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Parents' Learning
Allowance
Parents' Learning Allowance (PLA) is a financially-assessed
grant to help a student who has additional costs arising from the
care of a child whilst studying. It does not address childcare
costs, which are dealt with by the childcare grant instead. The
child must be dependent on the student, not on the student's
partner or a third party.
Adult Dependant's Grant
The Adult Dependant's Grant (ADG) is a financially-assessed
grant potentially payable where the student has a dependant over
18. Eligible students' entitlement is subject to assessment of the
household income and the dependant's income.
Childcare
Grant
The Childcare grant is a financially-assessed reimbursement of
potentially 85% of childcare costs. It replaces the childcare
element of the Working Tax Credit for those who would get it from
HM Revenue and Customs were they not students. Childcare grant is
paid according to the estimate of costs given by the student at the
start of the academic year; three times a year the student provides
evidence of actual costs for the last term and vacation, and this
is used to reassess the entitlement. Students are entitled to 85%
of actual costs subject to a cap which is dependent on whether the
student has one or two or more children.
Travel Grant
Students who study abroad or attend clinical training locations
as part of UK institutions' courses can claim reimbursement of
their travel costs, subject to a disregard and to income
assessment. Students studying abroad must spend at least half of
any term abroad in order to be able to claim travel grant.
Disabled Students'
Allowances
Disabled Students' Allowances (DSAs) meet a student's additional
costs which arise from studying with a disability. If the student
is found to be eligible for DSAs, his needs are assessed and
documented in a Needs Assessment Report. Depending on the results
of the report, undergraduate students may receive financial help
for non-medical helpers, specialist equipment, travel or other
general expenses. All of these categories are capped except for
travel. A student cannot receive DSAs to pay for costs to do with
general living which he would have to pay if he were not a student,
or for costs that able-bodied students must meet.
For information about targeted support available to Scottish
students, please see the SAAS
website.