Release 8.44Student Support and Benefits Handbook 2021/22The authorsAcknowledgementsContentsForewordAbbreviationsUniversal credit rates 2022/23Other means-tested benefit rates 2022/23Non-means-tested benefit rates 2022/23Tax credit rates 2022/23Student support rates 2022/23How to use this HandbookRates of government supportFull-time students: definitionsMeans testing studentsStructure of the HandbookYour feedback countsPart 1: Student supportChapter 1: Further education student support1. Student support in EnglandSupport for 16–19 year oldsSupport for students aged 19 and overOther sources of support2. Student support in WalesSupport for 16–19 year oldsSupport for students aged 19 and overOther sources of support3. Student support in Northern IrelandSupport for 16–19 year oldsSupport for students aged 19 and olderOther sources of supportChapter 2: Undergraduate student support: England1. Full-time undergraduatesWho is eligible for supportWhich system of student support appliesPrevious studyLoan for tuition feesMaintenance grantSpecial support grantLoan for living costsSupplementary grantsStudy abroad or work placementsOverpayments2. Part-time undergraduatesGrant for tuition fees: pre-September 2012 entrantsLoan for tuition fees: 2012 entrants or laterLoan for living costsGrant for course costs: pre-September 2012 entrantsDisabled students’ allowance3. How income affects student supportHow your income is assessedHow your student support is affected4. Discretionary and institutional fundsAdditional fee support schemeInstitutional bursariesChapter 3: Undergraduate student support: Wales1. Full-time undergraduatesWho is eligible for supportWhich system of student support appliesPrevious studyGrant and loan for tuition feesWelsh government learning grant: 2018 cohort studentsWelsh government learning grant: 2012 cohort studentsSpecial support grant: 2012 cohort studentsLoan for living costsSupplementary grantsTuring, Erasmus and other study or work placements2. Part-time undergraduatesGrant for tuition feesLoan for tuition feesGrant and loan for living costs: 2018 cohort studentsGrant for course costs: pre-2018 cohort studentsDisabled students’ allowanceGrants for dependantsFee waiver3. How income affects student supportHow your income is assessed4. Discretionary hardship fundsChapter 4: Undergraduate student support: Northern Ireland1. Full-time undergraduatesWho is eligible for supportPrevious studyLoan for tuition feesMaintenance grantSpecial support grantLoan for living costsSupplementary grantsErasmus and other study or work placements2. Part-time undergraduatesGrant for tuition feesLoan for tuition feesGrant for course costsDisabled students’ allowance3. How income affects student supportFull-time studentsPart-time students4. Discretionary support fundsChapter 5: Postgraduate student support1. Studentships2. Postgraduate loans for master's degreesWho is eligibleWhich courses are eligiblePayment and repayments3. Postgraduate master's bursaries in Wales4. Postgraduate loans for doctoral coursesWho is eligibleWhich courses are eligiblePayment and repayments5. Disabled students’ allowance6. Postgraduate support in Northern IrelandStudentshipsLoan for tuition feesStudying in Northern IrelandStudying elsewhere in the UKDisabled students’ allowanceChapter 6: Vocational courses and other sources of student support1. Healthcare students in England and WalesStudents who started their course in England on or after 1 August 2017The 2012 bursary schemeEuropean Union nationalsPart-time studentsStudents who are pregnant or who have recently given birth2. Healthcare students in Northern IrelandNursing and midwifery students3. Initial teacher training in EnglandBachelor of Education and Bachelor of Arts/Science with qualified teacher statusPostgraduate Certificate/Diploma in EducationEmployment-based initial teacher training4. Initial teacher training in WalesBachelor of EducationPostgraduate Certificate in EducationIaith Athrawon Yfory Incentive SchemeSalaried PGCERepayment of teachers’ loans5. Initial teacher training in Northern Ireland6. Social work studentsEnglandWalesNorthern Ireland7. Dance and Drama Awards8. Alternative sources of financeProfessional and career development loans and professional studies loansArmed forces bereavement scholarship schemeCharitiesPart 2: Benefits and tax creditsChapter 7: Carer's allowance1. What is carer's allowance2. Who