The Education (Student Support) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009

PART 5 GRANTS FOR LIVING AND OTHER COSTS

CHAPTER 1 TYPES OF GRANTS AVAILABLE

Current system students

37.  The following grants are available to a current system student in connection with a designated course if the student meets the relevant qualifying conditions in this Part—

(a) disabled students’ allowance;

(b) grant for students who have left care;

(c) grant for dependants;

(d) grant for travel;

(e) maintenance grant or special support grant.

Old system students

38.  The following grants are available to an old system student in connection with a designated course if the student meets the relevant qualifying conditions in this Part—

(a) disabled students’ allowance;

(b) grant for students who have left care;

(c) grant for dependants;

(d) grant for travel;

(e) higher education bursary.

CHAPTER 2 GENERAL PROVISIONS

General qualifying conditions for grants for living and other costs

39.—(1) An eligible student qualifies for a grant under this Part provided that the student—

(a) is not excluded from qualification by any of the following paragraphs; and

(b) satisfies the qualifying conditions for the particular grant for which the student is applying.

(2) An eligible student does not qualify for—

(a) a bursary or grant under this Part if the only paragraph in Part 2 of Schedule 2 into which the student falls is paragraph 9; or

(b) a bursary under regulation 62 in respect of any academic year of a part-time course for the initial training of teachers referred to in paragraph 5 of Schedule 3.

(3) An eligible student does not qualify for a grant under this Part in respect of—

(a) an academic year which is a bursary year;

(b) an academic year of a course for the initial training of teachers during which the periods of full-time attendance, including attendance for the purpose of teaching practice, are in aggregate less than 6 weeks; or

(c) a flexible postgraduate course for the initial training of teachers which is of less than one academic year’s duration.

(4) Paragraph (3)(b) does not apply for the purposes of the disabled students’ allowance.

(5) An eligible student does not qualify for a grant under this Part in respect of any academic year of a sandwich course where the periods of full-time study are in aggregate less than 10 weeks unless the periods of work experience constitute unpaid service.

(6) For the purposes of paragraph (5), “unpaid service” means—

(a) unpaid service in a hospital or in a public health service laboratory or with a primary care trust in the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland;

(b) unpaid service with a local authority in the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland acting in the exercise of its functions relating to the care of children and young persons, health or welfare or with a voluntary organisation providing facilities or carrying out activities of a like nature in the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland;

(c) unpaid service in the prison or probation and aftercare service in the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland;

(d) unpaid research in an institution in the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland or, in the case of a student attending an overseas institution as part of the student’s course, in an overseas institution; or

(e) unpaid service with—

(i) a Health and Social Services Board established under Article 16 of the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972;

(ii) a Health and Social Services Trust established under Article 10 of the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1991(1);

(iii) a special agency established under Article 3 of the Health and Personal Social Services (Special Agencies) (Northern Ireland) Order 1990(2);

(iv) an NHS body within the meaning of section 28(6) of the National Health Service Act 2006(3); or

(v) a Health Board or a Special Health Board constituted under section 2 of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978(4).

(7) Subject to paragraph (8), where one of the events listed in regulation 18 (a), (b), (c), (e), (f), (g) or (h) occurs in the course of an academic year, a student may qualify for a particular grant in accordance with this Part in respect of all or part of that academic year but a student does not qualify for such a grant in respect of any academic year beginning before the academic year in which the relevant event occurred.

(8) Where the state of which the student is a national accedes to the European Community the student may qualify for a grant under this Part only if the student has been ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and Islands throughout the three-year period immediately preceding the first day of the first academic year of the course.

(9) Subject to paragraph (10), an eligible student does not qualify for a grant under this Part if the student is a prisoner.

(10) Paragraph (9) does not apply in respect of disabled students’ allowance.

Students who are treated as in attendance

40.—(1) A student to whom this regulation applies is treated as being in attendance on the designated course for the purpose of qualifying for the following grants—

(a) grant for dependants;

(b) grant for students who have left care;

(c) disabled students’ allowance;

(d) maintenance grant or special support grant;

(e) higher education bursary.

