Funding Guide

Gettingpromoted

1

Funding guide for adult learners

Your future. Your choice.Your action.

September 2011

Yourcontents

01 Learning is priceless

02 What’s on offer?• Quick guide

04 Full-time study guide• Further Education

• Higher Education

06 Part-time study guide• Further Education

• Higher Education

08 Getting back to work

09 Learning at work

10 Learning in the community

10 Reading, Writing and Maths

11 Funding for learning• Student Finance Wales

• Student Loans –Higher Education

• Maintenance Loans –Higher Education

• Tuition Fees – Higher Education

• Fee Grant – Higher EducationPart-Time

• Financial Contingency Funds

• Assembly Learning Grant –Further Education

• Assembly Learning Grant –Higher Education

• Professional Career Development Loans(PCDL)

• Childcare Support

• Parents Learning Allowance

• Adults Dependant Grant

• Disabled Student Allowances

16 Getting back to Work• The Work Programme

• Redundancy Action (ReAct II)

• Traineeships

• Steps to Employment

• Flexible Learning Provision

• Genesis Wales 2

• GO Wales

18 Learning at Work• Foundation Apprenticeship

• Apprenticeship

• Higher Apprenticeship

19 Grants and Bursaries• Teacher Training Support

• NHS Bursaries

• Charities

• Employer Support

• Trade Union Support

22 Further Benefits• Child Tax Credit

• Income Support

• Jobseeker’s Allowance

• Housing Benefit

• Council Tax Exemption

• Help with Health Costs

24 Find out more

Learningis priceless

Learning is priceless. It opens doors to opportunities and can make a realdifference to your life.

You can do it!

Embrace new skills and qualifications, meetnew friends and increase your confidence.

But what about the cost of learning?Can you really afford it?

The good news is that there are manysources available to help meet individual’sfinancial needs. One or more of them maywell apply to you.

Call the learning and careers advice line FREE on

0800 100 900

ESF

Your future.Your choice.Your action.

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The financial support available will depend onyour situation, including personal income andfamily circumstances, your age, where youwant to study and whether you are learningfull or part-time.

Funding can be obtained in the form of a directcash grant, a loan, a free pass or reduced fee levels.

Support can come from the Welsh Government,the local council or directly from the learningprovider where you plan to study.

Remember to ask if your course is backed byEuropean Funds as this might make it cheaperfor you or even free of charge.

Support may be available from an employer, atrade union, a charitable foundation or trust, abank or even the European Union. See the section

on special grants and bursaries pages 19 –21.Sponsorship or a scholarship is a possibility if youshow real flair in the field you want to study. This isto ensure that cash problems don’t stand in theway of real talent.

If you or your family are on benefit of any kind,make sure you check how any support you receivefor your learning might affect your benefits.

Check out the benefits section on pages 22 –23 orcall your local Jobcentre Plus office for more details.

You may qualify for housing benefit on a part-timecourse to help you with your rent or for anexemption or reduction in your Council Tax.Check the Housing Benefit and Council Taxsections on pages 23 and 24 and call your localcouncil for more details.

Here’s a breakdown of who might qualify forfunding and what’s available


What’son offer?

Yourquick guide

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•tnarG’stnadnepeDstludA

Assembly Learning Grant • •

Professional Career Development Loan • • •

Charitable Scholarship/Bursary • •

•tifeneBdlihC

Childcare Support • • • •

••••tiderCxaTdlihC

Council Tax Exemption/Reduction • • •

Dance & Drama Awards • •

Disabled Student Allowances •

•troppuSreyolpmE

Financial Contingency Fund • •

•noisivorPgninraeLelbixelF

•pihsecitnerppAnoitadnuoF

•selaWOG

Help with Health Costs • • • •

••••tifeneBgnisuoH

••••troppuSemocnI

LCWBG/WLEHEFgnidnuffoepyT

Jobseeker’s Allowance • • •

•pihsecitnerppA

•The Work Programme

•

•NHS Bursaries

•Parents’ Learning Allowance

Higher Apprenticeship

•

•

Redundancy Action [ReAct II]

•Traineeships/Steps to Employment

Student Loans

•Teacher Training Support

•Trade Union Support

•Tuition Fee Support

• ••

•

••Working Tax Credit

Genesis Cymru Wales 2

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FE Further EducationHE Higher EducationLW / GBW Learning at work / Getting back to workCL Community Learning

NB: This is a general guide and is by no means a definitive list of the sources of funding available. It is only accurate at the time of going to press.For further details please contact the relevant organisation mentioned in this publication.