is eligibleFull-time educationTime out from a courseBasic rules3. Amount of benefit4. Claiming carer's allowance5. Challenging a decision6. Other benefits and tax creditsThe disabled person's benefitOverlapping benefitsGetting a carer premium or elementWorking tax creditChapter 8: Child benefit1. What is child benefit2. Who is eligibleWho counts as a childWho counts as a qualifying young personThe extension periodThe terminal date3. Amount of benefit4. Claiming child benefitGetting paid5. Challenging a decision6. Other benefits and tax creditsChapter 9: Disability living allowance1. What is disability living allowance2. Who is eligibleCare componentMobility componentClaiming for children3. Amount of benefit4. Claiming disability living allowance5. Challenging a decision6. Other benefits and tax creditsChapter 10: Employment and support allowance1. What is employment and support allowance2. Who is eligibleContributory employment and support allowanceIncome-related employment and support allowance3. Limited capability for work4. Amount of benefitContributory employment and support allowanceIncome-related employment and support allowance5. Claiming employment and support allowance6. Challenging a decision7. Other benefits and tax creditsChapter 11: Health benefits1. What are health benefits2. Who is eligibleIf you are exempt because you receive tax creditsFree prescriptionsFree sight testsFree dental treatment and denturesFree wigs and fabric supportsFares to hospitalHealthy Start food and vitaminsThe low income scheme3. Claiming health benefits and refundsUnder 19 and in full-time educationPregnant women and women who have recently given birthPrescribed medical conditionThe low income schemeRefunds4. Challenging a decision5. Overseas studentsAsylum seekersEuropean Economic Area students and Swiss nationalsOther overseas studentsChapter 12: Housing benefit1. What is housing benefit2. Who is eligibleFull-time studentsStudying part time3. Basic rulesLiable for rentYour normal homeEligible accommodation4. Amount of benefitStep one: capitalStep two: maximum rentStep three: deductions for non-dependantsStep four: getting a means-tested benefitStep five: not getting a means-tested benefitStep six: work out your applicable amountStep seven: work out your weekly incomeStep eight: calculate your housing benefit5. Claiming housing benefitWhen your housing benefit starts6. Challenging a decision7. Other benefits and tax creditsThe benefit capChapter 13: Income support1. What is income support2. Who is eligibleUnder 20 in relevant education19 or over and a full-time studentUnder 19 in full-time advanced educationStudying part time3. Basic rules4. Amount of benefitStep one: capitalStep two: work out your applicable amountStep three: work out your weekly incomeStep four: deduct weekly income from applicable amountApplicable amount5. Claiming income supportGetting paid6. Challenging a decision7. Other benefits and tax creditsPassported benefitsChapter 14: Jobseeker's allowance1. What is jobseeker's allowance2. Who is eligibleUnder 20 in relevant education19 or over and a full-time studentUnder 19 and in full-time advanced educationStudying part time3. Basic rulesContribution-based jobseeker's allowanceIncome-based jobseeker's allowance4. Amount of benefitContribution-based jobseeker's allowanceIncome-based jobseeker's allowance5. Claiming jobseeker's allowanceCouples6. Challenging a decision7. Other benefits and tax creditsPassported benefitsChapter 15: Maternity, paternity and other parental benefits1. What are maternity, paternity and other parental benefitsStatutory maternity payMaternity allowanceStatutory paternity payStatutory adoption payStatutory shared parental payStatutory parental bereavement pay2. Who is eligibleStatutory maternity payMaternity allowanceStatutory paternity payStatutory adoption payStatutory shared parental payStatutory parental bereavement pay3. Amount of benefit4. Claiming maternity, paternity and other parental benefits5. Challenging a decision6. Other benefits and tax creditsChapter 16: Personal independence payment1. What is personal independence payment2. Who is eligibleDaily living componentMobility componentStudents3. Amount of benefit4. Claiming personal independence payment5. Challenging a decision6. Other benefits and tax creditsChapter 17: The social fund1. What is the social fund2. Sure Start maternity grants3. Funeral