The Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996

Chapter IX [F1 Students]

Textual Amendments

F1 Ch. IX, Pt. VIII Title substituted (for specified purposes and with effect in accordance with reg. 1(bi)(bii) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/1922), regs. 1, 3(3)

Interpretation

130.  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 ...;

  (d)

  [F7 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 [F8 or];]

  (e)

  [F8 Financial Contingency Funds made available by the National Assembly for Wales;]

• “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 in terms of the Students’ Allowances (Scotland) Regulations 1991F12 or the Education Authority (Bursaries) (Scotland) Regulations 1995F13 , the [F14 Scottish Ministers] or education authority takes into account being sums which the [F14 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;

• “covenant income" means the income 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 1944F15 , a local education authority as defined in section 123 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973F16 , an education and library board established under article 3 of the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1986F17 , any body which is a research council for the purposes of the Science and Technology Act 1965F18 or any analogous government department, authority, board or body, of the Channel Islands, Isle of Man or any other country outside Great Britain;

• [F19 “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 [F20 or any payment to which paragraph 12 of Schedule 7 or paragraph 52 of Schedule 8 applies];]

• “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 that has been taken into account whether or not it has been paid;

  (c)

  in the case of a student who satisfies the additional conditions for a disability premium in paragraph 14 of Schedule 1 (applicable amounts), any contribution which has been taken into account 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;

• F21 ...

• [F22 “periods of experience” means periods of work experience which form part of a sandwich course;]

• “standard maintenance grant" means–

  (a)

  except where paragraph (b) or (c) applies, in the case of a student attending [F23 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 parents’ home, the amount specified in paragraph 3(2) thereof;

  (c)

  [F24 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 the 1995 regulations other than in sub-paragraph (a) or (b) thereof;

• F25 ...

• [F26 “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 [F27 and shall include, in Scotland, a young student’s bursary paid under regulation 4(1)(c) of the Students’ Allowances (Scotland) Regulations 1999]];

• F28 ...

Textual Amendments

F2 Words in reg. 130 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)(d)

F3 Words in reg. 130 inserted (for specified purposes and with effect in accordance with reg. 1(bi)(bii) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/1922), regs. 1, 3(4)

F4 Words in reg. 130 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)(d)

F5 Word in reg. 130 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)(d)

F6 Word in reg. 130 omitted (1.8.2002) by virtue of The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/1589), regs. 1(1)(a), 2(3)(b)(i)

F7 Words in reg. 130 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)(d)

F8 Words in reg. 130 added (1.8.2002) by The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/1589), regs. 1(1)(a), 2(3)(b)(i)

F9 Words in reg. 130 inserted (coming into force in accordance with reg. 1(2)(3)(4)(5)(6) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 1998 (S.I. 1998/563), regs. 1, 4(1)(2)(f)

F10 Words in reg. 130 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)(d)

F11 Words in reg. 130 inserted (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(1)(b) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security Amendment (Students) Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/1935), regs. 1(1)(b), 2(2)(a)

F12 S.I. 1991/1522.

F13 S.I. 1995/1739.

F14 Words in reg. 130 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)(d)

F15 1944 c.31, as amended by S.I. 1974/595 and 1977/293.

F16 1973 c.65.

F17 S.I. 1986/594 (N.I. 3).

F18 1965 c.4.

F19 Words in reg. 130 substituted (for specified purposes and with effect in accordance with reg. 1(bi)(bii) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/1922), regs. 1, 3(4)

F20 Words in reg. 130 added (coming into force in accordance with reg. 1(1)(b)(i) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Students and Income-related Benefits) Amendment Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1708), regs. 1(1)(b), 6(2)

F21 Words in reg. 130 omitted (31.7.2000) by virtue of The Social Security Amendment (Students) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/1981), regs.1(1), 6(4)(a)

F22 Words in reg. 130 substituted (1.8.2002) by The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/1589), regs. 1(1)(a), 2(3)(b)(ii)

F23 Words in reg. 130 inserted (31.7.2000) by The Social Security Amendment (Students) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/1981), regs. 1(1), 6(4)(b)

F24 Words in reg. 130 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)(d)

F25 Words in reg. 130 omitted (for specified purposes and with effect in accordance with reg. 1(bi)(bii) of the amending S.I.) by virtue of The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/1922), regs. 1, 3(5)

F26 Words in reg. 130 substituted (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(1)(b) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security Amendment (Students) Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/1935), regs. 1(1)(b), 2(2)(b)

F27 Words in reg. 130 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)(d)

F28 Words in reg. 130 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)(d)

Calculation of grant income

131.—(1) The amount of a student’s grant income to be taken into account shall, subject to paragraphs [F29 (2) and (3)], be the whole of his grant income.

