The Income Support (General) Regulations 1987

Interpretation E+W+S

61.— [F1 (1)] In this Chapter, unless the context otherwise requires—

[F2 ““academic year” means the period of twelve months beginning on 1st January, 1st April, 1st July or 1st September according to whether the course in question begins in the winter, the spring, the summer or the autumn respectively but if students are required to begin attending the course during August or September and to continue attending through the autumn, the academic year of the course shall be considered to begin in the autumn rather than the summer;”;]

[F3 “access funds" means—

(a)

grants made under section 7 of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 and described as “learner support funds" or grants made under section 68 of that Act [F4 for the purpose of providing funds on a discretionary basis to be paid to students];

(b)

grants made under sections 73(a) and (c) and 74(1) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980; F5 ...

(c)

grants made under Article 30 of the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1993, or grants, loans or other payments made under Article 5 of the Further Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 in each case being grants, or grants, loans or other payments as the case may be, made for the purpose of assisting students in financial difficulties;] [F6 or

(d)

discretionary payments, known as “learner support funds”, which are made available to students in further education by institutions out of funds provided by the Learning and Skills Council for England under sections 5, 6 and 9 of the Learning and Skills Act 2000;]

[F7 “college of further education" means a college of further education within the meaning of Part I of the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992;]

[F8 “contribution" means any contribution in respect of the income [F9 of a student or] of any other person which the Secretary of State[F10 , the Scottish Ministers] or an education authority takes into account in ascertaining the amount of the student’s grant [F11 or student loan], or any sums, which in determining the amount of a student’s allowance or bursary in Scotland under the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992, the [F12 Scottish Ministers] or education authority takes into account being sums which the [F12 Scottish Ministers] or the education authority consider that the holder of the allowance or bursary, the holder’s parents and the holder’s spouse can reasonably be expected to contribute towards the holder’s expenses;]

[F8 “course of advanced education" means—

(a)

a course leading to a postgraduate degree or comparable qualification, a first degree or comparable qualification, a diploma of higher education or a higher national diploma; or

(b)

any other course which is of a standard above advanced GNVQ or equivalent, including a course which is of a standard above a general certificate of education (advanced level), a Scottish certificate of education (higher level) or a Scottish certificate of sixth year studies;]

“covenant income” means the income F13 ... payable to a student under a Deed of Covenant by a person whose income is, or is likely to be, taken into account in assessing the student's grant or award;

“education authority” means a government department, a local education authority as defined in section 114(1) of the Education Act 1944 F14 (interpretation), [F15 a local education authority as defined in section 123 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973], an education and library board established under Article 3 of the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1986F16 , any body which is a research council for the purposes of the Science and Technology Act 1965F17 or any analogous government department, authority, board or body, of the Channel Islands, Isle of Man or any other country outside Great Britain.

F18 ...

[F7 “full-time course of advanced education" means a course of advanced education which isF19 ...—

(a)

F20 ... a full-time course of study which is not funded in whole or in part by [F21 the Learning and Skills Council for England or by the National Council for Education and Training for Wales] or a full-time course of study which is not funded in whole or in part by the [F22 Scottish Ministers] at a college of further education or a full-time course of study which is a course of higher education and is funded in whole or in part by the [F22 Scottish Ministers] ;

(b)

[F23 a course of study which is funded in whole or in part by the Learning and Skills Council for England or by the National Council for Education and Training for Wales if it involves more than 16 guided learning hours per week for the student in question, according to the number of guided learning hours per week for that student set out—

(i)

in the case of a course funded by the Learning and Skills Council for England, in his learning agreement signed on behalf of the establishment which is funded by that Council for the delivery of that course; or

(ii)

in the case of a course funded by the National Council for Education and Training for Wales, in a document signed on behalf of the establishment which is funded by that Council for the delivery of that course; or]

(c)

F24 ... a course of study (not being higher education) which is funded in whole or in part by the [F22 Scottish Ministers] at a college of further education if it involves—

(i)

more than 16 hours per week of classroom-based or workshop-based programmed learning under the direct guidance of teaching staff according to the number of hours set out in a document signed on behalf of the college; or

(ii)

16 hours or less per week of classroom-based or workshop-based programmed learning under the direct guidance of teaching staff and it involves additional hours using structured learning packages supported by the teaching staff where the combined total of hours exceeds 21 per week, according to the number of hours set out in a document signed on behalf of the college;]

[F7 “full-time course of study" means a full-time course of study which—

(a)

is not funded in whole or in part by [F25 the Learning and Skills Council for England or by the National Council for Education and Training for Wales] or a full-time course of study which is not funded in whole or in part by the [F26 Scottish Ministers] at a college of further education or a full-time course of study which is a course of higher education and is funded in whole or in part by the [F26 Scottish Ministers];