expenses payments4. Budgeting loans5. Local welfare assistance schemesLocal provision in EnglandDiscretionary Assistance Fund in WalesDiscretionary support in Northern Ireland6. Challenging a decisionChapter 18: Universal credit1. What is universal credit2. Who is eligibleStudentsWho can claim universal credit3. Basic rules4. Amount of benefitStep one: capitalStep two: work out your maximum amountStep three: work out your monthly incomeStep four: deduct monthly income from maximum amountYour maximum amount5. Claiming universal credit6. Challenging a decision7. Other benefits and tax creditsThe benefit capPassported benefitsChapter 19: Child tax credit1. What is child tax credit2. Who is eligibleYour parent gets child tax credit for you3. Amount of child tax creditStep one: work out your maximum child tax creditStep two: getting a means-tested benefitStep three: not getting a means-tested benefitStep four: work out your incomeStep five: calculate your child tax credit4. Awards of child tax credit5. Challenging a decision6. Tax credits and benefitsMeans-tested benefitsChild benefitPassported benefitsChapter 20: Working tax credit1. What is working tax credit2. Who is eligibleQualifying hours3. Amount of working tax credit4. Awards of working tax credit5. Challenging a decision6. Tax credits and benefitsPart 3: Treatment of incomeChapter 21: How income affects universal credit1. Working out your income2. Grants and loansIf you get a student loan for living costsIf you do not get a student loan for living costs3. Dividing income throughout the year4. Other paymentsProfessional studies loans5. Earnings6. Benefits7. Maintenance8. Savings and other capitalChapter 22: How income affects means-tested benefits1. Working out your income2. Grants and loansGrantsStudent loansGrants and loans checklist3. Dividing income throughout the yearGrantsLoan for living costs4. Discretionary funds and other paymentsHardship fundsInstitutional bursariesVoluntary or charitable paymentsProfessional studies loans5. Earnings6. Benefits and tax credits7. Maintenance8. Savings and other capitalChapter 23: How income affects tax credits1. Income and tax credits2. Grants and loansGrants and loans checklist3. Earnings4. Benefits5. Other incomeIncome from self-employmentSavings and investmentsPropertyMaintenanceChapter 24: How income affects health benefits1. Working out your income2. Grants and loansGrantsStudent loanGrants and loans checklist3. Discretionary funds and other paymentsHardship fundsVoluntary or charitable paymentsProfessional studies loans4. Earnings5. Benefits and tax credits6. Maintenance7. Savings and capitalPart 4: Other issuesChapter 25: Council tax1. What is council tax2. Who pays council taxWho counts as a studentExempt dwellingsFull-time students liable for council taxDiscountsDisability reduction3. Council tax reduction4. Second adult rebateChapter 26: Time out from studies1. Ill healthFull-time studentsPart-time students2. Pregnancy and childrenStudent supportBenefitsLone parentsFathers and partnersCouples3. Carers4. Re-sits5. Time out for other reasonsAppendix 1Information and adviceStudent supportOfficial guidanceAdviceSocial security benefits and tax creditsPublicationsOfficial guidanceLegislationAdviceOther financial helpAppendix 2Useful addressesGeneral sources of informationNational Union of Students UKChild Poverty Action GroupLow Incomes Tax Reform GroupThe Money CharityUKCISA (UK Council for International Student Affairs)Disability Rights UKSupport for learningDance and Drama AwardsDepartment for the EconomyDepartment for EducationDepartment of Health and Social CareDepartment of Health (Northern Ireland)Education and Skills Funding AgencyEducators WalesGet Into TeachingNHS Business Services AuthorityHealth Careers HelplineResearch councilsSocial Care WalesStudent Loans CompanyStudent Finance EnglandStudent Finance WalesStudent Finance NIStudent Finance Services Non-UK TeamUniversities and Colleges Admissions ServiceWelsh government (education and skills)Benefits and tax creditsChild tax credit and working tax credit helplineDepartment for Work and PensionsDepartment for CommunitiesOther issuesNHS Business Services Authority Help with Health CostsNHS EnglandHM Revenue and CustomsLocal Government and Social Care OmbudsmanPublic Services Ombudsman for WalesNorthern Ireland Public Services OmbudsmanAppendix 3Abbreviations used in the notesIndex