(2) There shall be disregarded from the amount of a student’s grant income any payment—

(a) intended to meet tuition fees or examination fees;

(b) intended to meet additional expenditure incurred by a disabled student in respect of his attendance on a course;

(c) intended to meet additional expenditure connected with term time residential study away from the student’s educational establishment;

(d) on account of the student maintaining a home at a place other than that at which he resides while attending his course but only to the extent that his rent is not met by housing benefit;

(e) on account of any other person but only if that person is residing outside the United Kingdom and there is no applicable amount in respect of him;

(f) intended to meet the cost of books and equipment F30 ... F31 ...

(g) intended to meet travel expenses incurred as a result of his attendance on the course.

[F32 (h) intended for the maintenance F33 ... of a child dependent.]

[F34 (i) intended for the child care costs of a child dependant.]

[F35 (3) Where a student does not have a student loan and is not treated as possessing such a loan, there shall be excluded from the student’s grant income—

(a) the sum of [F36 £275] in respect of travel costs; and

(b) [F37 the sum of [F38 £343] towards the costs of books and equipment,]

whether or not any such costs are incurred.]

[F39 [F40 (3A) There shall also be excluded from a student’s grant income—

[F41 (a) any grant of £255 for an only or eldest dependant child payable under regulation 15(1)(c) of the Education (Student Support) Regulations 2002;]

(b) any grant of [F42 £510] in respect of expenditure on travel, books and equipment for the purpose of attending his course which is payable under regulation 15(8) of those Regulations;]

F43 (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F43 (cc) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F43 (d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(e) [F44 any grant paid under regulation 15(7) of the Education (Student Support) (No.2) Regulations 2002.]]

[F39 (3A) There shall also be excluded from a student’s grant income any grant of £510 in respect of expenditure on travel, books and equipment which is payable under regulation 15(8) of the Education (Student Support) Regulations 2002.]

(4) [F45 Subject to paragraph (5A), a student’s grant income except for any amount intended for the maintenance of [F46 adult] dependants under Part III of Schedule 2 to the Education (Mandatory Awards) Regulations 1999[F47 , or intended for an older student under Part IV of that Schedule,]] shall be apportioned—

(a) subject to paragraph (6), in a case where it is attributable to the period of study, equally between the weeks [F48 in the period beginning with the benefit week, the first day of which coincides with, or immediately follows, the first day of the period of study and ending with the benefit week, the last day of which coincides with, or immediately precedes, the last day of the period of study];

(b) in any other case, equally between the weeks in the period [F49 beginning with the benefit week, the first day of which coincides with, or immediately follows, the first day of the period for which it is payable and ending with the benefit week, the last day of which coincides with, or immediately precedes, the last day of the period for which it is payable].

(5) [F50 Any grant paid under section 63(6) of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 (grants in respect of the provision of instruction to officers of hospital authorities) and] any amount intended for the maintenance of [F51 dependants] [F51 an adult dependant] [F52 or for an older student] under the provisions referred to in paragraph (4) shall be apportioned equally over a period of 52 weeks or, if there are 53 benefit weeks (including part-weeks) in the year, 53.

[F53 (5A) [F54 In a case where a student is in receipt of a student loan or where he could have acquired a student loan by taking reasonable steps but had not done so,] any amount intended for the maintenance of [F55 dependants] [F55 an adult dependant] under provisions other than those referred to in paragraphs (4) and (5), shall be apportioned over the same period as the student’s loan is apportioned or[F56 , as the case may be, would have been apportioned].]

(6) In the case of a student on a sandwich course, any periods of experience within the period of study shall be excluded and the student’s grant income shall be apportioned equally between [F57 the weeks in the period beginning with the benefit week, the first day of which immediately follows the last day of the period of experience and ending with the benefit week, the last day of which coincides with, or immediately precedes, the last day of the period of study].