• •

•

•

Full-timestudy guide

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Further Education Extra SupportIf you’re studying full-time, you may be chargedtuition fees. Most further education colleges have policies that offer either free or discountedtuition to learners on means-tested benefits, on low income or disabled. You may also qualifyfor the following:• Assembly Learning Grant from

Student Finance Wales.• Financial Contingency Funds via your local

further education college. • A Career Development Loan can help you with

costs such as fees and materials if you don’tqualify for any other support, providing thelearning is vocational (vocational means it gives you the skills needed for an occupation,trade or profession).

For further information on the support availablefor further education, contact the student welfareor awards officer at your college.

Higher EducationGoing to university can be a happy yet expensivetime but, if you’re studying full-time, there is arange of support available to help you. You mayapply for the following:

• Student Finance Wales services are available to you if you normally live in Wales. They couldhelp you with your tuition fees as well as the cost of living through a Student Loan orAssembly Learning Grant, depending on your personal circumstances.

• There is a range of extra support if you havedependants including an: Adult Dependants’Grant, Parents’ Learning Allowance and aChildcare Grant if you expect to have childcarecosts whilst you are learning.

• If you have a disability and you need extrasupport or equipment in order to access yourcourse, Disabled Student Allowances will helpcover the costs.

For more information contact your local authorityor call 0845 602 8845 or visitwww.studentfinancewales.co.uk

Part-timestudy guide

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Further EducationIf you are in part time education you may be charged tuition fees. If you are in receipt of means-tested benefits, on low income or are disabled, you may be eligible for free ordiscounted tuition. Contact your local college for further information, www.mylocalcollege.com

Your college may also be able to help you throughthe following support:

• Financial Contingency Fund this is designed to cover the cost of learning materials, travel,childcare and living costs it depends on yourcircumstances and the level of your income.

• A Professional Career Development Loanmay help you with costs such as fees andmaterials if you don’t qualify for any othersupport, providing the learning is vocational.

• Jobseeker’s Allowance is available if you’re out of work and studying part-time as long asyour course is less than 16 hours a week andyou can show you’re still available for work.Check this with your local Jobcentre Plus.

• You may be eligible for an Assembly LearningGrant if you are studying a course that involvesat least 275 hours of study and leads to anationally recognised qualification.

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Higher Education – Part-TimeIf you’re on a part-time course in Wales that is 50%or more of an equivalent full-time course you canapply for the following from Student Finance Wales:

• Fee grant to help with the cost of your fees and acourse grant to meet the cost of books, traveland course expenditure, depending on yourhousehold income.

If your course amounts to 30 credits per year, you may also be eligible for the following:

• Financial Contingency Fund may also be eligibleto apply for help if you are studying in Wales.

• A Career Development Loan if you can show your course will benefit your job prospects.

Part-time higher education students withdisabilities can apply for a Disabled Students’Allowance designed to pay for any equipment orstaff support directly related to their disability.

Getting backto work

If you’ve been out of a job for a while, you can take part in the following:

• The Work Programme is a new UKGovernment initiative to provide a singlepackage of support for benefit claimants.

• Traineeships are for young people age 16-17in Wales; although individuals aged 18 maybe eligible who have left school or college.It is designed to give you the skills you needto get a job or progress to further learning ata higher level such as an Apprenticeship orfurther education.

• Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit people onwork based learning programmes can still obtainthis. If you currently receive Jobseeker’s Allowanceyou will continue to receive this while you learn.

• ReAct II If you are under current notice ofredundancy, or you have become unemployedin the last six months as a result of redundancyand have not been in continuous employment forsix weeks or more since being made redundant,you may be eligible for support under ReAct II.

