Financial Support for Student Parents
What financial help is available to me?
If you are under 20 years old, the Care to Learn scheme can pay up to £160 per child per week for your childcare and associated travel costs while you’re in education. To find out more please take a look at the Directgov website or contact the Care to Learn helpline on 0800 121 8989.
There is also funding available in the form of the Learner Support Fund and the Educational Maintenance Allowance. If you’re a full-time higher education student with dependent children, you may be able to get extra financial help. The Childcare Grant can help with childcare costs, and the Parents’ Learning Allowance with costs related to your course. Other help includes Child Tax Credit and potentially the Access to Learning Fund.
Childcare Grant
The Child Care Grant (CCG) is
available for full time Higher Education students with dependent
children who are in registered childcare. It is paid in three
installments from the Student Loans Company with your loan and any
other dependants' grants that you may be eligible for.
How much help you get depends on your income and that of your
dependants, but the CCG can cover up to 85% of your child care
costs, both during term time and the vacations. For one child this
means that you could claim up to £148.75 a week, and if there are
two or more children then you could claim up to £255 a week. You do
not have to repay this grant and Jobcentre Plus and Housing Benefit
departments won't count the CCG when they calculate your benefit
entitlement.
You can not get this grant if you, your partner or spouse receive the childcare element of Working Tax Credit.
Parents’ Learning Allowance
If you have at least one dependant child you may be able to claim
up to £1,435 a year for help with course related costs. This
replaces the Travel, Books and Equipment Grant. How much you
receive depends on your income, and the income of your husband or
wife or partner. It is paid with your Student Loan. This income is
not taken into account for Benefit purposes.
How do I apply?
You can apply to Student
Finance England via the
Directgov website.
Child Tax Credit (CTC) (paid by the
Inland Revenue)
Child Tax Credits are available to
support families with children. They are paid directly into the
bank account of the person in the family who is mainly responsible
for looking after the children. You do not have to be in paid work
to receive Child Tax Credit. Students with children are entitled to
make a claim, as long as you are over 16 and responsible for one or
more child. You may qualify for CTC at a higher rate if you have a
child under one year old or have a child with a disability.
How do I apply for Child Tax Credits?
You can order a claim pack over the telephone by calling the Tax
Credits helpline on 0845 300 3900, text phone 0845 300 3909. Lines
are open every day (except Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's
Day and Easter Sunday) from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm.
When calling make sure that you know or have your National Insurance number with you as you will need to give this as proof of your identity.
Other Benefits
If you are a lone parent you may be entitled to some benefits such
as Income Support and Housing Benefit. These benefits are "means
tested" so you may find that during term time your student income
will be too high for you to be awarded anything but during the 10
weeks of the long summer vacation you may be eligible. For
more information on benefits please have a look at http://www.direct.gov.uk/.
Horizons Grants
This is a new charitable scheme for lone parents who are finding it
hard to afford the costs of school uniforms and school trips, or
costs associated with their own education or training.
Have a look at www.fwa.org.uk/horizons.html or call Family Action on 020 7254 6251 for more information.