Child Tax Credit is one of the main forms of support for those with dependent children. Becoming a full-time student should not change your entitlement to receive payment. You should contact HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and advise them that you intend to become a student - your student award will be disregarded for Tax Credit purposes (the only element that is counted is the Adult Dependants' Grant of £2,642 which is only paid to those that are responsible for supporting an adult dependant). Maximum weekly allowances for Child Tax Credit are currently (2011/12 tax year):

  • • One child: £59.36
    • Two children: £108.29
    • Three children: £157.22
    • Four children: £206.15

  Amounts will vary depending on individual circumstances.

  Becoming a full-time student with dependent children does not affect your eligibility to receive Child Benefit.

• Working Tax Credit (WTC)

  If you received Working Tax Credit before you started your course then your entitlement may change when you become a full-time student. If you are a lone parent you can claim WTC as long as you continue to work for at least 16 hours a week. Further information and guidance, and application forms can be obtained by calling the Tax Credit helpline on 0845 300 3900 or visit HM Revenue & Customs.

• Housing Benefit/Local Housing Allowance

  Only the following full-time student groups are eligible for Housing Benefit/Local Housing Allowance:

  • • Lone parents
    • Student couples with at least one child
    • Disabled students who receive Disability Living Allowance (irrespective of the disability), or a Disabled Students' Allowance for reasons of a hearing impairment

  You must be living in rented accommodation and have a formal tenancy agreement in your name. All applications are made via your local authority. If you live in Halls of Residence during term time and fall into one of the above categories then you are also entitled to apply.

  Which part of my income is counted in the assessment of benefit?

  Only the Living Cost Loan (part of which is disregarded), Adult Dependants' Grant (if applicable), and Child Tax Credit (not Child Benefit) are counted in the benefits assessment, together with any earnings you may have.  If you receive the Social Work Bursary or receive an NHS bursary for the course you are doing then this is counted in full as an income over a 52 week period

• Housing Benefit award notification

  When you receive your Housing Benefit award notification, you can bring a copy in to the Student Finance Centre so that we can check that it has been correctly assessed. If it is wrong we can assist you in challenging the decision.

• Income Support and Job Seekers' Allowance

  It is normally only over the summer vacation period (July and August) that Income Support may become payable. Eligibility is very similar to that for Housing Benefit - lone parent students with at least one child up to age seven and some disabled students. Student couples with children may be eligible for Job Seekers' Allowance and not Income Support. If your youngest child is aged over seven years then applications should be made for Job Seekers' Allowance. If you are a lone parent whose youngest child is aged over 7 years then you can apply for Job Seekers' Allowance.

  Applications should be made by contacting your local Benefit Delivery Centre on 0845 608 8573. Income Support awarded should be equivalent to the personal allowance (£65.45 a week in 2011/12), but may vary depending on individual circumstances.

  One other important thing to note is that if you receive any Income Support then you should become entitled to full Housing Benefit.

• What if I have a mortgage to pay?

  If you are a lone parent with at least one child up to age seven and a mortgage then you may be entitled to claim some assistance with mortgage interest payments via Income Support. We can estimate your entitlement by use of a Welfare Benefits Program - contact us.

• Hardship Funds

  We administer a number of support funds for current students who are experiencing financial difficulty. More information is available in our leaflet ‘Funding for students in financial hardship'. Contact us to apply or visit our Forms and guides section for an application form.

• Useful dates

  • February 2012

    Apply online for your student finance - visit Student Finance England.

  • September/October 2012

    If you applied on time, you should receive your student award letter for 2012/13 before you start at University. If eligible, you'll also receive a seperate bursary notification letter. For queries relating to your University of Portsmouth bursary contact bursary@port.ac.uk.

    If you are eligible for Housing Benefit make sure you re-apply for a revised assessment for the 2012/13 academic year.

    Once you have registered at the University of Portsmouth, apply for the Access to Learning Fund if you feel that you will have an additional financial need.

    If you receive a Childcare Grant you will need to send evidence of your actual childcare costs to Student Finance England at regular intervals - they will send you a form when they require this.

  • January 2013

    If you received a payment from the Access to Learning Fund in the Autumn term check with the Student Finance Centre to see if you may be entitled to a further award. You will need to complete a review form and provide evidence of your bank details.

    Make sure you re-apply for Student Finance support for 2013/14 - go to www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance to apply online.

  • April/May 2013

    Check to see if you are entitled to a further award from the Access to Learning Fund, with a further review form required and confirmation of your bank details.

  • May/June 2013

    Check with us to see if you qualify for further support over the summer vacation.

    If you are unable to work over the summer because you have young children, start the application process for Income Support for vacation period.

    Check you are receiving maximum Housing Benefit - contact us if you are unsure.

    Make sure you have re-applied for Student Support for 2013/14.

  • June 2013

    If you are a lone parent check with your local Job Centre plus to see if you can apply for Income Support over the summer vacation.

    Apply for the Summer Hardship Fund - contact us.

• Housing benefit calculator

  Are you a lone parent entering University on a full time degree in 2012 and living in rented accommodation?

  If so, you may be eligible to receive some Housing Benefit whilst studying.

  The Student Finance Centre can offer you an estimate of the Housing Benefit that you could receive whilst attending your course. If you would like an estimate, please complete the questionnaire and we will email you the results.

  Please note this estimate is for guidance only and will be based on the assumption that students are UK residents in receipt of full support from Student Finance England and are attending a first full time degree. This estimate does not constitute any guarantee of payment.