(b)

[F27 a course of study which is funded in whole or in part by the Learning and Skills Council for England or by the National Council for Education and Training for Wales if it involves more than 16 guided learning hours per week for the student in question, according to the number of guided learning hours per week for that student set out—

(i)

in the case of a course funded by the Learning and Skills Council for England, in his learning agreement signed on behalf of the establishment which is funded by that Council for the delivery of that course; or

(ii)

in the case of a course funded by the National Council for Education and Training for Wales, in a document signed on behalf of the establishment which is funded by that Council for the delivery of that course; or]

(c)

is not higher education and is funded in whole or in part by the [F26 Scottish Ministers] at a college of further education if it involves—

(i)

more than 16 hours per week of classroom-based or workshop-based programmed learning under the direct guidance of teaching staff according to the number of hours set out in a document signed on behalf of the college; or

(ii)

16 hours or less per week of classroom-based or workshop-based programmed learning under the direct guidance of teaching staff and it involves additional hours using structured learning packages supported by the teaching staff where the combined total of hours exceeds 21 per week, according to the number of hours set out in a document signed on behalf of the college;]

[F28 “full-time student" means a person, who is—

(a)

aged less than 19 and is attending or undertaking a full-time course of advanced education;

(b)

aged 19 or over but under pensionable age and is attending or undertaking a full-time course of study at an educational establishment; or

(c)

on a sandwich course;]

[F29 “grant" (except in the definition of “access funds") means any kind of educational grant or award and includes any scholarship, studentship, exhibition, allowance or bursary but does not include a payment from access funds;]

“grant income” means—

(a)

any income by way of a grant;

(b)

in the case of a student other than one to whom sub-paragraph (c) refers, any contribution which has been assessed whether or not it has been paid;

(c)

in the case of a student to whom [F30 paragraph 1, 2, 10, 11 or 12 of Schedule 1B] applies (lone parent or disabled student), any contribution which has been assessed and which has been paid;

and any such contribution which is paid by way of a covenant shall be treated as part of the student's grant income.

[F7 “higher education" means higher education within the meaning of Part II of the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992;]

[F31 “last day of the course” means the date on which the last day of the final academic term falls in respect of the course in which the student is enrolled;]

“period of study” means—

(a)

in the case of a course of study for one year or less, the period beginning with the start of the course [F32 and ending with the last day of the course];

(b)

in the case of a course of study for more than one year, in the first or, as the case may be, any subsequent year of the course, [F33 other than the final year of the course,] the period beginning with the start of the course or, as the case may be, that year's start and ending with either—

(i)

[F34 the day before the start of the next year of the course in a case where the student’s grant or loan is assessed at a rate appropriate to his studying throughout the year or, if he does not have a grant or loan, where a loan would have been assessed at such a rate had he had one; or]

(ii)

in any other case the day before the start of the normal summer vacation appropriate to his course;

(c)

[F35 in the final year of a course of study of more than one year, the period beginning with that year’s start and ending with the last day of the course;]

“periods of experience” has the meaning prescribed in paragraph 1(1) of Schedule 5 to the [F36 Education (Mandatory Awards) Regulations 1995];

[F29 “sandwich course" has the meaning prescribed in regulation 5(2) of the Education (Student Support) Regulations 2000, regulation 5(2) of the Education (Student Loans) (Scotland) Regulations 2000 or regulation 5(2) of the Education (Student Support) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000, as the case may be;]

[F8 “standard maintenance grant" means—]

(a)

except where paragraph (b) or (c) applies, in the case of a student attending [F37 or undertaking] a course of study at the University of London or an establishment within the area comprising the City of London and the Metropolitan Police District, the amount specified for the time being in paragraph 2(2)(a) of Schedule 2 to the Education (Mandatory Awards) Regulations 1995 (“the 1995 Regulations") for such a student;

(b)

except where paragraph (c) applies, in the case of a student residing at his parent’s home, the amount specified in paragraph 3(2) thereof;

(c)

[F38 in the case of a student receiving an allowance or bursary under the Education (Scotland) Act 1980, the amount of money specified as the “standard maintenance allowance” for the relevant year appropriate for the student set out in the Student Support in Scotland Guide issued by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland, or its nearest equivalent in the case of a bursary provided by a college of further education or a local education authority and paid under the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992;]

(d)

in any other case, the amount specified in paragraph 2(2) of Schedule 2 to the 1995 Regulations other than in sub-paragraph (a) or (b) thereof;

[F39 “student" means a person, other than a person in receipt of a training allowance, who is attending or undertaking a course of study at an educational establishment;]

[F40 “student loan" means a loan towards a student’s maintenance pursuant to any regulations made under section 22 of the Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998, section 73 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 or Article 3 of the Education (Student Support) (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 [F41 and shall include, in Scotland, a young student’s bursary paid under regulation 4(1)(c) of the Students’ Allowances (Scotland) Regulations 1999]];

F42 ...

