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Extra help for students with children and adult dependants by SLC

Student Money Week 2018

Got a question about what help you can get if you’re a student with children or adult dependants? Our experts are here to help.

Emma has been with Student Finance for over nine years and is one of our Grants for Dependants Senior Assessors, specialising in the Adult Dependants Grant, Parents Learning Allowance and Childcare Grant.

Please be aware all answers will be posted on Thursday 15 February.

Reply 1

Hodhan

3

Anyone studying or applying for nursing/midwifery and is a single mum? I have a few question like how do you manage uni work, placement and being a mum? Also how are you managing financially? I am applying for midwifery 2018 intake.

Reply 2

tgarrigos

HI, I am currently a single mum to two children I am 25 years old and have been unemployed since having my youngest child so receive Income Support, housing benefit and child tax credit. I have applied for university and I am currently studying an access course. I live alone with the two children and I am unsure how finance works once I begin university, I understand that I am going to be really busy being literally on my own with the kids and studying, and I'm really worried as to how I will be able to find time to get paid work alongside uni in the day and children after school.
I would be really grateful if anybody with previous similar experience of this to give advice and literally any info would be appreciated thanks. Toni

Original post by Hodhan

Anyone studying or applying for nursing/midwifery and is a single mum? I have a few question like how do you manage uni work, placement and being a mum? Also how are you managing financially? I am applying for midwifery 2018 intake.

Hi Hodhan

Thanks for your post.

I'm sure some of the other guys will pass you their hints and tips on how they balance family life with Uni!

I thought you may appreciate an idea of what support you can expect to received from SFE when studying full time as a new student in 2018/19 academic year.

All applications are assessed on an individual basis.

You'll be eligible to apply for the following:

Tuition Fee Loan (paid directly to your Uni in three instalments)

Higher rate of Maintenance Loan (paid in three instalments)

Parents Learning Allowance (Max of £1669 and paid in three instalments)

Childcare Grant (paid in three instalments)

Your childcare provider must be registered with a recognised body such as OFSTED.

You are unable to claim the Childcare Grant from SFE at the same time as the Childcare Element of Working Tax Credits from HMRC.

Student Finance England will provide up to 85% of childcare costs whereas HM Revenue and Customs will provide up to 70%.

You can download a 2018/19 Childcare Grant Application form using the link below which also has more information relating to the Childcare Grant.

https://www.gov.uk/childcare-grant/how-to-claim

Why not take a look at our short film for students with dependent children and / or adult dependants 18/19?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6Q6d-lQTJE

Hope the above helps

Emma

Original post by tgarrigos

HI, I am currently a single mum to two children I am 25 years old and have been unemployed since having my youngest child so receive Income Support, housing benefit and child tax credit. I have applied for university and I am currently studying an access course. I live alone with the two children and I am unsure how finance works once I begin university, I understand that I am going to be really busy being literally on my own with the kids and studying, and I'm really worried as to how I will be able to find time to get paid work alongside uni in the day and children after school.
I would be really grateful if anybody with previous similar experience of this to give advice and literally any info would be appreciated thanks. Toni

Hi Toni

Thanks for your post.

Hopefully, some of the guys on here will pass on some useful hints on tips on how they balance Uni, family and work!

Here's what you may be eligible to apply for from SFE.

All applications are assessed on an individual basis.

* Tuition Fee Loan (paid directly to your Uni in three instalments)

* Higher rate of Maintenance Loan (paid in three instalments)

* Parents Learning Allowance (Max of £1669 and paid in three instalments)

* Childcare Grant (paid in three instalments)

Useful things to remember:

Your childcare provider must be registered with a recognised body such as OFSTED.

You are unable to claim the Childcare Grant from SFE at the same time as the Childcare Element of Working Tax Credits from HMRC.

Student Finance England will provide up to 85% of childcare costs whereas HM Revenue and Customs will provide up to 70%.

Additional info:

You can download a 2018/19 Childcare Grant Application form using the link below which also has more information relating to the Childcare Grant.

https://www.gov.uk/childcare-grant/how-to-claim

Why not take a look at our short film for students with dependent children and / or adult dependants 18/19?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6Q6d-lQTJE

Finally, if you haven't done so already, complete and submit your online application to avoid any delays

Hope the above helps and best of luck

Emma

** Why not watch our short film for students with children and adult dependants?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6Q6d-lQTJE

** Here's another short film which will explain the application process. Take a peak!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04pv7ZrxewE

Childcare Grant

You may be eligible for help with your learning costs if you:

•

are a full-time higher education student

•

have children under 15, or under 17 if they have special educational needs

Income-related, unemployment and housing benefits are not affected by a Childcare Grant.

The Childcare Grant:

•

doesn’t have to be paid back

•

is paid on top of your other student finance

What you'll get

You can get up to 85% of your childcare costs.

The amount you’ll get depends on:

•

your household income

•

the cost of your childcare

•

the number of children who are dependent on you

2018 to 2019 academic year:

The maximum you can get is:

•

up to £164.70 a week for 1 child

•

up to £282.36 a week for 2 or more children

If you don’t give details about your childcare provider on your application form, your first payment will be a maximum of £127.33 a week or 85% of your estimate (whichever is less).

How you’re paid

You’ll receive the money in 3 instalments over the academic year. The payments will usually be made at the start of each term, directly into your bank account.

Any money you get is paid on top of your student finance and you don’t have to pay it back.

Need a form?
Use the link below:

https://www.gov.uk/childcare-grant/how-to-claim

Additional help for students with dependent children

Parents Learning Allowance

You may be eligible for help with your learning costs if you’re a full-time student with children. This is called Parents’ Learning Allowance.

How much you get depends on your household income.

The allowance:

•

doesn’t have to be paid back

•

is paid on top of your other student finance

•

won’t affect your benefits or tax credit

What you’ll get

Depending on your household income, in the 2018 to 2019 academic year you could get between £50 and £1,669 a year.

It’s usually paid in 3 instalments direct to your bank account, one at the start of each term.

You can apply for the Parents’ Learning Allowance when you apply for Student Finance.

Adult Dependants' Grant

If you’re a full-time student in higher education and an adult depends on you financially, you can apply for an Adult Dependants’ Grant of up to:

•

£2,925 for the 2018 to 2019 academic year

The grant:

•

doesn’t have to be paid back

•

is paid on top of your other student finance

You can’t get an Adult Dependants’ Grant if you’re getting a Postgraduate Loan.

Adult Dependants’ Grant will affect any income-related benefits and tax credits you might get.

What it’s based on

The amount you get depends on:

•

your income

•

the adult dependant’s income

•

your personal circumstances, for example if you’re married or have children