This is a package of support that will assist youin gaining new skills to improve your chancesof returning to work in the shortest timepossible. Depending on your circumstances thesupport can include a contribution towards thecost of training and, in some cases, financialsupport for travel, accomodation and childcareprovision. If you have special needs, you may beable to get help with equipment needed fortraining. The ReAct II programme can offeremployers awage subsidy and training grant ifthey employ a redundant worker.

• Genesis Cymru Wales 2 Do you feel there aretoo many obstacles in your way, stopping youfrom getting what you want from life? GenesisCymru Wales 2 will help you remove thosebarriers and give you the confidence, the skillsand the opportunities to get into learning,improve your skills and find that job!

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• Steps to Employment is a new learning programme in Wales. It aims to help unemployed adults aged 18 and over, who are in receipt of a Department for Work and Pensions benefit, to access purposeful training and work experience opportunities in preparation for employment or further learning.

Learningat work

Whether you’re starting your career or anestablished worker wanting to move ahead,there are several ways to get support todevelop your skills.

• Foundation Apprenticeships , Apprenticeshipsor Higher Apprenticeships. You will be employedand offered free training, however your employermay be asked to make a contribution.

.

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• Flexible Learning Provision gives you the option of undertaking one or more qualifications from a Foundation Apprenticeship, Apprenticeship or Higher Apprenticeship Framework that is relevant and appropriate to your employer’s needs, without having to complete the entire Apprenticeship framework.

Please note: If you’ve got a disability you may stillqualify for certain benefits during your training.It’s best to check with your local Jobcentre Plus.In certain circumstances you might qualify forCouncil Tax Exemption or reduction during yourtraining. Check this out with your local council.

Learning in the community

Reading, writing and maths

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There are hundreds of part-time adult educationcourses available in community centres andsimilar locations close to where you live. You mayalso be eligible for help with the following:

• Career Development Loan if your course leadsto a work related qualification.

• Genesis Cymru Wales 2 will help you remove those barriers and give you the confidence, the skills and the opportunities to get into learning,improve your skills, and find that job!

• Transport, childcare and learning materialscheck with your local council for details.

If you’re tackling basic literacy skills andnumber work problems you may qualify forfree or discounted tuition fees. For detailscontact the learning and careers advice lineon 0800 100 900.

Fundingfor learning

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Student Finance WalesIf you are a full-time student in higher educationyou may have two main costs to pay – your livingcosts; and your contribution towards tuition fees.If you normally live in Wales, Student FinanceWales could help with both:

Student LoansHigher Education• Student Loans are available to pay for living

(maintenance) expenses and the cost of tuition fees.

• Student loans are not commercial loans. They are provided by the Government, with the interestrate linked to inflation – so that the money yourepay is the same in real terms as the money

you borrowed. You start repaying the loans whenyou are earning more than £15,000 a year andthen at a rate of 9% of any income you receiveabove the £15,000 a year threshold.

Maintenance LoansHigher EducationThese are designed to help with your living costs while you’re studying. Three annual ratesare available if you start your studies in 2011, the rates are: • Living at home £3,673• Living away from home £4,745• Living away from home and studying in

London £6,648.

The maintenance loan comes from StudentFinance Wales and you’ll qualify if you are agedunder 60 and pursuing a full-time or sandwichcourse in higher education, including initialteacher training. For further information contactyour local authority or call the Student FinanceWales Contact Centre on 0845 602 8845 or visitwww.studentfinancewales.co.uk

FundingSupport

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Tuition Fee LoansHigher EducationTuition fees don’t have to be paid before you startyour course. Regardless of where you study in the UK you can apply for a tuition fee loan of up to £3,375, which is paid directly to your place ofstudy. You won’t start repaying your loan untilafter you leave your course and start earning over £15,000 a year.

Fee grantPart-time onlyPart-time students who start their course in 2011in Wales that are 50% or more of an equivalentfull-time course can apply for support. Thisincludes a fee grant of up to £1,000. You can alsoapply for assistance with course related costsworth up to £1,125. Students who already have a degree cannot normally apply for this support.