[F43 (2) For the purposes of the definition of “full-time student" in paragraph (1), a person shall be regarded as attending or, as the case may be, undertaking a full-time course of study, a full-time course of advanced education or as being on a sandwich course—

(a) subject to paragraph (3), in the case of a person attending or undertaking a part of a modular course which would be a full-time course of study for the purposes of this Part, for the period beginning on the day on which that part of the course starts and ending—

(i) on the last day on which he is registered with the educational establishment as attending or undertaking that part as a full-time course of study; or

(ii) on such earlier date (if any) as he finally abandons the course or is dismissed from it;

(b) in any other case, throughout the period beginning on the date on which he starts attending or undertaking the course and ending on the last day of the course or on such earlier date (if any) as he finally abandons it or is dismissed from it.

(3) For the purpose of sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph (2), the period referred to in that sub-paragraph shall include—

(a) where a person has failed examinations or has failed to successfully complete a module relating to a period when he was attending or undertaking a part of the course as a full-time course of study, any period in respect of which he attends or undertakes the course for the purpose of retaking those examinations or that module;

(b) any period of vacation within the period specified in that paragraph or immediately following that period except where the person has registered with the educational establishment to attend or undertake the final module in the course and the vacation immediately follows the last day on which he is required to attend or undertake the course.

(4) In paragraph (2), “modular course" means a course of study which consists of two or more modules, the successful completion of a specified number of which is required before a person is considered by the educational establishment to have completed the course.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Reg. 61(1): reg. 61 renumbered reg. 61(1) (31.7.2000) by The Social Security Amendment (Students) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/1981), regs. 1(1), 5(3)

F2 Words in reg. 61(1) inserted (1.8.2001) by The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/2319), regs. 1(1)(a), 2(1)(a)(2)(c)

F3 Words in reg. 61(1) inserted (for specified purposes and with effect in accordance with reg. 1(b)(i)(ii) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/1922), regs. 1, 2(2)

F4 Words in reg. 61(1) substituted (1.8.2001) by The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/2319), regs. 1(1)(a), 2(1)(b)(i)(2)(c)

F5 Word in reg. 61(1) omitted (1.8.2001) by virtue of The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/2319), regs. 1(1)(a), 2(1)(b)(ii)(2)(c)

F6 Words in reg. 61(1) inserted (1.8.2001) by The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/2319), regs. 1(1)(a), 2(1)(b)(ii)(2)(c)

F7 Words in reg. 61 inserted (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(6) of the amending S.I.) by The Income-related Benefits Schemes and Social Fund (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/1944), regs. 1(1)(a), 6(8)(b) (with reg. 13)

F8 Words in reg. 61 substituted (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(6) of the amending S.I.) by The Income-related Benefits Schemes and Social Fund (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/1944), regs. 1(1)(a), 6(8)(a) (with reg. 13)

F9 Words in reg. 61 inserted (coming into force in accordance with reg. 1(2)(3) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 1998 (S.I. 1998/563), regs. 1(2), 4(1)(2)(e)

F10 Words in reg. 61(1) inserted (1.8.2001) by The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/2319), regs. 1(1)(a), 2(1)(c)(i)(2)(c)

F11 Words in reg. 61 inserted (1.8.1999, 30.8.1999 in so far as not already in force) by The Social Security Amendment (Students) Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/1935), regs. 1(1)(b), 3(2)(a)

F12 Words in reg. 61(1) substituted (1.8.2001) by The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/2319), regs. 1(1)(a), 2(1)(c)(ii)(2)(c)

F13 Words in reg. 61 omitted (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(6) of the amending S.I.) by virtue of The Income-related Benefits Schemes and Social Fund (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/1944), regs. 1(1)(a), 6(8)(c)(i) (with reg. 13)

F14 1944 c. 31 as amended by S.I. 1974/595 article 3(22) Schedule 1 Part I and by S.I. 1977/293, article 4(1).

F15 Words in reg. 61 substituted (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(6) of the amending S.I.) by The Income-related Benefits Schemes and Social Fund (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/1944), regs. 1(1)(a), 6(8)(c)(ii) (with reg. 13)

F16 S.I. 1986/594 (NI 3).

