The Assembly Learning Grants and Loans (Higher Education) (Wales) Regulations 2008

Grants for dependants — calculations

29.—(1) Subject to the following paragraphs, the amount payable in respect of a particular element of the grants for dependants for which the eligible student qualifies under regulations 26 to 28 is the amount of that element remaining after applying, until it is extinguished, an amount equal to (A − B) 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 26;

(b) to reduce the basic amount of the childcare grant for the academic year where the eligible student qualifies for that element under regulation 27; and

(c) to reduce the basic amount of the parents' learning allowance where the eligible student qualifies for that element under regulation 28.

(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 grants for dependants for which the eligible student qualifies is payable.

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

(4) The amount of the 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 he or she is entitled under the statutory award.

(5) The amount of the 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 he or she 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)

  £1,130 where the eligible student has no dependent child;

  (b)

  £3,385 where the eligible student is not a lone parent and has one dependent child;

  (c)

  £4,515 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)

  £5,650 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 an eligible student as a result of an event referred to in regulation 23(11).

(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 Welsh Ministers 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 grants 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”(“chwarter perthnasol”) 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 Welsh Ministers, the longest of any vacation occurs;

(b) otherwise, a quarter other than the one quarter during which, in the opinion of the Welsh Ministers, 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 grants for dependants calculated under this Part.