Benefits

JOB SEEKERS ALLOWANCE/INCOME SUPPORT (JSA/IS)

Most students who are studying full-time are not eligible for either income based or contribution based JSA.

Exceptions to the rule include some of the following groups:

Single parents
Student couples with a child/children
Disabled students

These groups may be able to claim some JSA/IS to cover the summer period. For further information on the exceptions please ask at the Advice and Support Centre.

The ASC booklet "Student Finances" explains how benefits are calculated and offers more information about making a claim.

Part-time earnings from employment are counted in full as income, less a small disregard. An award from the Access to Learning Fund may have to be declared to the DWP for benefit purposes.

It is important to note that you should not rely too heavily on receiving benefit over the summer period and as such, budget your current income over 52 weeks not just the academic year.

CHILD BENEFIT

This is granted as a right and is not income related. It is therefore unaffected by student grants and loans. However, Child Benefit is treated as icome as for Income Support and Housing Benefit purposes.

TAX CREDITS

Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit

Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit have been introduced to improve the way the government supports families with children and working people on low incomes.

The two new Tax Credits replaced:

- Children's Tax Credit
- Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC)
- Disabled Persons Tax Credit (DPTC)
- Money for children in Income Support and Income-Based Jobseekers Allowance
- New Deal 50+ Employment Credit

The changes mean that more people will qualify for financial assistance as you may still be eligible for an award of child tax credit with a gross income of more than £50,000.

You can apply for two credits, Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit. The general rule is that to qualify for tax credits you must be aged 16 or over and usually live in the United Kingdom. You may also qualify if you do not live in the UK but you are:

- A citizen of another country in the European Economic Area (EEA) and you work in the UK or
- A Crown Servant posted overseas, or
- A citizen of a country in the European Economic Area (including the UK) living abroad and you receive a UK state pension or contributions based Jobseeker's Allowance.

Couples must make a joint tax credits application. If you are part of a couple, you cannot decide to apply as single person.

Child Tax Credit is for people who are responsible for at least one child or qualifying young person. Child Tax Credit is paid direct to the person who is mainly responsible for caring for the child or children (and is in receipt of the child benefit for that child). If you are a lone parent you will receive the payment.

Working Tax Credit is for people who are employed or self-employed (either on their own or in a partnership) who;

- usually work 16 hours or more a week
- are paid for that work, and
- expect to work for at least 4 weeks

and who are

- aged 16 or over and responsible for at least one child, or
- aged 16 or over and disabled, or
- aged 25 or over and usually work at least 30 hours a week

Working Tax Credit is paid to the person who is working 16 hours or more a week. Couples, if both of you are working 16 hours or more a week, must choose which one of you will receive it. You cannot receive Working Tax Credit if you are not working.

As part of Working Tax Credit you may qualify for help towards the costs of childcare. If you receive the childcare element of Working Tax Credit, this will always be paid direct to the person who is mainly responsible for caring for the child or children, alongside payments of Child Tax Credit.

Further information can be found on the website:

www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits or by telephone 0845 300 3900