Alternatively, if you’re studying part-time at aWelsh institution and you’re a mature student or have dependants, you might be eligible forsupport under the part-time undergraduate feewaiver scheme. However, if you receive supportunder this scheme you will not be able to receivethe part-time fee grant and course grant above.For further details contact the institution whereyou plan to study.

Financial Contingency FundsSometimes known as Access or Hardship Funds,these are funds designed to help students facingfinancial hardship to meet the cost of things likebooks, travel, childcare, accommodation orgeneral living expenses.

You can apply at the start of your course or duringyour course, if financial problems arise. It is up toyour university or college to decide whether youshould receive an award from the FinancialContingency Fund.

Sometimes this money is given as a short termloan, or paid directly to a third party such as achildcare provider, instead of a cash grant. It’s up to the university or college to decide. To qualify for support you must be studying at a publicly funded further or higher educationinstitution in Wales. If you are a part-time highereducation student you must be studying at leasthalf of an equivalent full-time course. Similararrangements to the Financial Contingency Fundapply in England through the Access to LearningFund and Learner Support Funds schemes.

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Assembly Learning GrantFurther EducationGovernment, this grant provides support to helppeople from low-income families to access andremain in further education. It covers the cost ofbooks, equipment and travel. To qualify you muststudy at least 275 hours a year on a course thatleads to a nationally recognised qualification.

• To qualify, you or your family’s income mustbe less than £18,370 a year.

• The maximum grant is £1,500 for full timestudy and £750 for part time. For moreinformation contact your local collegeor visit www.studentfinancewales.co.uk/ALG

Assembly Learning GrantHigher EducationThis is a grant available to full-time studentsstarting higher education courses. In 2011 it is agrant of up to £5,600 a year. The help you mayreceive depends on your income and families.

• If this income is £18,370 or less, you will beentitled to the full amount of grant.

• If the income is between £18,370 and £50,020you will receive part of the grant.

• If the income is over £50,020, you will not beentitled to the grant.

The Assembly Learning Grant is usually paid withyour student loan. It does not have to be repaid.

• For further information contact your localauthority or call the Student Finance WalesContact Centre on 0845 602 8845 or visitwww.studentfinancewales.co.uk


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FundingSupport

Childcare SupportIf you are in full-time or part-time highereducation and need help with childcare costs, you can claim towards the costs of registered or accredited childcare during term time andshort vacations.

• One child up to £161.50 per week

• Two or more children up to £274.55 per week

• For further information contact your localauthority, or call the StudentFinance WalesContact Centre on 0845 602 8845.

If you are in Further Education or part-timeHigher Education and are studying at aninstitution or college in Wales you can apply forhelp from the following:

• Financial Contingency Fund, Wales

• Access to Learning Fund and Learner SupportFunds, England (for more information contactyour university or college).

Professional Career Development Loans (PCDL)These are loans of between £300 and £10,000which you can borrow to support any course of learning that will help you in your career.

The Government pays the interest while you’relearning and you don’t start repaying until youfinish. It will cover up to 80% of your course feesor 100% if you’ve been out of work for 3 monthsor more, plus the cost of books and otherlearning materials.

The loans come from three high street bankstaking part in the scheme and anyone canqualify, particularly if they don’t qualify forfunding through their local authority. For moreinformation contact a Next Steps Careers Adviser on 0800 100 900.

If you are on a work based learning course you can apply for help from the learning providerwhere you’re studying. If you are staying in school or are learning in the community youshould apply for help from the local council where you’re studying.

• For information about childcare that isavailable in your area call 0800 096 0296 or visit www.education.gov.uk

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Adult Dependants GrantThis is designed to help you support adultdependants in your household while you’restudying full-time in higher education. You canclaim up to £2,647 a year if you have a husband,wife or partner or another adult member of yourfamily who depends on you financially. The grantavailable will depend on your own and yourdependants income. For more informationcontact your local authority or call the StudentFinance Wales Contact Centre on 0845 602 8845or visit www.studentfinancewales.co.uk

Disabled Student AllowancesIf you’re disabled and you need additionalequipment or support in order to undertake a course or training programme, a DisabledStudent Allowance (DSA) will help cover the cost.

Extra support from the DSA could include the following:

• Specialist equipment.