(2) This regulation applies to—

(a) a compressed degree student;

(b) a disabled student who—

(i) is not a compressed degree student; and

(ii) is undertaking a designated course in the United Kingdom or at a relevant institution of higher education in the Republic of Ireland but is not in attendance because the student is unable to attend for a reason which relates to the student’s disability.

CHAPTER 3 DISABLED STUDENTS’ ALLOWANCES

Qualifying conditions for the disabled students’ allowance

41.  An eligible student (“ A”) qualifies for a grant to assist with the additional expenditure which the Department is satisfied that A is obliged to incur in connection with A’s attendance on a designated course by reason of a disability to which A is subject.

Amount of the disabled students’ allowance

42.—(1) Subject to the following paragraphs, the amount of the disabled students’ allowance is the amount that the Department considers appropriate in accordance with the student’s circumstances.

(2) Except where paragraph (4) applies, the amount of the disabled students’ allowance must not exceed—

(a) £20,520 in respect of an academic year for expenditure on a non-medical personal helper;

(b) £5,161 in respect of all the academic years during the period of eligibility for expenditure on major items of specialist equipment;

(c) the additional expenditure incurred—

(i) within the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland for the purpose of attending the institution;

(ii) within or outside the United Kingdom for the purpose of attending, as a part of the student’s course, any period of study at an overseas institution or for the purpose of attending the Institute;

(d) £1,724 in respect of an academic year for any other expenditure including expenditure incurred for the purposes referred to in sub-paragraph (a) or (b) which exceeds the maxima specified in those sub-paragraphs.

(3) Where the eligible student has received payments to assist with expenditure on major items of specialist equipment in connection with the course by virtue of holding a transitional award, the maximum amount of grant under paragraph (2)(b) is reduced by the amount of those payments.

(4) The maximum amount under paragraphs (2)(a) and (d) is £15,390 and £1,293, respectively where—

(a) an eligible student attends a course for the initial training of teachers; and

(b) in any academic year of that course, the periods of full-time study and full-time teaching practice are in aggregate less than 6 weeks.

CHAPTER 4 GRANTS FOR DEPENDANTS

Interpretation of Chapter 4

43.—(1) In regulations 46 to 49—

(a) subject to sub-paragraph (n), “adult dependant” means, in relation to an eligible student, an adult person dependent on the student other than the student’s child, the student’s partner (including a spouse or civil partner from whom the Department considers the student is separated) or the student’s former partner;

(b) “child” in relation to an eligible student includes any child of the student’s partner who is dependent on the student and any child for whom the student has parental responsibility who is dependent on the student;

(c) “dependant” means, in relation to an eligible student, the student’s partner, the student’s dependent child or an adult dependant, who in each case is not an eligible student and does not hold a statutory award;

(d) “dependent” means wholly or mainly financially dependent;

(e) “dependent child” means, in relation to an eligible student, a child dependent on the student;

(f) “lone parent” means an eligible student who does not have a partner and who has a dependent child or dependent children;

(g) “net income” has the meaning given in paragraph (2);

(h) subject to sub-paragraphs (i), (j), (k), (l) and (m), “partner” means any of the following—

(i) the spouse of an eligible student;

(ii) the civil partner of an eligible student;

(iii) a person ordinarily living with an eligible student as if that person were the student’s spouse where an eligible student falls within paragraph 2(1)(a) of Schedule 5 and began the specified designated course on or after 1st September 2000;

(iv) a person ordinarily living with an eligible student as if that person were the student’s civil partner where an eligible student falls within paragraph 2(1)(a) of Schedule 5 and began the specified designated course on or after 1st September 2005;

(i) unless otherwise indicated, a person who would otherwise be a partner under sub-paragraph (h) is not to be treated as a partner if—

(i) in the opinion of the Department, that person and the eligible student are separated; or

(ii) the person is ordinarily living outside the United Kingdom and is not maintained by the eligible student;

(j) for the purposes of the definition of “adult dependant”, a person is to be treated as a partner if that person would be a partner under sub-paragraph (h) but for the fact that the eligible student with whom that person is ordinarily living does not fall within paragraph 2(1)(a) of Schedule 5;

