Financial Support Guidelines

High Priority

For defined vulnerable groups

The defined vulnerable groups are students aged 16-18 (or 19-24 with an EHCP) who are:

• In care
• Care leavers
• Receiving Income Support or Universal Credit in their own name because they are financially supporting themselves (and someone who is dependent on them such as a child or partner if relevant)
• Receiving Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payments and Employment Support Allowance or Universal Credit in their own name

In some cases, a student may meet the high priority criteria, but their financial needs are already met, or they have no relevant costs.

• In care or a care leaver
• Written confirmation of their current or previous status from the relevant local authority. The evidence could be a letter or email but must clearly be from the local authority.
• Income Support or Universal Credit
• A copy of their Income Support or UC notice. This must clearly state that the claim is in the student’s name / confirm they are entitled to benefits in their own right. For students in receipt of UC, we must also see a tenancy agreement in the student’s name, (and a child benefit receipt and child/children’s birth certificate if relevant)
• DLA or PIP and ESA or UC

A copy of their ESA or UC claim. Evidence of DLA or PIP must also be provided.

Medium Priority

Discretionary Bursary*

For students aged 16-18 (or 19-24 with an EHCP) who:

Have a gross household income of £19,891 or less

OR

Are entitled to Free School Meals

Evidence of total household income such as:

• P60 and last 3 months payslips
• Self-employed income evidence
• Benefit award notice from DWP dated within last 6 months. Older notice acceptable if accompanied by recent bank statement naming benefit received.
• Working Tax Credit / Child Tax Credit award notice
• Universal Credit – 3 most recent monthly award statements to estimate assumed income for a full year.
• Company or private pension statement
• Support under part VI of the Immigration Act 1999 award letter

Certified letter from the Local Authority regarding Free School Meals

Low Priority

Discretionary Bursary*

For students aged 16-18 (or 19-24 with an EHCP) who:

Have a gross household income of between £19,892 and £25,000

Evidence of total household income such as:

• P60 and last 3 months payslips
• Self-employed income evidence
• Benefit award notice from DWP dated within last 6 months. Older notice acceptable if accompanied by recent bank statement naming benefit received.
• Working Tax Credit / Child Tax Credit award notice
• Universal Credit – 3 most recent monthly award statements to estimate assumed income for a full year.
• Company or private pension statement
• Support under part VI of the Immigration Act 1999 award letter

*Discretionary bursary to contribute towards travel costs, essential course equipment, meals in college, course related trips, UCAS fee, exam resit fees, travel to university open days or other college resources.

Those in the Low Priority group will be considered for funding based on the college’s allocation and subject to available funding after those in the High and Medium Priority groups have been awarded.

19+ LSF
OR
Advanced Learning Loan

Childcare* & Hardship

• Learners must be aged 20 or above as at 31/08/2020
• In receipt of means tested benefits or have a household income of less than £19,891
• A British Citizen, OR
• Have Refugee status, OR
• Must have settled residency status within the UK/EU and have lived in the UK for 3 years prior to the start of the academic year

Learners applying to the Advanced Learning Loan bursary must provide evidence of their loan acceptance.

Evidence of total household income such as:

• P60 and last 3 months payslips
• Self-employed income evidence
• Benefit award notice from DWP dated within last 6 months. Older notice acceptable if accompanied by recent bank statement naming benefit received.
• Working Tax Credit / Child Tax Credit award notice
• Universal Credit – 3 most recent monthly award statements to estimate assumed income for a full year.
• Company or private pension statement

Learners applying to the Advanced Learning Loan bursary must provide evidence of their loan acceptance.

19+ LSF
OR
Advanced Learning Loan

Hardship only

• Learners must be aged 19 or above as at 31/08/2020
• In receipt of means tested benefits or have a household income of less than £25,000
• A British Citizen; OR
• Have Refugee status; OR
• Must have settled residency status within the UK/EU and have lived in the UK for 3 years prior to the start of the academic year; OR
• Be classed as an Asylum Seeker who has legally been in the UK pending consideration of their claim by UKBA for longer than 6 months and no decision has been made; OR
• Be classed as an Asylum Seeker who has been refused asylum but eligible and granted support under section 4 of the immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

Evidence of total household income such as:

• P60 and last 3 months payslips
• Self-employed income evidence
• Benefit award notice from DWP dated within last 6 months. Older notice acceptable if accompanied by recent bank statement naming benefit received.
• Working Tax Credit / Child Tax Credit award notice
• Universal Credit – 3 most recent monthly award statements to estimate assumed income for a full year.
• Company or private pension statement
• Support under part VI of the Immigration Act 1999 award letter

Learners applying to the Advanced Learning Loan bursary must provide evidence of their loan acceptance.

* Payments covering childcare will only be made for the time when the learner is expected to attend college, and up to 1 hour travelling time each day.
The childcare provider must be Ofsted Registered. All payments are made directly to the Ofsted Registered childcare provider.

Learners applying to the Advanced Learning Loan bursary must provide evidence of their loan acceptance.