Parents & Carers

This is up to £1,200 per academic year. It is a mandatory award to learners who fulfil the following criteria themselves:

• In care
• Care leavers
• Receiving Income Support, or Universal Credit because they are financially supporting themselves or financially supporting themselves and someone who is dependent on them and living with them such as a child or partner
• Receiving Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payments in their own right as well as Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit in their own right

Are you eligible for financial support?

Institutions must obtain proof that students meet the criteria for the bursary for vulnerable groups in full. In other words, that they are in receipt of the specified benefits in their own name or that they fully meet the definitions for in care/care leavers. Institutions should ask for evidence from each student and retain copies for audit purposes. For example:

• For students who are in care or a care leaver, written confirmation of their current or previous looked after status from the relevant local authority – this is the local authority that looks after them or provides their leaving care services. The evidence could be a letter or an email but must be clearly from the local authority.
• For students in receipt of Income Support or Universal Credit (UC), a copy of their Income Support or UC award notice. This must clearly state that the claim is in the student’s name/confirm they are entitled to the benefits in their own right. The evidence must not state any conditions that prevent them from participating in further education or training. For students in receipt of UC, institutions must also see a tenancy agreement in the student’s name, a child benefit receipt, children’s birth certificates, utility bills and so on.
• For students receiving UC/ESA and Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Payments, a copy of their UC claim from DWP. Evidence of receipt of Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment must also be provided. UC claimants should be able to print off details of their award from their online account. 

UC claimants should be able to print off details of their award from their online account. The evidence needs to be dated within the 3 months prior to applying and starting on their course.

Source for information

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/16-to-19-bursary-fund-guide-2023-to-2024-academic-year/16-to-19-bursary-fund-guide-2023-to-2024-academic-year

TCHC can make discretionary bursary awards to help learners with the cost of travel, or specialist clothing (such as interview clothing, for example). These are items learners would otherwise need to pay for in order to participate. TCHC will award discretionary bursaries according to household income and in three bands:

• Up to £16,190 
• £16,191 to £29,999
• Over £30,000

Are you eligible for financial support?

TCHC must base all decisions about which learners receive a discretionary bursary and how much bursary they receive on each learner’s individual circumstances and their actual financial need. These will vary from student to student, depending on, for example, their household income, the distance they need to travel to the centre and the requirements of their study programme. TCHC may decide to retain a small emergency fund from their allocation to support students who face.

TCHC must base all decisions about which learners receive a discretionary bursary and how much bursary they receive on each learner’s individual circumstances and their actual financial need. These will vary from student to student, depending on, for example, their household income, the distance they need to travel to the centre and the requirements of their study programme.

TCHC may decide to retain a small emergency fund from their allocation to support students who face exceptional circumstances during the year due to a change in their situation – if it impacts their ability to participate in education..

Source for information

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/16-to-19-bursary-fund-guide-2023-to-2024-academic-year/16-to-19-bursary-fund-guide-2023-to-2024-academic-year

Learners may qualify for assistance towards the cost of healthy and nutritious food, whilst in attendance on their programme. The award of free school meals is based on the household receiving one of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• The guarantee element of State Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (provided they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190, as assessed by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC))
• Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for 4 weeks after someone stops qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit (UC) with net earnings not exceeding the equivalent of £7,400 for each year (after tax and not including any benefits they get)