(k) for the purposes of the definitions of “child” and “lone parent”, a person is to be treated as a partner if that person would be a partner under sub-paragraph (h) but for the date on which the eligible student began the specified designated course or the fact that the eligible student with whom that person is ordinarily living does not fall within paragraph 2(1)(a) of Schedule 5;

(l) for the purposes of regulation 47—

(i) sub-paragraph (i) does not apply; and

(ii) a person is to be treated as a partner if that person would be a partner under sub-paragraph (h) but for the fact that the eligible student with whom that person is ordinarily living does not fall within paragraph (2)(1)(a) of Schedule 5;

(m) for the purposes of determining whether a person is the former partner of an eligible student’s partner, “partner” in relation to an eligible student’s partner means—

(i) the spouse of an eligible student’s partner;

(ii) the civil partner of an eligible student’s partner;

(iii) where the eligible student began the specified designated course on or after 1st September 2000, a person (“A”) ordinarily living with an eligible student’s partner (“B”) as if A were B’s spouse;

(iv) where the eligible student began the specified designated course on or after 1st September 2005, a person “A” ordinarily living with an eligible student’s partner “B” as if A were B’s civil partner;

(n) subject to sub-paragraph (o), for the purposes of the definitions of “adult dependant” and “dependent child”, the Department may treat an adult person or child as dependent on an eligible student if the Department is satisfied that the adult person or child—

(i) is not dependent on—

(aa) the eligible student; or

(bb) the student’s partner; but

(ii) is dependent on the eligible student and the student’s partner together;

(o) the Department must not treat an adult person (“A”) as dependent on an eligible student in accordance with sub-paragraph (n), if A is—

(i) the spouse or civil partner of the eligible student’s partner (including a spouse or civil partner from whom the Department considers the eligible student’s partner is separated); or

(ii) the former partner of the eligible student’s partner.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), a dependant’s net income is the dependant’s income from all sources for the academic year in question reduced by the amount of income tax and social security contributions payable in respect of it but disregarding—

(a) any pension, allowance or other benefit paid by reason of a disability, incapacity or limited capability for work to which the dependant is subject;

(b) child benefit payable under Part IX of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992(5);

(c) any financial support payable to the dependant by an adoption agency in accordance with regulations made under Article 59A of the Adoption (Northern Ireland) Order 1987(6);

(d) any guardian’s allowance to which the dependant is entitled under section 77 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992(7);

(e) in the case of a dependant with whom a child being looked after by an authority is placed, any payment made to that dependant in pursuance of Article 27 of the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995(8);

(f) any payments made to the dependant under Article 15 of and Schedule 1 to the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 in respect of a person who is not the dependant’s child or any assistance given by an authority pursuant to Article 35 of that Order; and

(g) any child tax credit to which the dependant is entitled under Part I of the Tax Credits Act 2002(9).

(3) Where an eligible student or the student’s partner makes any recurrent payments which were previously made by the student in pursuance of an obligation incurred before the first academic year of the student’s course, the partner’s net income is the net income calculated in accordance with paragraph (2) reduced by—

(a) an amount equal to the payments in question for the academic year, if in the opinion of the Department the obligation had been reasonably incurred; or

(b) such lesser amount, if any, as the Department considers appropriate if, in the opinion of the Department, a lesser obligation could reasonably have been incurred.

(4) For the purposes of paragraph (2), where the dependant is a dependent child and payments are made to the eligible student towards the child’s maintenance, those payments are to be treated as the child’s income.

General

44.—(1) The grant for dependants consists of the following elements—

(a) adult dependants’ grant;

(b) childcare grant;

(c) parents’ learning allowance.

(2) The qualifying conditions for each element and the amounts payable are set out in regulations 46 to 49.

Grant for students who have left care

45.—(1) An eligible student shall qualify for a grant under this regulation in connection with his attendance on a designated course if the conditions in paragraph (2) are satisfied.

(2) The conditions referred to in paragraph (1) are—

(a) the eligible student is under the age of 21 on the first day of the course;

(b) the eligible student has left care, that is to say he last ceased to fall within paragraph 2(1)(f) of Schedule 5 before 1st September 2005; and

(c) in the opinion of the Department, the eligible student is subject to greater financial hardship by virtue of falling within paragraph 2(1)(f) of Schedule 5 than he would otherwise have been.

