This page is a guide for full time students who are expecting or have a child or children.
Some of this information will be of relevance to part-time students - please contact the Student Advice Centre for more information.
It is not however appropriate for international students. If you are an international student in financial difficulty please contact the Student Advice Centre.
This page has information on:
Student Loan
If you are expecting a baby, you will still be entitled to the same amount of student support until your baby is born
Benefits
Similarly, you will not be entitled to benefits unless you already have dependants, but the expectant mother will be entitled to free prescriptions and free dental treatment. You can apply by completing a form available from your doctor, midwife or health visitor. Free vitamins will also be available from child health and maternity clinics.
Sure Start Maternity Grants
You qualify for a £500 maternity grant if you or your partner are receiving certain benefits and this the only child in your family. If you are expecting a multiple birth please seek advice.
You need to be receiving certain benefits in order to recieve the grant these are:
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income support
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income-based job seekers allowance
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income-related employment and support allowance
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pension credit
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child tax credit paid at a rate that higher than the family element
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working tax credit which includes a disability or severe disability element.
You can claim any time from 11 weeks before the expected week of birth until three months afterwards. You should claim on form Sure Start SF100 available from your local Social Security office.
More information on this can be found on the government website here.
Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) paid by the employer
As a full time student it is unlikely that you will qualify for SMP because you need to have earned above the National Insurance lower earnings limit (£107.00 per week).
You also need to have continuously worked with the same employer for at least 26 weeks up to 15th week before the baby is born.
The earliest you can claim is the 11th week before the week the baby is due.
SMP is paid for up to 39 weeks. For the first six weeks you will receive 90% of your average weekly earnings and for the remaining 33 you will be paid whichever is the lesser of £135.45 or 90% of your average weekly earnings.
More info on gov.uk pages here.
Maternity Allowance (MA)
You may be able to claim MA if you do not satisfy the conditions of SMP but have been employed or self employed for at least 26 weeks out of 66 week period running up to and including the week before the baby is due and you have earned at least £30.00 a week for any of those 13 weeks.
MA is paid for a maximum of 39 weeks at £135.45 a week (or 90% of the woman’s average weekly earnings if that sum is less than £135.45 a week). MA will start at the 11th week before the baby is due. To apply complete and return MA1 form to your local Social Security or Jobcentre Plus office.
There is more information on this here.
New Born Baby Equipment Fund
LUU operates a fund to buy equipment for new born babies for students in financial difficulty. We may be able to help you get the essential equipment needed for babies up to 3 months old. You can read here for more details.
Access to Learning Fund
If you have taken out your full entitlement to a Student Loan you can apply to the Access to Learning Fund. You will need to collect a form from the Marjorie and Arnold Ziff Building and produce full documentation of your income and outgoings. If your application is successful you may be awarded a grant which is non-repayable.
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Student Finance have guides for students with dependents.
You can download the guide for 2012 here.
If your starting in 2013 download the guide here.
Adult Dependants' Allowance
If you have a husband, wife or partner or another member of your family who depends on you financially, you may be eligible to claim up to £2,642 a year depending on your income and the income of your adult dependants. Payments are made with your Student Loan. There is more information on it here.
Parents' Learning Allowance
If you have at least one dependant child you may be able to claim between £50 and £1,508 a year for help with course related costs. This replaces the Travel, Books and Equipment Grant.
How much you receive depends on your income, and the income of your partner. It is paid with your Student Loan.
This income is not taken into account for Benefit purposes. There is more information on it here.
Childcare Grant
If you are a full-time student with dependant children in registered and approved childcare you can receive this help with childcare. You are not eligible if you, or your husband or wife, or partner receives the childcare element of the Working Tax Credit from HMRC.
The amount is based on actual childcare costs. The Allowance for one child is up to £148.75 a week (85% of the actual costs of up to £175 a week) throughout the year. For two children or more the allowance is up to £255 a week (85% of the actual costs of up to £300 a week).
This income is not taken into account for Benefit income purposes. There is more information on this here.
Child Tax Credit (CTC)
This is paid by HMRC Is available to support families with children. It is paid directly into the Bank account of the person in the family who is mainly responsible for looking after the children.
You do not have to be in paid work to receive Child Tax Credit.
Students with children are entitled to make a claim, as long as you are over 16 and responsible for one or more children. Visit our pages about Tax Credits for more information or visit the HMRC website.
There is also more information on the gov.uk website.
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Benefits
As a lone parent you may be entitled to some benefits such as Income Support and Housing Benefit. These benefits are 'means tested' so during term time your student income is normally too high, but it is likely that during the 10 weeks of the long summer vacation you will be able to receive them.
The relationship between student support and benefits is complex, so if you are a lone parent we would advise you to contact the Student Advice Centre
Horizons Grants
This is a charitable scheme for lone parents who are finding it hard to afford the costs of school uniforms and school trips, or costs associated with their own education or training.
Have a look at www.yourhorizons.com/ or call the Family Welfare Association on 020 7254 6251 for more information.
University of Leeds LifeLong Learning Centre
The University's Lifelong Learning Centre provides support and resources for students combining study with bringing up a family. Have a look at their website here.
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This tool is from Student Finance and may help you find more information about what you are entitled to:
LUU Student Advice Centre,
Leeds University Union,
PO Box 157,
Leeds,
LS1 1UH,
tele: 0113 380 1290,
email: advice@luu.leeds.ac.uk
This information is updated as often as possible. Leeds University Union can not be held responsible if the information here is incorrect. Last updated 15/03/2013.
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