Mature Students with Children

Can I get funding from my LEA?

There are 4 different grants available to full-time students with dependents to help them meet the costs of Higher Education.

1. The Childcare Grant

   For lone parents, students married to other students and students who have a spouse with a low income or disability who have dependant children under 15 (or 17 if the child has special educational needs.) The grant will now pay 85% of your actual childcare costs. Importantly if you claim other benefits the grants will not be taken as income when calculating your other entitlements.

2. Additional Help from your LEA

   New for 2003/04 – Parents Learning Allowance
   Full time students with dependant children who receive the childcare Grant or whose spouse’s or partner’s income is set below a certain amount. A grant of up to £1,470 is available.

3. Lone Parents Grant

   Full time students with dependant children can claim a grant of up to £1,270 to cover 52 weeks of the year, starting from the first day of the course.

4. Childcare Grant for Lone Parents’

   The Childcare Grant is an additional grant for students claiming Lone Parent Grants. You can receive up to £1,185 a year towards the cost for registered childcare.

5. Adult Dependants Grant

   For full time students with adult dependants a grant of up to £2,575 a year is available.

Can I claim Tax Credits and Benefits?

From April 2003 the Government introduced two new tax credits, these are:

1. Child Tax Credit

   Available to support families with children. It is income-related support which is paid directly into the bank account of the person mainly responsible for the acre of children.

2. Working Tax Credit

   Paid to people who have a low income, with or without children. There is, however a childcare element to this tax credit. For more information visit: www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/taxcredits

Benefits

Student parents are regarded as a ‘vulnerable group’ and therefore may be eligible for income-related benefits to support living costs i.e. Housing benefits. Contact your local Jobcentre Plus for more information.