Student Finance Centre

Students with dependants

The financial support available for a full time undergraduate student with children, and in particular for 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 specific funding available to you, 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 the above allowances 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 maintenance grant. This grant is also paid up to a maximum of £3,354 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 payments. 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 (2012/13 tax year):

  • • One child: £62.09
    • Two children: £113.68
    • Three children: £165.27
    • Four children: £216.86

  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 only claim Working Tax Credit as a student if you continue to work for at least 16 hours a week alongside your studies. If you live with a partner they may be entitled to claim Working Tax Credit if they work over 24 hours a week. Further information and guidance, and application forms can be obtained by calling the Tax Credit helpline on 0845 300 3900 or visiting HM Revenue & Customs.

• Housing Benefit

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

  • • 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. For information on Housing Benefit in Portsmouth please contact Portsmouth City Council or visit their website.

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

  Only your maintenance 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. This income is only counted during term time (including the Christmas and Easter holidays). It is not taken into account over the summer holiday.  If you receive the social work bursary or an NHS bursary for the course you are doing then this is counted in full as income over the whole year. 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.

• Housing benefit calculator

  Are you a lone parent living in rented accommodation?

  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.)

  If you would like to discuss the student support and benefits you may be entitled to as a student in more detail please contact us.

• Income Support and Job Seekers' Allowance

  You can normally only claim Income Support or Jobseekers’ Allowance over the summer holiday. Lone parent students with at least one child under five and some disabled students are eligible for Income Support. If your youngest child is aged five or over then you can apply for Jobseekers’ Allowance over the summer period instead of Income Support. Student couples with children (of any age) may be eligible for Job Seekers' Allowance but not Income Support.

  Applications should be made by contacting your local Benefit Delivery Centre on 0845 608 8573. The amount of Income Support you are awarded should be equivalent to the current personal allowance (£71 a week in 2012/13), 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 under five and a mortgage then you may be entitled to claim some assistance with your mortgage interest payments via Income Support. We can estimate your entitlement by use of a welfare benefits calculator, contact us for more details.

• Universal Credit

  Universal Credit will be introduced in October 2013 and will affect any new benefit claims made after that date. We will publish further information about how this will affect students when it becomes available.

• Hardship Funds

  If you are experiencing financial difficulty you can apply to one of the support funds we administer in the Student Finance Centre. 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 2013

    Apply online for your student finance - visit Student Finance England. If you would like some help completing your application contact us to make an appointment. The recommended deadline to apply is May 2013.

  • September/October 2013

    If you applied on time, you should receive your student award letter for 2013/14 before you start at University. If you are 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 2013/14 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 2014

    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 for 2014/15 - log in to Student Finance England to re-apply online.

  • April/May 2014

    Check to see if you are entitled to a further award from the Access to Learning Fund.

  • May/June 2014

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

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

    Check you are receiving maximum Housing Benefit - contact us if you are unsure how much you should be receiving.

    Make sure you have re-applied for your student support for 2014/15.

  • June 2014

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

    Apply for the Summer Hardship Fund - contact us.