(3) Subject to paragraph (4), the amount of grant shall be such amount as the Department considers appropriate in the circumstances.

(4) The maximum amount of grant is £100 for each week or part of a week in an academic year which—

(a) falls within the longest vacation taken; and

(b) during no part of which week the student attends his course.

Adult dependants’ grant

46.—(1) An eligible student qualifies for an adult dependants’ grant in connection with the student’s attendance on a designated course in accordance with this regulation.

(2) The adult dependants’ grant is available in respect of one dependant of an eligible student who is either—

(a) the eligible student’s partner; or

(b) an adult dependant whose net income does not exceed £3,796.

(3) The amount of adult dependants’ grant payable in respect of an academic year is calculated in accordance with regulation 49, the basic amount being—

(a) £2,642; or

(b) where the person in respect of whom the eligible student is applying for adult dependants’ grant is ordinarily resident outside the United Kingdom, such amount not exceeding £2,642 as the Department considers reasonable in the circumstances.

Childcare grant

47.—(1) An eligible student (“ A”) qualifies for a childcare grant in connection with A’s attendance on a designated course in accordance with this regulation.

(2) Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), the childcare grant is available in respect of an academic year in which A incurs prescribed childcare charges for—

(a) a dependent child who is under the age of 15 immediately before the beginning of the academic year; or

(b) a dependent child who has special educational needs within the meaning of Article 3 of the Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1996(10) and is under the age of 17 immediately before the beginning of the academic year.

(3) A does not qualify for a childcare grant if A or A’s partner has elected to receive the childcare element of the working tax credit under Part I of the Tax Credits Act 2002(11).

(4) A does not qualify for a childcare grant if the prescribed childcare charges that A incurs for A’s child are paid or to be paid by A to A’s partner.

(5) Subject to paragraph (6), the basic amount of childcare grant for each week is—

(a) for one dependent child, 85 per cent. of the prescribed childcare charges, subject to a maximum amount of £148.75 per week; or

(b) for two or more dependent children, 85 per cent. of the prescribed childcare charges, subject to a maximum amount of £255 per week

except that A does not qualify for any such grant in respect of each week falling within the period between the end of the course and the end of the academic year in which the course ends.

(6) For the purposes of calculating the basic amount of childcare grant—

(a) a week runs from Monday to Sunday; and

(b) where a week in respect of which prescribed childcare charges are incurred falls partly within and partly outside the academic year in respect of which childcare grant is payable under this regulation, the maximum weekly amount of grant is calculated by multiplying the relevant maximum weekly amount in paragraph (5) by the number of days of that week falling within the academic year and dividing the product by seven.

(7) In this regulation “prescribed childcare charges” means childcare charges of a description prescribed for the purposes of section 12 of the Tax Credits Act 2002(12).

Parents’ learning allowance

48.—(1) An eligible student (“ A”) qualifies in connection with A’s attendance on a designated course for the parents’ learning allowance if A has one or more dependants who are dependent children.

(2) The amount of parents’ learning allowance payable in respect of an academic year is calculated in accordance with regulation 49, the basic amount being £1,508.

Calculations

49.—(1) Subject to the following paragraphs, the amount payable in respect of a particular element of the grant for dependants for which the eligible student qualifies under regulations 46 to 48 is the amount of that element remaining after applying, until it is extinguished, an amount equal to as follows and in the following order—

(a) to reduce the basic amount of the adult dependants’ grant where the eligible student qualifies for that element under regulation 46;

(b) to reduce the basic amount of the childcare grant for the academic year where the eligible student qualifies for that element under regulation 47; and

(c) to reduce the basic amount of the parents’ learning allowance where the eligible student qualifies for that element under regulation 48.

(2) Subject to paragraphs (4), (5) and (13), where B is greater than or equal to A, the basic amount of each element of the grant for dependants for which the eligible student qualifies is payable.

