PART 5E+WGRANTS FOR LIVING COSTS

Grants for disabled students’ living costsE+W

24.—(1) An eligible student qualifies in accordance with this regulation for a grant for disabled students’ living costs to assist with the additional expenditure which the Welsh Ministers are satisfied the eligible student is obliged to incur by reason of a disability to which the student is subject in connection with the eligible student’s attendance on, or undertaking of a designated course.

(2) Subject to the following paragraphs, the amount of grant for disabled students’ living costs under this regulation is the amount that the Welsh Ministers consider appropriate in accordance with the eligible student’s circumstances.

(3) The amount of the grant for disabled students’ living costs must not exceed—

(a)[F1£22,472] in respect of an academic year for expenditure on a non-medical personal helper;

(b)[F2£5,657] 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 for the purpose of attending the institution;

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

(d)[F3£1,894] 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 paragraphs.

(4) [F4Subject to paragraph (4A),] an eligible student does not qualify for a grant for disabled students’ living costs under this regulation in respect of a distance learning course unless the Welsh Ministers consider that the student is undertaking the course in Wales on the first day of the first academic year.

[F5(4A) Paragraph (4) does not apply where—

(a)the student (“S”) or a close relative of S is a member of the armed forces,

(b)S is not undertaking the course in Wales on the first day of the first academic year, and

(c)S is not undertaking the course in Wales on that day because S or the close relative is serving as a member of the armed forces outside Wales.]

(5) An eligible student who is undertaking a distance learning course will no longer qualify for a grant for disabled students’ living costs under this regulation in respect of that course if the Welsh Ministers consider that the student is undertaking the course outside the United Kingdom.

[F6(5A) But paragraph (5) does not apply where the student is undertaking the course outside the United Kingdom because the student or a close relative of the student is serving as a member of the armed forces.]

(6) Subject to paragraphs (7) and (8), a grant for disabled students’ living costs is payable to an eligible student in respect of the four quarters of the academic year.

(7) Where a grant for disabled students’ living costs is used for expenditure on major items of specialist equipment (within the meaning of paragraph (3)(b)) it may be payable in respect of the whole academic year.

(8) Where one of the events listed in regulation 23(12) occurs in the course of an academic year, an eligible student may only qualify for a grant for disabled students’ living costs for the purposes specified in paragraph (3)(a), (c) and (d) in respect of such quarters as begin after the relevant event occurs.

Textual Amendments

F1Sum in reg. 24(3)(a) substituted (with application in accordance with reg. 1(3)(b) of the amending S.I.) by The Education (Student Finance) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/235), regs. 1(3)(a), 23(a)

F2Sum in reg. 24(3)(b) substituted (with application in accordance with reg. 1(3)(b) of the amending S.I.) by The Education (Student Finance) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/235), regs. 1(3)(a), 23(b)

F3Sum in reg. 24(3)(d) substituted (with application in accordance with reg. 1(3)(b) of the amending S.I.) by The Education (Student Finance) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/235), regs. 1(3)(a), 23(c)

Commencement Information

I1Reg. 24 in force at 17.2.2017, see reg. 1(2)