Textual Amendments

F29 Words in reg. 131(1) substituted (for specified purposes and with effect in accordance with reg. 1(bi)(bii) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/1922), regs. 1, 3(6)(a)

F30 Words in reg. 131(2)(f) omitted (7.10.1996) by virtue of The Jobseeker’s Allowance (Amendment) Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/1516), reg. 1(1), Sch. Pt. 2

F31 Words in reg. 131(2)(f) omitted (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(1)(b) of the amending S.I.) by virtue of The Social Security Amendment (Students) Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/1935), regs. 1(1)(b), 2(3)(a)

F32 Reg. 131(2)(h) added (for specified purposes and with effect in accordance with reg. 1(6)(7)(8) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/455), Sch. 2 para. 16(a)

F33 Words in reg. 131(2)(h) deleted (coming into force in accordance with reg. 1(1)(b)(i) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Students and Income-related Benefits) Amendment Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1708), regs. 1(1)(b), 3(4)(a)

F34 Reg. 131(2)(i) added (coming into force in accordance with reg. 1(1)(b)(i) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Students and Income-related Benefits) Amendment Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1708), regs. 1(1)(b), 3(4)(b)

F35 Reg. 131(3) substituted (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(1)(b) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security Amendment (Students) Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/1935), regs. 1(1)(b), 2(3)(b)

F36 Word in reg. 131(3)(a) substituted (coming into force in accordance with reg. 1(1)(b)(i) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Students and Income-related Benefits) Amendment Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1708), regs. 1(1)(b), 2(1)(3)(d)

F37 Reg. 131(3)(b) substituted (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(b)(c) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/2319), regs. 1(1)(b)(c), 3(2)(3)(d)

F38 Word in reg. 131(3)(b) substituted (coming into force in accordance with reg. 1(1)(b)(i) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Students and Income-related Benefits) Amendment Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1708), regs. 1(1)(b), 2(2)(3)(d)

F39 Reg. 131(3A) substituted (for specified purposes and with effect in accordance with reg. 1(6)(7)(8) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/455), Sch. 2 para. 16(b)

F40 Reg. 131(3A) inserted (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(b)(c) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/2319), regs. 1(1)(b)(c), 3(4)(d)

F41 Reg. 131(3A)(a) substituted (2.9.2002) by The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) (No. 2) Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/2207), regs. 1, 2(1)(3)(d)

F42 Word in reg. 131(3A)(b) substituted (2.9.2002) by The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) (No. 2) Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/2207), regs. 1, 2(2)(3)(d)

F43 Reg. 131(3A)(c)(cc)(d) omitted (coming into force in accordance with reg. 1(1)(b)(i) of the amending S.I.) by virtue of The Social Security (Students and Income-related Benefits) Amendment Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1708), regs. 1(1)(b), 3(5)(6)(d)

F44 Reg. 131(3A)(e) and word inserted (coming into force in accordance with reg. 1(1)(b) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/1701), regs. 1(1)(b), 3(1)(b)(2)(d)

F45 Words in reg. 131(4) substituted (for specified purposes and with effect in accordance with reg. 1(bi)(bii) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/1922), regs. 1, 3(6)(d)

F46 Word in reg. 131(4) inserted (for specified purposes and with effect in accordance with reg. 1(6)(7)(8) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/455), Sch. 2 para. 16(c)

F47 Words in reg. 131(4) omitted (for specified purposes and with effect in accordance with reg. 1(6)(7)(8) of the amending S.I.) by virtue of The Social Security (Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/455), Sch. 2 para. 16(c)

F48 Words in reg. 131(4)(a) substituted (coming into force in accordance with reg. 1(1)(b)(i) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/1589), regs. 1(1)(b), 4(3)(a)(4)(d)

F49 Words in reg. 131(4)(b) substituted (coming into force in accordance with reg. 1(1)(b)(i) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/1589), regs. 1(1)(b), 4(3)(b)(4)(d)

F50 Words in reg. 131(5) inserted (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(b)(c) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/2319), regs. 1(1)(b)(c), 6(d)

F51 Words in reg. 131(5) substituted (for specified purposes and with effect in accordance with reg. 1(6)(7)(8) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/455), Sch. 2 para. 16(d)

