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Extra help - children and adult dependants by SLC

Student Money Week 2017

Do you have children or an adult who depends on you financially? Emma is here to answer any questions about the extra help you could get.

Emma is one of Student Finance England's experienced assessors. She has over eight years’ experience in the company and specialises in grants for students with children and adult dependants.

Please be aware all answers will be posted on Tuesday 7 February.

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 1

Ch3rrie

Hi,
I have 2 children, 8 and 6 (will be 9 and 6 by September). I have been accepted on a degree course for Accounting starting in September.
I know I can aoply for childcare costs but I'm not sure how much I can get or how it works. I would hope I could put my 6 year old into after school club as it is on until 6.30pm but my 8 year old is autistic and I'd have to find a childminder that can pick up from school as his school do not offer any after school help.
Would I get childcare cost help if my 6 year old is in after school club? Do I get to choose the childminder my 8 year old would have?
I don't know how often I'd need childcare as I of course do not know my university schedule and I don't know if this is going to be an issue when I apply either. I couldn't be able to say how many hours i'd need childcare for.

Reply 2

Natsnicks86

Original post by Student Money Week 2017

Hello

I have been accepted on a Primary PGCE Teacher Training Course this September. My husband earns minimum wage and I have two children who will be aged 3 and 6 then. I will be claiming the Maintenance Loan which I will have to live off and I am aware of a small Parent's Learning Allowance I can apply for. Is there anything else that could help me financially during this year that I can look into? I am thinking along the lines of help towards university costs like books etc.

Regards, Natalie Nickson

Reply 3

gemmasilcock

Original post by Student Money Week 2017

Hi Emma, I am starting my degree in September and will have a 3 and 5 year old. I am trying you work out roughly how much support we will be entitled to and have found out it will be based on my partners earnings however it's all a bit vague on how this is calculated and I need to work out if I can actually afford to go to university with one child likely to be on full time nursery. Is there a calculation I can see? I did find something on the SFE website which indicated you apply for adult dependants, childcare and PLA all together then it is calculated based on residual income but not sure if this is still in date? Many thanks Gemma.

Reply 4

Emma Gabriel

Official Rep

Original post by Ch3rrie

Hi Ch3rrie
Thanks for your questions. Please take a look at our online guidance entitled "Extra Help -Dependants' Grants." which I think you will find answers all your questons. Here's the link:
http://tsrmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/SFE_1617_MAINGUIDE_DEP_GRANT_D_A.pdf

There's also a short film you may also like to watch called "Extra help for students with children or adult dependants for 2016/17" https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/content.php?r=20275-New-students-Resources

If you have any further questions, which are not covered by the above, please feel free to post them and I will endeavor to answer. I'm online today until 12pm. Take care, Emma :0)

Reply 5

Emma Gabriel

Official Rep

Original post by Natsnicks86

Hi Natalie
Thanks for your enquiry.

Yes, there is the Parental Learning Allowance which you mentioned. The maximum amount available is £1573 in the 2016/17 academic year but the amount awarded will depend on your household income.

There is also the Adult Dependants Grant. The maximum amount available is £2757. Again, the amount awarded will depend on your household income. Your household income is classed as your husband's income from all sources relating to the relevant tax year and that of your dependants. For example, if you were applying for the 2016/17 academic year, we would require details of your husband's income from the 2014/15 tax year.

Finally, there is also the Childcare Grant which may help if you are using childcare provided by a registered provider. More information on all of the above can be found in our online guide: Extra Help - Dependants' Grants which can be found here; http://tsrmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/SFE_1617_MAINGUIDE_DEP_GRANT_D_A.pdf

If you have any further questions, please post them online and I will endeavor to answer them. I'm here today until 12pm.

You can also phone us on 0300 100 0607 between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday, and between 9am and 4pm on Saturday.

Hope the above helps.

Take care, Emma :0)

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 6

Emma Gabriel

Official Rep

Original post by gemmasilcock

Hi Gemma
Many thanks for your post. Your overall entitlement is dependant on your household income with all applications being assessed on an individual basis.

I would suggest that you submit an online application as soon as the 2017/18 application process opens. This will allow us to assess your application and inform you of your full entitlement before your intended course starts.

Submitting an application online does not commit you to attending your course. If you decide not to attend, you just need to let us know and we can cancel your application.

If you are studying on a Full Time basis, are over 25 with a partner and have dependent children, you are eligible to apply for the Adult Dependants Grant (max of £2757), Parental Learning Allowance (max of 1573) and the Childcare Grant (so long as your childcare provider is registered / approved).

Our online guidance "Extra Help - Dependants' Grants" may also help. Alternatively, there's a short film you can watch too. Here are the links:

Online Guide: http://tsrmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/SFE_1617_MAINGUIDE_DEP_GRANT_D_A.pdf

Short Film: https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/content.php?r=20275-New-students-Resources "Extra help for students with children or adult dependants for 2016/17"

Hope the above helps

Take care Emma :0)

Reply 7

TSR Group Staff

posting on behalf of retrohga:

I'm on my 2nd year of my course and I now have a child that is dependent on me. I can't change my details on the website. how will i go about getting more help financially?

Reply 8

beccyt21

Hello!