• A non-medical helper’s allowance.

• Help towards the additional costs of travellingto your institution.

• A general allowance. These allowances areavailable if you’re studying full-time or part-time in higher education.

If you’re studying part-time, you must be doing at least the equivalent of half a full-time course.

• Claim up to £5,166 for equipment for the wholeperiod of your course

• Claim up to £20,520 a year for specialist non-medical staff, or £15,390 if part-time.

• A Disabled Student Allowance of up to £1,729 if you’re full-time or £1,296 if you’re part-time.

This allowance doesn’t depend on your incomeand you don’t have to pay it back. Ask your localauthority for more details.

Parents’ Learning AllowanceThe Parents’ Learning Allowance, worth up to£1,508 per year, will help with course relatedcosts for students who have dependant children.This grant is available to full-time highereducation students. How much you get dependson your income and that of your dependants(including your husband, wife or partner).

Your Local Education Authority will be able toadvise you on how much help you might get.Jobcentre Plus will not count this grant whenthey work out your benefit entitlement.


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Getting backto work

The Work ProgrammeThis is the new UK Government initiative toprovide a single package of support for thefollowing customer groups:

• Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants aged 18-24• Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants aged 25+• Employment and Support Allowance claimants• Incapacity Benefit claimants

For further information, visit www.dwp.gov.uk

Redundancy Action (ReAct II)If you are under current notice of redundancy,or you have become unemployed in the last sixmonths as a result of redundancy and have notbeen in continuous employment for six weeks or more since being made redundant, you may be eligible for support under ReAct.

This is a package of support that will assist you ingaining new skills to improve your chances ofreturning to work in the shortest time possible.Depending on your circumstances the supportcan include a contribution towards the cost oftraining and, in some cases, support for travel,accomodation and childcare provison. If you havespecial needs, you may be able to get help withequipment needed for training. ReAct II can offeremployers a wage subsidy and training grant if they employ a redundant worker.

Any support is additional to, and will be offeredin collaboration with, a wide range of support onoffer from our partner organisations, includingJobcentre Plus and Careers Wales. For furtherdetails contact your nearest Careers WalesCentre/Shop.

Steps to EmploymentThis is a new learning programme in Wales.It aims to help unemployed adults aged 18 andover, who are in receipt of a Department for Workand Pensions benefit, to access purposefultraining and work experience opportunitiesin preparation for employment or furtherlearning.

For further information visit your local JobcentrePlus.

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TraineeshipsA Traineeship is for young people aged 16-17 in Wales; although some individuals aged 18 may be eligible who have left school or college.It is designed to give you the skills you need toget a job or progress to further learning at ahigher level such as an Apprenticeship orFurther Education. For further information, call0800 100 900 or visit www.careerswales.com

Flexible Learning ProvisionGives you the option of undertaking one or morequalifications from a Foundation Apprenticeship,Apprenticeship or Higher ApprenticeshipFramework that is relevant and appropriate toyour employer’s needs, without having tocomplete the entire Apprenticeship Framework.For further information, call 0845 60 661 60.

Genesis Cymru Wales 2Take the simple steps back into learning or work.Bit by bit, we’ll show you the way, starting withshort taster courses to build your confidence.

We can talk you through what qualifications youneed for the type of work you’re looking for,advise you on the courses that are right for you,and even show you how you can find opportunitiesfor work experience and volunteering work.

We can help with the things that may be stoppingyou from taking part in training or work. Forexample, we could get you help to find childcare,or grants to cover course fees, travel andequipment costs.

Find out if you’re eligible for support: Phone: 0300 123 7777 www.wales.gov.uk

GO WalesGO Wales offers a range of services proven tohelp students, graduates and businesses inWales including: work placements, workexperience, funding for training and an onlinedatabase of jobs in Wales. For further informationgo to www.gowales.co.uk

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Learningat work

As an apprentice you will be employed andreceiving a wage!

ApprenticeshipsFor people of any age who want to learn while in a job and complete an apprenticeship frameworkwith qualifications at QCF level 3.

• It combines practical job training with off-the-job learning and you’ll get paid a wage.

