Students with dependants

Adult Dependants’ Grant

This is a grant for undergraduate and PGCE students with an adult who depends on them financially (but not a son or daughter). The amount you can receive is worked out according to your income and any income of your dependant(s). It is usually paid in three instalments per year, one at the start of each term. You only need to pay it back if you have been overpaid.

In Scotland, this grant is simply called the Dependants’ Grant, and is for Scottish students with dependants who are either spouses or partners and who are not also students.

Parents’ Learning Allowance

Available to undergraduate and PGCE students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland with dependent children. This grant is to help with course-related costs like books, materials and travel. Your own income is taken into account, along with that of any child dependants and your spouse or partner (if applicable). It is usually paid in three termly instalments. You only need to pay it back if you have been overpaid. You can apply for the Parents’ Learning Allowance when you complete your main student finance application. 

Lone Parents’ Grant

Available to Scottish undergraduate and PGCE students only. If you are a single parent with at least one child who you receive Child Benefit and/or Child Tax Credits for (see below), you can apply to be income assessed for this grant. The maximum grant available for 2013/14 is £1,305. You can apply for this at the same time as making your application for student finance from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS).

Childcare Grant

Undergraduate and PGCE students with dependent children from England, Wales and Northern Ireland can apply for a Childcare Grant to cover up to 85% of their childcare costs during terms and holidays (students from Scotland who are studying outside Scotland do not receive any funding for childcare costs). Eligibility for the grant depends on the age of the children and the type of childcare they are in, which must be approved. If you (or your partner) are in receipt of the childcare support portion of the Working Tax Credit, you will not be eligible for the Childcare Grant. You are able to opt out of receiving the childcare support portion of the Working Tax Credit (which supplies up to 80% of childcare costs) to instead receive the Childcare Grant (which supplies up to 85%). It is usually paid in three termly instalments. You only need to pay it back if you have been overpaid. You can apply for the Childcare Grant when you complete your main student finance application.  Your student finance body will need evidence you have opted out of the childcare support portion of the Working Tax Credit before it can process your Childcare Grant application.

Child Benefit, Child Tax Credit and other government support

Your eligibility for Child Benefit is not means tested, and it can be applied for through HM Revenue & Customs. Student parents should also check with HM Revenue & Customs to see if they are eligible to receive Child Tax Credit. You do not need to be working to receive this. The amount you can receive depends on your circumstances and income, and it is paid in addition to Child Benefit. If you are entitled to receive the maximum amount of Child Tax Credit, and are not receiving Working Tax Credit, you could also be entitled to receive free school meals for your child. If you are at least ten weeks pregnant, or have a child under four, you could also be entitled to receive vouchers for milk, fruit, vegetables, infant formula and vitamins under the Healthy Start scheme.

Child Tax Credit and Child Benefit are not taken into account as income for the Adult Dependants’ Grant, Childcare Grant and Parents’ Learning Allowance.

All 3 and 4 year old children in England are entitled to receive a free early learning place at an eligible nursery for 15 hours a week, 38 – 50 weeks of the year.

The Tax Credits and Child Benefit pages on the Directgov website have comprehensive information explaining what these benefits are and how you can apply, if you are eligible for help.

University support

The Oxford Bursary is available to eligible Home undergraduates, PGCE students and first year graduate entry medicine students.

The University has funds available to assist students facing financial hardship. Although funding is limited it can help students with children who are facing financial difficulties either in general or due to unexpected circumstances.

Home students can apply for general assistance through the Access to Learning Fund and all students whose circumstances have changed causing them unexpected hardship can apply to the University Hardship Fund. The maximum award varies according to circumstances but students who require additional help due to unexpected circumstances affecting their childcare arrangements may be eligible for an additional award.

Any student in financial difficulty should visit their College who should be able to assist with information about where to go for help.  As the funds above are aimed at assisting students with financial difficulties in the current year of their course, students cannot apply for the funding prior to their course.

The University has a number of subsidised nursery places and a subsidised play scheme that students with children may apply for. Please note that the waiting list for nursery places is always very long and you are advised to contact Childcare Services as soon as possible if you would like to apply. The Childcare Services for Students pages contain information about nursery places as well as other information for student parents.

NHS Bursary holders

Students in receipt of a full NHS Bursary with adult or child dependants could be eligible to apply for the following additional NHS grants, which are all means tested. Application forms can be found at:

Dependants’ Allowance

This covers both adult and child dependants, but they must be neither in receipt of any additional student support nor be a partner with whom the student no longer lives.

Single Students with Dependants Allowance

Single students who began their course before 1 September 2007 could receive an additional sum of support in addition to the NHS Dependants’ Allowance.

Parent Learning Allowance

This is an additional grant for students who began their course on or after 1 September 2007 and who receive the NHS Dependants’ Allowance for a child.

Childcare Allowance

Full NHS Bursary holders can get up to 85% of their childcare costs (up to £126.65 per week for one child, or £187.85 for two or more children) paid by the NHS, provided the child is under 15 (or 17 if the child is registered with special educational needs) and in approved childcare. If you (or your partner) are in receipt of the childcare support portion of the Working Tax Credit, you will not be eligible for the Childcare Allowance.

Application forms can be found here.

Other benefits

All Home students who are single parents or student couples with a child may be able to apply for certain benefits such as Income Support or Housing Benefit.  Eligibility varies by where you are from and how much income you receive from standard student finance sources, including the TDA Bursary, plus certain other grants and bursaries.

Benefit entitlement can be reassessed for July and August, when the student’s period of study is deemed to have ended, and any Adult Dependants’ Grant and parts of the standard student finance package are not considered to cover these months. Jobseeker’s Allowance may also be available in the long vacation if you’re a lone parent or a student couple with a child and are actively seeking work. Intermitting students with dependents may also be able to be assessed for any benefit eligibility during their intermitting period.

If you would like to discuss your benefits entitlement further please contact the VP Welfare and Equal Opportunities on welfare@ousu.org at the Students’ Union, or arrange an appointment with the Oxford Citizens Advice Bureau.