(3) Where is equal to or exceeds the aggregate of the basic amounts of the elements of the grant for dependants for which the eligible student qualifies, the amount payable in respect of each element is nil.

(4) The amount of adult dependants’ grant calculated under paragraph (1) in respect of an adult dependant is reduced by one half where—

(a) the eligible student’s partner—

(i) is an eligible student; or

(ii) holds a statutory award; and

(b) account is taken of that partner’s dependants in calculating the amount of support for which that partner qualifies or the payment to which that partner is entitled under the statutory award.

(5) The amount of childcare grant calculated under paragraph (1) is reduced by one half where—

(a) the eligible student’s partner—

(i) is an eligible student; or

(ii) holds a statutory award; and

(b) account is taken of that partner’s dependants in calculating the amount of support for which that partner qualifies or the payment to which that partner is entitled under the statutory award.

(6) Where the amount of the parents’ learning allowance calculated under paragraph (1) is £0.01 or more but less than £50, the amount of parents’ learning allowance payable is £50.

(7) In this regulation—

A is the aggregate of the net income of each of the eligible student’s dependants; and

B is—

(a) £1,159 where the eligible student has no dependent child;

(b) £3,473 where the eligible student is not a lone parent and has one dependent child;

(c) £4,627 where the eligible student—

(i) is not a lone parent and has more than one dependent child; or

(ii) is a lone parent and has one dependent child;

(d) £5,792 where the eligible student is a lone parent and has more than one dependent child.

(8) Paragraphs (9) to (12) apply where, in the course of the academic year, any of the following occurs—

(a) there is a change in the number of the eligible student’s dependants;

(b) a person becomes or ceases to be a dependant of the eligible student;

(c) the eligible student becomes or ceases to be a lone parent;

(d) a student becomes eligible for support as a result of an event referred to in regulation 18.

(9) For the purposes of determining the respective values of A and B and whether adult dependants’ grant or parents’ learning allowance is payable, the Department must determine the following in relation to each relevant quarter by reference to the student’s circumstances in the relevant quarter—

(a) how many dependants the eligible student is to be treated as having;

(b) who those dependants are;

(c) whether the student is to be treated as a lone parent.

(10) The amount of grant for dependants for the academic year is the aggregate of the amounts of adult dependants’ grant and parents’ learning allowance calculated in respect of each relevant quarter under paragraph (11) and the amount of any childcare grant for the academic year.

(11) The amount of adult dependants’ grant and parents’ learning allowance in respect of a relevant quarter is one third of what that grant or allowance would be for the academic year if the student’s circumstances in the relevant quarter as determined under paragraph (9) applied for the duration of the academic year.

(12) In this regulation, a “relevant quarter” means—

(a) in the case of a person referred to in paragraph (8)(d), a quarter which begins after the relevant event occurs other than a quarter during which, in the opinion of the Department, the longest of any vacation occurs;

(b) otherwise, a quarter other than the one quarter during which, in the opinion of the Department, the longest of any vacation occurs.

(13) A deduction may be made in accordance with Part 9 from the amount payable in respect of a particular element of the grant for dependants calculated under this Part.

CHAPTER 5 GRANTS FOR TRAVEL

Interpretation

50.  For the purposes of this Chapter—

(a) any reference to expenditure incurred for the purpose of attending an institution or period of study—

(i) includes expenditure both before and after so attending; and

(ii) does not include any expenditure in respect of which a grant is payable under Chapter 3 of this Part;

(b) “qualifying quarter” means a quarter during which the eligible student attends as part of the student’s course an overseas institution or the Institute for at least half the period covered by that quarter.

General

51.  A grant for travel is available—

(a) to eligible students attending courses in medicine or dentistry in accordance with regulation 52;

(b) to eligible students attending an overseas institution or the Institute in accordance with regulation 54.

Qualifying conditions for the grant for travel – courses in medicine and dentistry

52.  A grant is available to an eligible student attending a course in medicine or dentistry (a necessary part of which is a period of study by way of clinical training) in respect of the reasonable expenditure which the student is obliged to incur in an academic year for the purpose of attending in connection with the student’s course any hospital or other premises in the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland (not comprised in the institution) at which facilities for clinical training are provided other than expenditure incurred for the purpose of residential study away from the institution.

