Hardship funds
Discretionary funds paid by colleges and universities for course or living costs may be called hardship funds, the Access to Learning Fund (although this no longer exists, institutions may still refer to it), the Financial Contingency Fund or other discretionary support funds.
1para 30305 DMGHardship funds are treated differently from student grants and loans. In general, if these funds are paid for course costs, they should be disregarded. If they are paid for living costs, they should be treated as capital if paid in a lump sum,
2IS Reg 61 IS Regs
JSA Reg 130 JSA Regs
ESA Reg 131 ESA Regs
HB Reg 53 HB Regs or as income if paid regularly.
3IS Reg 61(1) IS Regs
JSA Reg 130(1) JSA Regs
ESA Reg 131(1) ESA Regs
HB Reg 53(1) HB Regs Your learning provider should be able to give you a letter for the relevant benefit office explaining the purpose of the payment.
Payments from the 16–19 bursary
fund in England are not taken into account when calculating entitlement to income-related benefits.
4IS Reg 68 IS Regs
JSA Reg 138 JSA Regs
ESA Reg 142 ESA Regs
HB Reg 68 HB Regs Learning providers have also been sent guidance that any payments made on a regular basis from the fund should be clearly marked as being for course costs. You should receive a letter from your provider stating what payments are for to take to the benefits office.
Grants from further education funds specifically for childcare are disregarded altogether.
5IS Reg 66B IS Regs
JSA Reg 136A JSA Regs
ESA Reg 138 ESA Regs
HB Reg 65 HB Regs