• You won’t be asked to pay, but your employermay be asked to contribute towards the costof the training.

Foundation ApprenticeshipsFor people of any age who want to learn while in a job and complete an apprenticeship frameworkwith qualifications at QCF level 2.

• You’ll be paid the wage for the job by the employer.

• You may receive a financial contributiontowards travel costs and, in some areas,support for childcare.

Higher ApprenticeshipsFor people of any age who want to learn whilein a job and complete an apprenticeshipframework and qualifications at QCF level 4.

• This training is designed to pave the way forpeople to purse an Apprenticeship.

Grants andbursaries

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In addition to local councils, colleges,universities and government agencies thereare many other organisations that providesupport for learners. These are often charitiesand foundations that have set up funds toencourage talented people to pursue specificcareers.

Teacher Training SupportThere is special help available if you are alreadya graduate and planning to start teacher training,including a bursary of £9,000 for priority subjectsincluding Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Welsh.£6,000 for Biology, Combined/General Scienceand Modern Foreign Languages.

If your course leads to Qualified TeacherStatus you’ll get your tuition fees paid in full.

If you are following a secondary postgraduatecourse training through the medium of Welshmay be eligible for the £1,500 Welsh mediumimprovement supplement (£1,800 for traineestaking physics, chemistry and mathematics courses). When you qualify there is an expectation that you will look for a post in a Welsh medium school. You can get moreinformation on teacher training supportfrom the Welsh Language TeachingInformation Line on 0800 389 2500.

English speakers in Wales can call theTeaching Information Line on 0800 085 0971,where you can also get information on the

financial incentives available for students attending teacher training courses at collegesin England.

Grants andbursaries

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NHS BursariesNHS Bursaries are available for full-time or part-time pre registration courses in a wide variety ofsubject areas. To be eligible you must be acceptedfor an NHS funded place. If you are an NHSfunded student studying at degree or diplomalevel, you will also have to meet certain conditionsof residence.

NHS students studying a degree level course areeligible for payments from the following:

• Financial Contingency Fund (or Access toLearning Fund if you are studying in England).

• A reduced-rate student loan from your localeducation authority.

However, if you are studying at Diploma (post-graduate) level you will not be eligible for these payments. For further informationcontact the NHS Wales Students Awards Unit on 02920 196 167 or, if you are planning to study in England, visit the NHS Pensions Agency Student Grants websitewww.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/students

CharitiesThere are a large number of charitable foundationsacross the UK that provide scholarships andbursaries to fund the education of mature studentsinterested in studying something related to thefield covered by the charity concerned. Usually only a handful of grants are made by any oneorganisation each year. If you do get funding youmight be asked to do a report or make apresentation on your studies.

For information on financial backing from charitablefoundations or similar organisations contact theEducational Grants Advisory Service on 020 72546251, or refer in your local library to the CharitiesDigest which contains information on more than5,000 charities and other voluntary organisations.

www.family-action.org.uk provides usefulinformation on Educational Grants Programme.

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Employer SupportIf you’ve already undertaken training with anemployer they may be willing to sponsor you tofurther your degree or diploma at university orfurther education college. This can take the formof paying for your fees and books.

If you are studying for the following:

• Part-time you may get paid for the time you’reaway from the workplace attending classes or lectures.

• Full-time you may not get a wage while you’reaway, but you’re usually guaranteed out-of-termwork back with your sponsoring employer.

There is usually an understanding that you willcontinue to work with that employer for a periodafter you complete your studies, so they can getthe benefit of your new knowledge and skills. Many companies have employee developmentschemes to help their staff to fund other kinds oflearning, so it’s worth consulting the personneldepartment or other relevant person to see what’s on offer. It’s entirely up to your employerhow much support they give, so you’ll need todiscuss it with them and agree a package.


Trade Union SupportTrade Unions often have funds set aside to helpmembers. This is sometimes confined to studyrelated to the occupational field covered by theunion. The amounts available vary from union tounion, but these are not usually large sums andyou would probably have to combine them withcash from other sources.

• Guidance on union support for learning can be obtained from The General Federation ofTrades Unions Educational Trust. Call them on 020 7520 8340.