Amount of the grant for travel – courses in medicine and dentistry

53.  The amount of grant payable under regulation 52 in respect of an academic year is equal to the reasonable expenditure that the Department determines the eligible student is obliged to incur for the purposes set out in that regulation less £303.

Qualifying conditions for the grant for travel – overseas study

54.  A grant is available to an eligible student in respect of the reasonable expenditure which the student is obliged to incur in each qualifying quarter within or outside the United Kingdom for the purpose of attending as part of the student’s course the overseas institution or the Institute.

Amount of the grant for travel – overseas study

55.  The amount of grant payable under regulation 54 in respect of an academic year is calculated as follows—

• where—

• X is the aggregate of the reasonable travel costs that the eligible student is obliged to incur in each qualifying quarter for the purposes set out in regulation 54.

• Y is the aggregate of the expenditure incurred in each qualifying quarter specified in regulation 56.

56.  The expenditure specified in this regulation is—

(a) expenditure that the eligible student reasonably incurs in insuring against liability for the cost of medical treatment provided outside the United Kingdom for any illness or bodily injury contracted or suffered during the period the student is attending the overseas institution or the Institute;

(b) the cost of a visa or visas that the eligible student is obliged to obtain in order to attend the overseas institution or the Institute; and

(c) medical costs that the eligible student reasonably incurs in order to fulfil a mandatory condition of entry into the territory, country or state in which the overseas institution or the Institute is situated.

Deductions from the grant for travel

57.  A deduction may be made from any grant under this Chapter in accordance with Part 9.

CHAPTER 6 MAINTENANCE GRANTS FOR CURRENT SYSTEM STUDENTS

Qualifying conditions for the maintenance grant

58.—(1) A current system student qualifies in accordance with this regulation for a maintenance grant in connection with the student’s attendance on a designated course.

(2) A current system student does not qualify for a maintenance grant if the student qualifies for a special support grant.

(3) If a current system student does not qualify for a fee loan in respect of an academic year of the designated course, the student cannot qualify for a maintenance grant for that year unless the reason that the student does not qualify for a fee loan is that—

(a) the year is an Erasmus year; or

(b) the designated course is an old flexible postgraduate course for the initial training of teachers.

Amount of the maintenance grant

59.—(1) The maximum amount of maintenance grant available in respect of an academic year is—

(a) in the case of a type 1 or type 3 teacher training student, £1,703;

(b) in the case of a type 2 teacher training student, £3,406; and

(c) in the case of a current system student other than a type 1, type 2 or type 3 teacher training student, £3,406.

(2) A type 1 teacher training student who qualifies for a maintenance grant in respect of an academic year receives an amount as follows in respect of that year—

(a) where the household income is £18,820 or less, the student receives £1,703;

(b) where the household income exceeds £18,820 but does not exceed £28,439 the student receives an amount equal to

where

• M is £1,703

• A is £1 for every complete £4.55 by which the household income exceeds £18,820; and

(c) where the household income exceeds £28,439 or the student opts when applying for the grant not to provide the information needed to calculate the household income, the student receives £646.

(3) A type 2 teacher training student who qualifies for a maintenance grant in respect of an academic year receives an amount as follows in respect of that year —

(a) where the household income is £18,820 or less, the student receives £3,406;

(b) where the household income exceeds £18,820 but does not exceed £28,439, the student receives an amount equal to where—

• M is £3,406

• A is £1 for every complete £4.55 by which the household income exceeds £18,820; and

(c) where the household income exceeds £28,439 or the student opts when applying for the grant not to provide the information needed to calculate the household income, the student receives £1,292.

(4) A type 3 teacher training student who qualifies for a maintenance grant in respect of an academic year receives, subject to sub-paragraph (c), an amount as follows in respect of that year—

(a) where the household income is £18,820 or less, the student receives £1,703;

(b) where the household income exceeds £18,820 but does not exceed £40,238, the student receives an amount equal to where—

• M is £1,703

• A is £1 for every complete £4.55 by which the household income exceeds £18,820 but does not exceed £28,439

• B is £1 for every complete £9.50 by which the household income exceeds £28,439 but does not exceed £40,238; and

(c) where the household income exceeds £40,238, no maintenance grant is payable.