F52 Words in reg. 131(5) omitted (for specified purposes and with effect in accordance with reg. 1(6)(7)(8) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/455), Sch. 2 para. 16(d)

F53 Reg. 131(5A) inserted (for specified purposes and with effect in accordance with reg. 1(bi)(bii) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/1922), regs. 1, 3(6)(e)

F54 Words in reg. 131(5A) inserted (coming into force in accordance with reg. 1(1)(b)(i) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/1589), regs. 1(1)(b), 4(5)(a)(6)(d)

F55 Words in reg. 131(5A) substituted (for specified purposes and with effect in accordance with reg. 1(6)(7)(8) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/455), Sch. 2 para. 16(e)

F56 Words in reg. 131(5A) substituted (coming into force in accordance with reg. 1(1)(b)(i) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/1589), regs. 1(1)(b), 4(5)(b)(6)(d)

F57 Words in reg. 131(6) substituted (coming into force in accordance with reg. 1(1)(b)(i) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/1589), regs. 1(1)(b), 4(7)(8)(d)

Calculation of covenant income where a contribution is assessed

132.—(1) Where a student is in receipt of income by way of a grant during a period of study and a contribution has been assessed, the amount of his covenant income to be taken into account for that period and any summer vacation immediately following shall be the whole amount of his covenant income less, subject to paragraph (3), the amount of the contribution.

(2) The weekly amount of the student’s covenant income shall be determined–

(a) by dividing the amount of income which falls to be taken into account under paragraph (1) by 52 or, if there are 53 benefit weeks (including part-weeks) in the year, 53; and

(b) by disregarding £5 from the resulting amount.

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (1), the contribution shall be treated as increased by the amount, if any, by which the amount excluded under regulation 131(2)(g) falls short of the amount for the time being specified in paragraph 7(4)(i) of Schedule 2 to the Education (Mandatory Awards) Regulations 1995 (travel expenditure).

Covenant income where no grant income or no contribution is assessed

133.—(1) Where a student is not in receipt of income by way of a grant the amount of his covenant income shall be calculated as follows—

(a) any sums intended for any expenditure specified in regulation 131(2)(a) to (e), necessary as a result of his attendance on the course, shall be disregarded;

(b) any covenant income, up to the amount of the standard maintenance grant, which is not so disregarded, shall be apportioned equally between the weeks of the period of study and there shall be disregarded from the covenant income to be so apportioned the amount which would have been disregarded under regulation 131(2)(f) and (g) and (3) had the student been in receipt of the standard maintenance grant;

(c) the balance, if any, shall be divided by 52 or, if there are 53 benefit weeks (including part-weeks) in the year, 53 and treated as weekly income of which £5 shall be disregarded.

(2) Where a student is in receipt of income by way of a grant and no contribution has been assessed, the amount of his covenant income shall be calculated in accordance with paragraph (1), except that—

(a) the value of the standard maintenance grant shall be abated by the amount of his grant income less an amount equal to the amount of any sums disregarded under regulation 131(2)(a) to (e); and

(b) the amount to be disregarded under paragraph (1)(b) shall be abated by an amount equal to the amount of any sums disregarded under regulation 131(2)(f) and (g) and (3).

Relationship with amounts to be disregarded under Schedule 7

134.  No part of a student’s covenant income or grant income shall be disregarded under paragraph 15 of Schedule 7 (charitable and voluntary payments) and any other income to which sub-paragraph (1) of that paragraph applies shall be disregarded only to the extent that the amount disregarded under regulation 132(2)(b) (calculation of covenant income where a contribution is assessed) or, as the case may be, 133(1)(c) (covenant income where no grant income or no contribution is assessed) is less than £20.

Other amounts to be disregarded

135.—(1) For the purposes of ascertaining income other than grant income, covenant income, and loans treated as income in accordance with regulation 136, any amounts intended for any expenditure specified in regulation 131(2) (calculation of grant income) necessary as a result of the student’s attendance on the course shall be disregarded but only if, and to the extent that, the necessary expenditure exceeds or is likely to exceed the amount of the sums disregarded under regulation 131(2) and (3), 132(3) [F58 , 133(1)(a) or (b) and 136(5) (calculation of grant income, covenant income and treatment of student loans). ]

(2) Where a claim is made in respect of any period in the normal summer vacation and any income is payable under a deed of covenant which commences or takes effect after the first day of that vacation, that income shall be disregarded.