Furtherbenefits

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Although most full-time students are notentitled to social security benefits, certainstudents, including single parents anddisabled students, may be eligible for socialsecurity benefits.

If you want to take a course of full-time educationyou should always ask at your local JobcentrePlus office how this will affect your benefits.

Child Tax CreditStudents with children will be entitled to claim ChildTax Credit from the Inland Revenue, which is paid to parents whether or not they are working orstudying. To qualify for Child Tax Credit you must: be responsible for a child under 16. You can claim ifthe child or young person is: aged 16 and under, up

to 1 September after their 16th birthday; aged under19, 20 in certain circumstances; if they’re still infull time education (up to and including ‘A’ levels,NVQ level three or approved training like SkillBuild and Foundation Apprenticeships).

• If the young person is aged between 16 and 17and they’re not in full time education, you canclaim Child Tax Credit if all of the followingapply: they don’t have a job or training place(unless on an approved training course); theyhave signed up with the Careers Service.

• You will qualify for Child Tax Credit at a higherrate if your child or one of your children is underone year old or is disabled. Students receivingthe maximum amount of Child Tax Credit arealso entitled to free school meals for their

children. How much you get will depend on your circumstances.

• To find out if you are eligible call the Tax CreditInformation Line on 0845 300 3900 (option 4) or visit www.taxcredits.inlandrevenue.gov.uk

Income SupportIncome Support is available if you are on a lowincome and not working, or working an average ofless than 16 hours per week, you may qualify forIncome Support. If you’re studying full or part-timeyou may be able to claim income support if you’rea lone parent, sick, disabled or registered blind.

The amount of Income Support you get depends alsoon your partner’s income if you live with a partner.

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• Contact your local social security office for more details.

For enquires/claims for income support, job seekersallowance, employment and support allowance –call 0800 055 66 88, text phone 0800 023 48 88.

Jobseeker’s AllowanceJobseeker’s Allowance is for people who areactively looking for employment. In certaincircumstances you can still receive this allowanceif you’re studying part-time, as long as you’reavailable for work. This rule also applies to Open University courses.

If you have been out of work for two years or more,you can do a full-time course linked to specificemployment, without losing your allowance.

In addition, full-time students may qualify forJobseeker’s Allowance during the summervacation if they are responsible for a child. The level of support depends either upon yourprevious National Insurance payments or uponyour current income.

• Contact your local Jobcentre Plus for more details.

Housing BenefitHousing Benefit helps you with the cost of your rentif you’re on a low income. You wouldn’t normallyqualify if you’re a full-time student, but you maybe able to get this support if you’re disabled, havechildren, or are having to live away from yourparents and are in receipt of Income Support.

• Your local council will advise you and provideyou with application

Council Tax ExemptionYou don’t normally have to pay council tax ifyou’re in full-time further or higher education.This could save you several hundred pounds ayear or even more, depending on which councilarea you’re based in. You may also be able to geta reduction in your council tax if your partner is a full-time student.

• For further information ask your local council.

Help with Health costsIf you’re studying full-time you may be able to get help with health costs, including free NHSprescriptions, dental treatment, eye tests andglasses, if you need them. If you need to makeregular visits to hospital, you may also be eligibleto claim towards your transport costs.

• For further information call 0845 850 1166.

Findout more

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These are just some of the ways you can get financial and practicalsupport for your learning.

For more detailed information and advice, contact your local Careers WalesCentre/Shop or visit www.careerswales.com

For information on education support, contact your local authority. There’salso a useful piece of software known as Fundfinder which will help youfind literally hundreds of potential sources of support. It will also show youhow to apply.

A larger text format of this brochure can be downloaded on ourpublications page at www.wales.gov.uk

You can also get Braille and audio-tape versions of this guide by calling08456 088066.

0800 100 900 YourFutureChoiceAction.org.uk

For more information:

• Call the learning and careers advice line FREE on 0800 100 900

• Contact your local Jobcentre Plus office

• Contact your local Careers Centre/Shop

• Visit www.wales.gov.uk

• Visit www.careerswales.com

Notes

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Documents

Funding Guide