(5) A current system student other than a type 1, type 2 or type 3 teacher training student who qualifies for a maintenance grant in respect of an academic year receives an amount as follows in respect of that year—

(a) where the household income is £18,820 or less, the student receives £3,406;

(b) where the household income exceeds £18,820 but does not exceed £28,439, the student receives an amount equal to where—

• M is £3,406

• A is £1 for every complete £4.55 by which the household income exceeds £18,820;

(c) where the household income exceeds £28,439 but does not exceed £40,238, the student receives an amount equal to where—

• RM is £1,292

• A is £1 for every complete £9.50 by which the household income exceeds £28,439;

(d) where the household income exceeds £40,238, no maintenance grant is payable.

CHAPTER 7 SPECIAL SUPPORT GRANTS FOR CURRENT SYSTEM STUDENTS

Qualifying conditions for the special support grant

60.—(1) A current system student qualifies in accordance with this regulation for a special support grant in connection with the student’s attendance on a designated course to defray the costs of books, equipment, travel or childcare incurred for the purpose of attending that course.

(2) A current system student qualifies for a special support grant if the student—

(a) falls within a prescribed category of person for the purposes of section 123(1)(e) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act (Northern Ireland) 1992(13); or

(b) is treated as being liable to make payments in respect of a dwelling prescribed by regulations made under section 129(2) of that Act(14).

(3) If a current system student does not qualify for a fee loan in respect of an academic year of the designated course, the student cannot qualify for a special support grant for that year unless the reason that the student does not qualify for a fee loan is that—

(a) the year is an Erasmus year; or

(b) the designated course is an old flexible postgraduate course for the initial training of teachers.

Amount of the special support grant

61.—(1) The maximum amount of special support grant available in respect of an academic year is—

(a) in the case of a type 1 or type 3 teacher training student, £1,703;

(b) in the case of a type 2 teacher training student, £3,406;

(c) in the case of a current system student other than a type 1, type 2 or type 3 teacher training student, £3,406.

(2) A type 1 teacher training student who qualifies for a special support grant in respect of an academic year receives an amount as follows in respect of that year—

(a) where the household income is £18,820 or less, the student receives £1,703;

(b) where the household income exceeds £18,820 but does not exceed £28,439, the student receives an amount equal to where—

• M is £1,703

• A is £1 for every complete £4.55 by which the household income exceeds £18,820; and

(c) where the household income exceeds £28,439 or the student opts when applying for the grant not to provide the information needed to calculate the household income, the student receives £646.

(3) A type 2 teacher training student who qualifies for a special support grant in respect of an academic year receives an amount as follows in respect of that year—

(a) where the household income is £18,820 or less, the student receives £3,406;

(b) where the household income exceeds £18,820 but does not exceed £28,439, the student receives an amount equal to where—

• M is £3,406

• A is £1 for every complete £4.55 by which the household income exceeds £18,820; and

(c) where the household income exceeds £28,439 or the student opts when applying for the grant not to provide the information needed to calculate the household income, the student receives £1,292.

(4) A type 3 teacher training student who qualifies for a special support grant in respect of an academic year receives, subject to sub-paragraph (c), an amount as follows in respect of that year—

(a) where the household income is £18,820 or less, the student receives £1,703;

(b) where the household income exceeds £18,820 but does not exceed £40,238, the student receives an amount equal to where—

• M is £1,703

• A is £1 for every complete £4.55 by which the household income exceeds £18,820 but does not exceed £28,439

• B is £1 for every complete £9.50 by which the household income exceeds £28,439 but does not exceed £40,238; and

(c) where the household income exceeds £40,238, no special support grant is payable.

