Student Support and Benefits Handbook 2020/21Appendix 1 Information and advice
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Student Support and Benefits Handbook 2021/22

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Information and advice
Student support
Official guidance
The Department for Education issues guidance via the Student Loans Company on existing higher education student support legislation for England and forthcoming provisions. The guidance has no legal standing, but may be quoted in an appeal. It is available at www.practitioners.slc.co.uk and includes:
    •notes for funding bodies on the student support regulations;
    •Student Support Information Notes;
    •notes announcing forthcoming student support provision.
The Department for Education also issues guidance to providers and partners on the learner support schemes in further education in England. These can be found at gov.uk/esfa.
Information and guidance on funding in Wales is available at studentfinancewales.co.uk/practitioners.
Information and support fund guidance for higher education institutions in Northern Ireland is available on the Department for the Economy website at economy-ni.gov.uk/articles/higher-education-student-finance.
Advice
Contact student advisers within institutions and students’ unions for advice on student support. A list of advisory services is available on the website of the National Association of Student Money Advisers at nasma.org.uk.
Social security benefits and tax credits
Publications
The following are available from CPAG at 30 Micawber Street, London N1 7TB. You can order online at shop.cpag.org.uk, or by telephone on 020 7837 7979.
    •Benefits for Students in Scotland Handbook 2020/21, £32.
    •Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook 2020/21, £65. The 2021/22 edition is due in April 2021. The book is also available online. See shop.cpag.org.uk/publications for more information.
    •Council Tax Handbook, 13th edition (2021), £31.
    •Universal Credit: what you need to know, 6th edition (2020), £15.
    •Disability Rights Handbook 2020/21, £36.
Official guidance
The following guidance, used by decision makers in the DWP and local authorities, is available at gov.uk/dwp. It has no legal standing, but may be used in an appeal, revision or supersession.
    •Advice for Decision Making (for universal credit and personal independence payment).
    •Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Guidance Manual.
    •Decision Makers’ Guide (other benefits).
In Northern Ireland, guidance is provided by the Department for Communities and is available at communities-ni.gov.uk/topics/benefits-and-pensions.
Legislation
    •legislation.gov.uk contains UK legislation. Most is updated.
    •Social Security Legislation, Volumes 1 to 5. Published by Sweet and Maxwell, these volumes contain updated Acts and regulations covering social security and tax credits with explanatory commentary. Available from CPAG.
    •CPAG’s Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction Legislation contains updated Acts and regulations and a detailed commentary.
    •Decisions of the Upper Tribunal are available from the HM Courts and Tribunals Service website at gov.uk/administrative-appeals-tribunal-decisions.
Advice
Contact your student services department or students’ union for advice on studying and claiming benefits.
Other financial help