F17 1965 c. 4.

F18 Words in reg. 61(1) omitted (1.4.2001) by virtue of The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/652), regs. 1(1)(b), 3(1)(a)

F19 Words in reg. 61(1) omitted (31.7.2000) by virtue of The Social Security Amendment (Students) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/1981), regs. 1(1), 5(3)(a)(i)

F20 Word in reg. 61(1) omitted (31.7.2000) by virtue of The Social Security Amendment (Students) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/1981), regs. 1(1), 5(3)(a)(ii)

F21 Words in reg. 61(1) substituted (1.4.2001) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/652), regs. 1(1)(b), 3(3)(a)

F22 Words in reg. 61(1) substituted (1.8.2001) by The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/2319), regs. 1(1)(a), 2(3)(b)

F23 Words in reg. 61(1) substituted (1.4.2001) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/652), regs. 1(1)(b), 3(3)(b)

F24 Word in reg. 61(1) omitted (31.7.2000) by virtue of The Social Security Amendment (Students) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/1981), regs. 1(1), 5(3)(a)(iii)

F25 Words in reg. 61(1) substituted (1.4.2001) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/652), regs. 1(1)(b), 3(1)(b)(i)

F26 Words in reg. 61(1) substituted (1.8.2001) by The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/2319), regs. 1(1)(a), 2(3)(a)

F27 Words in reg. 61(1) substituted (1.4.2001) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/652), regs. 1(1)(b), 3(1)(b)(ii)

F28 Words in reg. 61(1) inserted (31.7.2000) by The Social Security Amendment (Students) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/1981), regs. 1(1), 5(3)(b)

F29 Words in reg. 61(1) substituted (for specified purposes and with effect in accordance with reg. 1(b)(i)(ii) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/1922), regs. 1, 2(2)

F30 Words in reg. 61 substituted (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(2)(3) of the amending S.I.) by The Income-related Benefits and Jobseeker’s Allowance (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 1997 (S.I. 1997/2197), regs. 1(2), 5(5)

F31 Words in reg. 61 inserted (5.8.1991) by The Income Support (General) Amendment No. 4 Regulations 1991 (S.I. 1991/1559), regs. 1(1)(a), 10(a) (with reg. 1(2))

F32 Words in reg. 61 substituted (5.8.1991) by The Income Support (General) Amendment No. 4 Regulations 1991 (S.I. 1991/1559), regs. 1(1)(a), 10(b)(i) (with reg. 1(2))

F33 Words in reg. 61 inserted (5.8.1991) by The Income Support (General) Amendment No. 4 Regulations 1991 (S.I. 1991/1559), regs. 1(1)(a), 10(b)(ii) (with reg. 1(2))

F34 Words in reg. 61(1) substituted (for specified purposes and with effect in accordance with reg. 1(b)(i)(ii) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/1922), regs. 1, 2(3)

F35 Words in reg. 61 inserted (5.8.1991) by The Income Support (General) Amendment No. 4 Regulations 1991 (S.I. 1991/1559), regs. 1(1)(a), 10(b)(iii) (with reg. 1(2))

F36 Words in reg. 61 substituted (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(6) of the amending S.I.) by The Income-related Benefits Schemes and Social Fund (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/1944), regs. 1(1)(a), 6(8)(c)(iv) (with reg. 13)

F37 Words in reg. 61(1) inserted (31.7.2000) by The Social Security Amendment (Students) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/1981), regs. 1(1), 5(3)(c)

F38 Words in reg. 61(1) substituted (1.8.2001) by The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/2319), regs. 1(1)(a), 2(1)(d)(2)(c)

F39 Words in reg. 61(1) substituted (31.7.2000) by The Social Security Amendment (Students) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/1981), regs. 1(1), 5(3)(d)

F40 Words in reg. 61 substituted (1.8.1999, 30.8.1999 in so far as not already in force) by The Social Security Amendment (Students) Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/1935), regs. 1(1)(b), 3(2)(b)

F41 Words in reg. 61(1) added (1.8.2001) by The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/2319), regs. 1(1)(a), 2(1)(e)(2)(c)

F42 Words in reg. 61(1) omitted (1.8.2001) by virtue of The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/2319), regs. 1(1)(a), 2(1)(f)(2)(c)

F43 Reg. 61(2)(3)(4) inserted (31.7.2000) by The Social Security Amendment (Students) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/1981), regs. 1(1), 5(4)

Commencement Information

I1 Reg. 61 in force at 11.4.1988, see reg. 1