Summary
- Parents' Learning Allowance - help towards
learning costs. Apply on the main student finance application form.
If you missed this, complete a Dependants grant form.
- Childcare Grant - help with childcare costs
if you use an OFSTED-approved provider. Apply using a CCG1
form.
- Evidence you need to send when you
apply for Childcare Grant or Parents' Learning Allowance.
- Confirm your childcare costs - we send
you a CCG2 for you to confirm your costs.
- Working Tax Credit and Child Tax
Credit - money from the government to support people with
children.
1. Parents'
Learning Allowance
Parents' Learning Allowance helps towards your course costs,
such as books, materials and travel. If you're eligible, you could
get between £50 and £1,508 for 2013/14 depending on your household
income.
You can apply for Parents' Learning Allowance when you apply for
student finance.
2. Childcare Grant
Childcare Grant could cover as much as 85 per cent of your
childcare costs during term time and holidays. If you're eligible,
the amount you may get will depend on:
- your household income
- the cost of your childcare
- the number of children you have
This could be up to £148.75 per week if you have one child or up
to £255 per week if you have two or more children.
2.1 Types of childcare that qualify
If you're living and studying in
England, you can apply for Childcare Grant if you use childcare
that is registered or approved with OFSTED.
2.2 CCG1 form - for your estimated childcare cost
You can apply for Childcare Grant by
completing a Childcare Grant application form (CCG1). If you state
on your student finance application that you want to apply for
Childcare Grant we'll send you a copy of the form.
Fill in the CCG1 form with details about your:
- children
- childcare providers and
- estimated costs
- for academic year 2013/14.
You must include evidence of your child
dependants.
CCG1 form
3. Evidence of your child
dependants
If you apply for a Childcare Grant or the Parents' Learning
Allowance you'll need to send in the following evidence.
3.1 Evidence of your child dependants
Send in one of the following:
- Original Birth Certificate for each child
- Original Certificate of Naturalisation for each child
- Original Home Office Documentation confirming your children's
names and date of births
3.2 Proof your children are dependent on you
Send in one of the following:
- Copy of your most recent Tax Credits Award Notice naming ALL
your children
- Copy of all pages of your most recent Child Benefit Letter
naming ALL children
4. Confirm your childcare
costs - CCG2 form
After you apply with a CCG1, we will send you a childcare costs
confirmation form (CCG2) through the post so you can confirm what
your actual childcare costs were for certain periods of the
year.
We need accurate weekly values for what you
paid for childcare.
- The Childcare Grant confirmation form (CCG2) will be
available in Autumn 2013.
Please make sure that your forms are signed and dated by your
childcare provider(s).
4.1 If your course doesn't start in September or
January
If your course doesn't start in
September or January, please complete any actual costs on the form
up until the date you are making your application for childcare
grant.
5.
Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit
You can claim Child Tax Credit if you have children. Working
students can also claim Working Tax Credit.
If you claim the childcare element of Working Tax Credit you
can't also claim the Childcare Grant, however you can choose to
change if required.
We'll ask you to send us evidence you've stopped claiming the
childcare element of working tax credits.