I was just wondering if anyone can help me. I am hoping to enrol onto an Open University - BA Hons in Primary Education in October this year. But I was just wondering if anyone knows if I will get sny extra help as a single parent. I am currently working and live with my ex partner, we are going through a break up so I am hoping by the time I start in October I will be living alone with my little boy. I also am hoping to quit my job so I can study full time.

Does anyone know if there is any extra help out the financially wise if I am a single parent studying an Open University course?

Thank you

Reply 9

mookieblaylock

Hi
Is there any help with those parents who are studying postgraduate?
Many thanks
Debbie

Reply 10

Katiea86

Hi super new to this, but my husband is a full time student doing his first year. I was thinking about starting uni full time this year as he begins his second year. Does anyone know what student finance will be available to us as a full time student couple? We have 2 dependants and currently get some childcare grant and maint loan etc., but that only covers his half of our bills. Any advice is appreciated! The student finance have just said we would have to apply to find out what we can get, but I'd have to leave my job so need to do alot of research before obviously! Tia xx

Reply 11

Emma Gabriel

Official Rep

Original post by CJ

Hello :0)

Thanks for your post. If you are a Full Time student, please complete and return an Application for Dependants Grants Form which is available via our website.

Here's the link: http://www.sfengland.slc.co.uk/media/6296/sfe_application_for_dependants_grants_form_1617_d.pdf

You'll need to also enclose a copy of your dependant child's birth certificate, together with a copy of all pages of your most recent Child Benefit letter, 16/17 Tax Credits Award Notice or Universal Credit letter. Upon receipt of the above, your application will be re-assessed and you will receive a revised Notification of Entitlement letter noting your revised entitlement.

If you are also using childcare provided by a registered childcare provider, we may also be able to help with the costs. To apply for the Childcare Grant, please complete and return a Childcare Grant Application Form.

The link can be found here. https://www.gov.uk/student-finance-forms/y/uk-full-time/apply-ccg/year-1617 For details on additional support available to you, please see our online guidance "Extra Help - Dependants' Grants." http://tsrmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/SFE_1617_MAINGUIDE_DEP_GRANT_D_A.pdf

There's also a short film you can watch too. https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/content.php?r=20275-New-students-Resources "Extra help for students with children or adult dependants for 2016/17"

Hope the above helps

Take care

Emma :0)

Reply 12

Emma Gabriel

Official Rep

Original post by beccyt21

Hello Beccy

Thanks for your post.

For support available whilst studying at the Open University, I would suggest contacting the Open University direct and also speaking to your "partner" University.
The following link may help:
http://www.open.ac.uk/choose/openplus/fees-and-financial-support

Take care

Emma :0)

Reply 13

Emma Gabriel

Official Rep

Original post by mookieblaylock

Hi
Is there any help with those parents who are studying postgraduate?
Many thanks
Debbie

Hello Debbie

Thanks for your post. If you apply for a Postgraduate Loan, you won’t be eligible for an Adult Dependants’ Grant, a Childcare Grant or Parents’ Learning Allowance.

For further information on the support available when studying a Postgraduate Loan, please see our online guide which may assist your further.

http://media.slc.co.uk/sfe/nysf/pgl/sfe_pgl_main_guide_1617_d.pdf

Take care

Emma :0)

Reply 14

Emma Gabriel

Official Rep

Original post by Katiea86

Hello :0)

Thanks for your post. As a couple, both of whom are over 25, studying on a full time basis with dependant children, you will both be eligible to apply for the Parental Learning Allowance (max amount is currently £1573) and the higher tier of the Maintenance Loan which will include a Special Support element.

The Parental Learning Allowance awarded to each of you will be dependant on your household income. Therefore, your husband will be assessed for his Parental Learning Allowance based on your income from all sources received during the 2015/16 tax year.

Your entitlement will also be based on your household income. This will be the income your husband received from all sources during the 2015/16 tax year.

With regards to the Childcare Grant, this can be claimed by either one of you, but not both. To apply for the Childcare Grant, please complete and return a Childcare Grant Application Form. The link can be found here. https://www.gov.uk/student-finance-forms/y/uk-full-time/apply-ccg/year-1617

In addition to the above, you will both be eligible to apply for Tuition Fees and Disabled Students Allowance (if applicable).

I would suggest that you both submit an online application as soon as the 2017/18 application process opens. By doing so, you are under no obligation or commitment to attend your proposed course. If you decide not to go, just let us know and we will cancel your application. Submitting an online application will give you a better indication of what your entitlement would be.

Upon receipt of the above, your applications will be assessed and you will receive a Notification of Entitlement letter noting your entitlement.

For further information on additional support available, please see our online guidance "Extra Help - Dependants' Grants." http://tsrmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/SFE_1617_MAINGUIDE_DEP_GRANT_D_A.pdf

There's also a short film you can watch too. https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/content.php?r=20275-New-students-Resources "Extra help for students with children or adult dependants for 2016/17"

Hope the above helps

Take care
Emma :0)

Reply 15

Laura SFE

Official Rep

Thanks for your questions.

Emma will be back on Friday at 3 to answer any more questions you have in our second Extra help - children and adult dependants live webchat.