The cost of supporting their children is a worry for many students particularly if they have to pay for childcare, but funding is available from a number of different sources. This page provides a brief overview of the financial help which may be available to parents whilst they are students. Not all students will be eligible for help from all the sources listed below.
UK Government help for home students
Childcare Grant is for full-time home undergraduate and PGCE students who have dependant children in registered and approved childcare. You cannot get this grant if you or your spouse or partner receives the childcare element of Working Tax Credit. The grant is payable in three instalments with your student loan and any other grants you receive. The amount payable will be based on 85% of actual childcare costs subject to a maximum of £148.75 per week for one child only or £255.00 per week for two or more children. Follow this link for further information.
Students who receive NHS bursaries are eligible to apply to the NHS Student Grants Unit for a Childcare Allowance. Further information is available at www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Students
The Parents Learning Allowance of up to £1508 a year is available to full-time home undergraduate and PGCE students. The allowance is for help with course-related costs and you can apply even if you don't receive the Childcare Grant.
Child Tax Credit is for families with children and nine out of ten families with children are eligible for some level of help. Parents do not have to be working to be eligible. Child Tax Credit is administered by HM Revenue and Customs and further information is available at www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits
Working Tax Credit (WTC) is for families who are working and includes an element to support the cost of registered or approved childcare. To apply for the childcare element of WTC lone parents must work for at least 16 hours a week, both members of a couple must work 16 hours a week or more or only one member of a couple must work at least 16 hours a week if their partner is incapacitated. The childcare element of WTC pays up to 70% of eligible costs up to a maximum of £175.00 per week for one child and up to £300.00 per week for two or more children. The maximum you would receive is £122.50 per week for one child and £210 per week for two or more children. Working Tax Credit is administered by HM Revenue and Customs and further information is available at www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits
Help available to all students
Early Years Education funding is available to all children the term after their third birthday. Follow this link for further information from Norfolk County Council. Any student parent whose children are in the UEA Nursery can apply for help towards the cost of the fees from the Nursery Hardship Fund, which is administered by the Dean of Students’ Office. On the basis of a simple means test, contributions from the Fund are allocated on a sliding scale so that help is targeted on those with the lowest incomes.
The Fund is cash limited and priority is given to students who are not eligible for Childcare Grant, the NHS Childcare Allowance or the childcare element of Working Tax Credit.
If students still have difficulty meeting their childcare costs, despite the award of Childcare Grant, Tax Credits, Early Years Education sessions or help from the Nursery Hardship Fund, they can apply to the Access to Learning Fund (for home students only) or the UEA Hardship Fund (EU and overseas students). Application forms are available from the Dean of Students’ Office.
Further information about meeting the cost of childcare is available from the financial advisers in the Dean of Students’ Office either in person (no appointment is necessary) or by e-mail (fac@uea.ac.uk).
September 2011