Textual Amendments

F58 Words in reg. 135(1) substituted (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(1)(b) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security Amendment (Students) Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/1935), regs. 1(1)(b), 2(4)

Treatment of student loans

[F59 136.— (1) A student loan shall be treated as income unless it is a hardship loan in which case it shall be disregarded.

(1A) For the purposes of paragraph (1), “hardship loan" means a loan made under regulation 21 of the Education (Student Support) Regulations 2000, regulation 12 of the Education (Student Loans) (Scotland) Regulations 2000 or regulation 21 of the Education (Student Support) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000.]

[F60 (2) In calculating the weekly amount of the loan to be taken into account as income—

(a) [F61 in respect of a course that is of a single academic year’s duration or less, a loan which is payable in respect of that period shall be apportioned equally between the weeks in the period beginning with—

(i) except in a case where (ii) below applies, the benefit week, the first day of which coincides with, or immediately follows, the first day of the single academic year;

(ii) where the student is required to start attending the course in August or where the course is of less than an academic year’s duration, the benefit week, the first day of which coincides with, or immediately follows, the first day of the course,

and ending with the benefit week, the last day of which coincides with, or immediately precedes, the last day of the course;]

(aa) [F62 in respect of an academic year of a course which starts other than on 1st September, a loan which is payable in respect of that academic year shall be apportioned equally between the weeks in the period beginning with the benefit week[F63 , the first day of which coincides with, or immediately follows, the first day of that academic year and ending with the benefit week, the last day of which coincides with, or immediately precedes,] the last day of that academic year but excluding any benefit weeks falling entirely within the quarter during which, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, the longest of any vacation is taken and for the purposes of this sub-paragraph, “quarter” shall have the same meaning as for the purposes of the Education (Student Support) Regulations 2001;]

(b) in respect of the final academic year of a course (not being a course of a single year’s duration), a loan which is payable in respect of that final academic year shall be apportioned equally between the weeks in the period beginning withF64 ...—

(i) [F65 except in a case where (ii) below applies, the benefit week, the first day of which coincides with, or immediately follows, the first day of that academic year;]

(ii) [F65 where the final academic year starts on 1st September, the benefit week, the first day of which coincides with, or immediately follows, the earlier of 1st September or the first day of the autumn term;]

and ending with [F66 the benefit week, the last day of which coincides with, or immediately precedes,] the last day of the course;

(c) in any other case, the loan shall be apportioned equally between the weeks in the period beginning with the earlier of—

(i) the first day of the first benefit week in September; or

(ii) [F67 the benefit week, the first day of which coincides with, or immediately follows, the first day of the autumn term,]

and ending with [F68 the benefit week, the last day of which coincides with, or immediately precedes, the last day of June],

and, in all cases, from the weekly amount so apportioned there shall be disregarded £10.]

[F69 (3) A student shall be treated as possessing a student loan in respect of an academic year where—

(a) a student loan has been made to him in respect of that year; or

(b) he could acquire such a loan in respect of that year by taking reasonable steps to do so.

(4) Where a student is treated as possessing a student loan under paragraph (3), the amount of the student loan to be taken into account as income shall be, subject to paragraph (5)—

(a) in the case of a student to whom a student loan is made in respect of an academic year, a sum equal to the maximum student loan he is able to acquire in respect of that year by taking reasonable steps to do so and either—

(i) in the case of a student other than one to whom head (ii) refers, any contribution whether or not it has been paid to him; or

(ii) in the case of a student who satisfies the additional conditions for a disability premium specified in paragraph 14 of Schedule 1 (applicable amounts), any contribution which has actually been paid to him;

(b) n the case of a student to whom a student loan is not made in respect of an academic year, the maximum student loan that would be made to the student if—

(i) he took all reasonable steps to obtain the maximum student loan he is able to acquire in respect of that year; and

(ii) no deduction in that loan was made by virtue of the application of a means test.