(5) A current system student other than a type 1, type 2 or type 3 teacher training student who qualifies for a special support grant in respect of an academic year receives an amount as follows in respect of that year—

(a) where the household income is £18,820 or less, the student receives £3,406;

(b) where the household income exceeds £18,820 but does not exceed £28,439, the student receives an amount equal to where—

• M is £3,406

• A is £1 for every complete £4.55 by which the household income exceeds £18,820;

(c) where the household income exceeds £28,439 but does not exceed £40,238, the student receives an amount equal to where—

• RM is £1,292

• A is £1 for every complete £9.50 by which the household income exceeds £28,439; and

(d) where the household income exceeds £40,238, no special support grant is payable.

CHAPTER 8 HIGHER EDUCATION BURSARIES FOR OLD SYSTEM STUDENTS

Qualifying conditions and amounts of the higher education bursary

62.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), an old system student who qualifies for a grant for fees under Chapter 3 of Part 4 and who is under the age of 60 on the relevant date qualifies for a higher education bursary in accordance with his attendance on a designated course.

(2) If an old system student does not qualify for a grant for fees in respect of an academic year of the designated course, he cannot qualify for a higher education bursary for that year unless the reason that he does not qualify for a grant for fees is because—

(a) the year is an Erasmus year; or

(b) the designated course is an old flexible postgraduate course for the initial training of teachers.

(3) The amount of bursary payable in respect of any academic year shall be determined by reference to the household income ascertained under paragraph 3 of Schedule 5 in accordance with the following table—

Residual Income (£)	Bursary (£)
Up to 11,570	2,000
11,571 to 12,000	1,925
12,001 to 13,000	1,755
13,001 to 14,000	1,580
14,001 to 15,000	1,405
15,001 to 16,000	1,235
16,001 to 17,000	1,060
17,001 to 18,000	905
18,001 to 19,000	760
19,001 to 20,000	620
20,001 to 21,000	475
21,001 to 22,000	330
22,001 to 23,000	185
23,001 to 23,135	165
Over 23,135	Nil

(1)

S.I. 1991/194 (N.I. 1); Article 10 was amended by the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1994 (S.I. 1994/429 (N.I. 2)) Article 3(8)

(2)

S.I. 1990 No. 247 (N.I. 3)

(3)

2006 c.41

(4)

1978 c. 29

(5)

1992 c. 7

(6)

S.I. 1987/2203 (N.I. 22); Article 59A was inserted by paragraph 164 of Schedule 9 to the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (S.I. 1995/755) (N.I.2)

(7)

Section 77 was amended by Schedule 6 to the Tax Credits Act 2002 (c. 21), paragraph 88 of Schedule 24 to the Civil Partnership Act 2004 (c. 33) and paragraph 30 of Schedule 1 to the Child Benefit Act (c. 6)

(8)

S.I. 1995/755 (N.I. 2)

(9)

2002 c. 21; section 3 was amended by the Civil Partnership Act 2004 (c.33), Schedule 24 and there are amendments not relevant to these Regulations

(10)

S.I. 1996/274 (N.I. 1)

(11)

2002 c. 21 to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulations

(12)

Regulation 14 of the Working Tax Credit (Entitlement and Maximum Amount) Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/2005; as amended by S.I. 2003/701, S.I. 2003/2815, S.I. 2004/762, S.I. 2004/1276, S.I. 2004/2663, S.I. 2005/769, S.I. 2005/2919, S.I. 2006/766, S.I. 2007/824, S.I. 2007/2479 and S.I. 2008/604) sets out the charges that are prescribed for the purposes of section 12 of the Tax Credits Act 2002

(13)

1992 c. 7; section 123(1)(e) was inserted by paragraph 13(5) of Schedule 2 to the Jobseekers (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (S.I. 1995/2705 (N.I. 15)).The relevant provision is regulation 4ZA and Schedule 1B, as amended, of the Income Support (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 (S.R. 1987 No. 459). Regulation 4ZA was inserted by regulation 4 of S.R. 1996 No. 199 ; relevant amending Rules are the Schedule to S.R. 2000 No. 241, regulation 5(3) of S.R. 2000 No. 71 and paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to S.R. 2005 No. 319 (c.23)

(14)

Section 129(2) was amended by Article 8 (2) of the Housing Support Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2002, S.I. 2002/3154 (N.I. 8). The relevant regulation is regulation 53 of the Housing Benefit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 (S.R. 2006 No. 405)