| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Adult Dependants’ grant |
The Adult Dependants’ Grant is a means-tested award available for students who have an adult who is financially dependent on them. For academic year 2024/25 the grant is worth a maximum of £3,438 a year, and you don’t usually have to pay it back. Please note the Adult Dependant’s Grant will impact the amount of any means-tested welfare benefits. |
| Childcare grant |
The Childcare Grant is based on your household income and childcare costs, and can potentially fund 85% of your childcare costs. You don’t usually have to pay it back and it won’t affect the amount of any welfare benefits - but please note, support for childcare can only be derived from either Student Finance England or Universal Credit. You cannot claim the two simultaneously. If eligible, you can get a maximum of
The funds are paid by the Childcare Grant Payment Service direct to the childcare provider. |
| Parents’ Learning Allowance |
The Parents’ Learning Allowance is a payment of up to £1,963 a year for students with dependent children.You don’t usually have to pay it back and it won’t affect your benefits or tax credits. To be eligible, you have to have dependent chuldren and have a household income of less than £18,835.98. |
| Special Support Loan |
Certain students in receipt of welfare benefits, including lone parents or student couples may also be eligible for increased loans for living costs. The additional loan is still means-tested against Student Finance's household income assessment, and unlike the grants mentioned above is repayble in line with Student Finance's standard repayment terms. Importantly, this Special Support Loan is not treated as income for the purposes of Welfare benefits. The Student Finance regulations set a maximum maintenance loan element of the loan for living costs for all students. Where a student’s entitlement to loans for living costs exceeds this maximum maintenance loan element, the portion of loan for living costs above the maximum maintenance loan element is paid as a special support loan. An example at Liverpool: In Academic Year 2024/25, if a lone parent in receipt of benefits has a household income of under £25,000, they should be eligible for the maximum loan for living costs, which, for a non-final year student living away from home, outside of London, is £11,658. The maximum maintenance loan element of this is set as £7,331. Therefore, the remaining amount of £4,327 is payable as a special support loan, and should not be counted as income for the purposes of Welfare benefits. |