(5) There shall be deducted from the amount of income taken into account under paragraph (4)—

(a) the sum of [F70 £275] in respect of travel costs; and

F71 (b) the sum of [F72 £343] towards the costs of books and equipment,

whether or not any such costs are incurred.]

Textual Amendments

F59 Reg. 136(1)(1A) substituted for reg. 136(1) (for specified purposes and with effect in accordance with reg. 1(bi)(bii) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/1922), regs. 1, 3(7)(a)

F60 Reg. 136(2) substituted (for specified purposes and with effect in accordance with reg. 1(bi)(bii) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/1922), regs. 1, 3(7)(b)

F61 Reg. 136(2)(a) substituted (coming into force in accordance with reg. 1(1)(b)(i) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/1589), regs. 1(1)(b), 5(2)(6)(d)

F62 Reg. 136(2)(aa) inserted (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(b)(c) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/2319), regs. 1(1)(b)(c), 4

F63 Words in reg. 136(2)(aa) substituted (coming into force in accordance with reg. 1(1)(b)(i) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/1589), regs. 1(1)(b), 5(3)(6)(d)

F64 Words in reg. 136(2)(b) omitted (coming into force in accordance with reg. 1(1)(b)(i) of the amending S.I.) by virtue of The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/1589), regs. 1(1)(b), 5(4)(a)(6)(d)

F65 Reg. 136(2)(b)(i)(ii) substituted (coming into force in accordance with reg. 1(1)(b)(i) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/1589), regs. 1(1)(b), 5(4)(b)(6)(d)

F66 Words in reg. 136(2)(b) substituted (coming into force in accordance with reg. 1(1)(b)(i) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/1589), regs. 1(1)(b), 5(4)(c)(6)(d)

F67 Reg. 136(2)(c)(ii) substituted (coming into force in accordance with reg. 1(1)(b)(i) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/1589), regs. 1(1)(b), 5(5)(a)(6)(d)

F68 Words in reg. 136(2)(c) substituted (coming into force in accordance with reg. 1(1)(b)(i) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/1589), regs. 1(1)(b), 5(5)(b)(6)(d)

F69 Reg. 136(3)-(5) substituted for reg. 136(3) (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(1)(b) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security Amendment (Students) Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/1935), regs. 1(1)(b), 2(5)(b)

F70 Word in reg. 136(5)(a) substituted (coming into force in accordance with reg. 1(1)(b)(i) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Students and Income-related Benefits) Amendment Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1708), regs. 1(1)(b), 2(1)(3)(d)

F71 Sum in Reg. 136(5)(b) substituted (coming into force in accordance with reg. 1(1)(b) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/1701), regs. 1(1)(b), 2(2)(3)(d)

F72 Word in reg. 136(5)(b) substituted (coming into force in accordance with reg. 1(1)(b)(i) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Students and Income-related Benefits) Amendment Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1708), regs. 1(1)(b), 2(2)(3)(d)

[F73 Treatment of payments from access funds

136A.— (1) This regulation applies to payments from access funds that are not payments to which regulation 138(2) or (3) (income treated as capital) applies.

(2) A payment from access funds, other than a payment to which paragraph (3) of this regulation applies, shall be disregarded as income.

(3) Subject to paragraph (4) of this regulation and paragraph 38 of Schedule 7, any payments from access funds which are intended and used for food, ordinary clothing or footwear (which has the same meaning as in paragraph 15(2) of Schedule 7), household fuel, rent for which housing benefit is payable [F74 or any housing costs] to the extent that they are met under regulation 83(f) or 84(1)(g) (housing costs)F75 ..., of a single claimant or, as the case may be, of [F76 any other member of his family] [F76 his partner] and any payments from access funds which are used for any council tax or water charges for which that claimant or [F77 member is liable] [F77 partner is liable] shall be disregarded as income to the extent of £20 per week.

(4) Where a payment from access funds is made—

(a) on or after 1st September or the first day of the course, whichever first occurs, but before receipt of any student loan in respect of that year and that payment is intended for the purpose of bridging the period until receipt of the student loan; or

(b) before the first day of the course to a person in anticipation of that person becoming a student;

that payment shall be disregarded as income.]

