Hardship funds
Discretionary support provided by your university or college when you are in financial difficulty is treated differently from other student grants and loans. This support can include:
•higher education hardship funds, including what was previously the Access to Learning Fund in England and the Financial Contingency Fund in Wales (individual institutions may still refer to them by these names);
•further education discretionary support funds or support from the Financial Contingency Fund in Wales.
In general, if the payment is for living costs, it is taken into account in full if it counts as capital, or with up to a £20 a week disregarded if it counts as income. If the payment is for other costs, it is disregarded. For example, a further education discretionary support funds grant solely for childcare costs is disregarded. Ask your provider for a letter saying what the payment is for and how it is paid.
Lump-sum payments count as capital. Regular payments count as income.