Textual Amendments

F73 Reg. 136A inserted (for specified purposes and with effect in accordance with reg. 1(bi)(bii) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/1922), regs. 1, 3(8)

F74 Words in reg. 136A(3) substituted (8.4.2002) by The Social Security Amendment (Residential Care and Nursing Homes) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/3767), reg. 1, Sch. Pt. II para. 13(a)

F75 Words in reg. 136A(3) omitted (8.4.2002) by virtue of The Social Security Amendment (Residential Care and Nursing Homes) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/3767), reg. 1, Sch. Pt. II para. 13(b)

F76 Words in reg. 136A(3) substituted (for specified purposes and with effect in accordance with reg. 1(6)(7)(8) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/455), Sch. 2 para. 17(a)

F77 Words in reg. 136A(3) substituted (for specified purposes and with effect in accordance with reg. 1(6)(7)(8) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/455), Sch. 2 para. 17(b)

Disregard of contribution

137.  Where the claimant or his partner is a student and, for the purposes of assessing a contribution to the student’s grant [F78 or student loan], the other partner’s income has been taken into account, an amount equal to that contribution shall be disregarded for the purposes of assessing that other partner’s income.

Textual Amendments

F78 Words in reg. 137 inserted (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(1)(b) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security Amendment (Students) Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/1935), regs. 1(1)(b), 2(6)

[F79 Further disregard of student’s income

137A.   Where any part of a student’s income has already been taken into account for the purposes of assessing his entitlement to a grant [F80 or student loan], the amount taken into account shall be disregarded in assessing that student’s income.]

Textual Amendments

F79 Reg. 137A inserted (coming into force in accordance with reg. 1(2)(3)(4)(5)(6) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 1998 (S.I. 1998/563), regs. 1, 4(3)(4)(f)

F80 Words in reg. 137A inserted (with effect in accordance with reg. 1(1)(b) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security Amendment (Students) Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/1935), regs. 1(1)(b), 2(7)

Income treated as capital

138.— [F81 (1)] Any amount by way of a refund of tax deducted from a student’s income shall be treated as capital.

[F82 (2) An amount paid from access funds as a single lump sum shall be treated as capital.

(3) An amount paid from access funds as a single lump sum which is intended and used for an item other than food, ordinary clothing or footwear (which has the same meaning as in paragraph 15(2) of Schedule 7), household fuel, rent for which housing benefit is payable [F83 or any housing costs] to the extent that they are met under regulation 83(f) or 84(1)(g) (housing costs)F84 ..., of a single claimant or, as the case may be, of [F85 any other member of his family] [F85 his partner], or which is used for an item other than any council tax or water charges for which that claimant or [F86 member is liable] [F86 partner is liable] shall be disregarded as capital but only for a period of 52 weeks from the date of the payment.]

Textual Amendments

F81 Reg. 138 renumbered as reg. 138(1) (for specified purposes and with effect in accordance with reg. 1(bi)(bii) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/1922), regs. 1, 3(9)

F82 Reg. 138(2)(3) added (for specified purposes and with effect in accordance with reg. 1(bi)(bii) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security Amendment (Students and Income-related Benefits) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/1922), regs. 1, 3(9)

F83 Words in reg. 138(3) substituted (8.4.2002) by The Social Security Amendment (Residential Care and Nursing Homes) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/3767), reg. 1, Sch. Pt. II para. 14(a)

F84 Words in reg. 138(3) omitted (8.4.2002) by virtue of The Social Security Amendment (Residential Care and Nursing Homes) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/3767), reg. 1, Sch. Pt. II para. 14(b)

F85 Words in reg. 138(3) substituted (for specified purposes and with effect in accordance with reg. 1(6)(7)(8) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/455), Sch. 2 para. 17(a)

F86 Words in reg. 138(3) substituted (for specified purposes and with effect in accordance with reg. 1(6)(7)(8) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/455), Sch. 2 para. 17(b)

Disregard of changes occurring during summer vacation

139.  In calculating a student’s income [F87 the Secretary of State] shall disregard any change in the standard maintenance grant occurring in the recognised summer vacation appropriate to the student’s course, if that vacation does not form part of his period of study, from the date on which the change occurred up to the end of that vacation.

Textual Amendments

F87 Words in reg. 139 substituted (18.10.1999) by The Social Security Act 1998 (Commencement No. 11, and Savings and Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/2860), art. 3(1), Sch. 12 para. 2