Maximising Income
Maximising your income is about ensuring that you are getting everything that you are entitled to.
Use the information below as a guide to check whether you may be entitled to any further income.
After maximising your income there are Other Potential Sources of Funding that you may be eligible for. Please click on the relevant section of the website to find out more.
Maximising Income Check List
All students
Part-time Work
One of the easiest ways to maximise your income is by taking on a part-time job. Careers and Employability have a Job Shop where they advertise current part-time vacancies in the local area. The summer vacation also offers an opportunity for you to find full-time work to help supplement your student funding.
Disability Related Income
If you have a disability, specific learning difficulty, mental health difficulty or medical condition, you may be entitled to Disabled Students Allowance to help with study related support costs. Disability Support can you give your further information and advice about this source of funding.
You can check your eligibility for Disability Living Allowance, Employment Support Allowance and Incapacity benefit at
www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/EducationAndTraining/HigherEducation/DG_10035904
Benefits
Full- time students are not usually eligible for benefits. However, some disabled students, part-time students and single parents may be eligible.
For further information go to:
www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/On_a_low_income/DG_10034876
Tax Claim S
No one has to pay tax on the first £6,475 of income earned in the year and as many students do not earn that, they never pay tax. Neither your Student Loan for Tuition Fees, Student Loan for Living Costs or Maintenance Grant count as income for tax purposes, so they are untaxed. If you are earning less than £6,475 per annum, you need to ask your employer for a P38(S) form to ensure you do not have to pay tax. If you have paid tax you may be entitled to a rebate. All the information that you need is available at the following website:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/LifeAtUniversityOrCollege/DG_10035694
Nursing and Social Work Students
NHS Bursary
www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/students
Undergraduate Students
Maintenance Loan and Grant Maximised?
Have your circumstances changed since you made your finance application? If your parents’ income, or yours if independent, has changed by 15% or more inform Student Finance of the change.
Started Course September 2009- Contact Student Finance England.
www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/StudentFinance/Afteryourfirstyear/DG_171586
Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland - contact Local Authority
www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/StudentFinance/DG_10035314
Started course before September 2009 - contact LEA: www.studentfinance.direct.gov.uk/portal/page?_pageid=153,4680094&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
If your maintenance has been assessed on your parents’ income and you have become estranged from them you can apply for estranged (independent) status. There is ordinarily a requirement of significant evidence for this, for example a solicitor’s letter.
www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/StudentFinance/Gettingstarted/DG_171577
University of Chester Bursary
You may be eligible for the University of Chester bursary if you receive a maximum maintenance grant of £2906 and are eligible for a tuition fee loan of £3225. Students studying for a foundation degree are currently therefore not able to apply for this bursary.
Dependents Related Income
If you are a student parent, you may be eligible for:
· Parents Learning Allowance
· Childcare Grant
· Child Tax Credits
If you have an adult who is financially dependent on you, you may be eligible for:
· Adult Dependents Grant
www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/StudentFinance/Extrahelp/DG_171503
Parental Contributions
You parents or partner may be expected to contribute towards your living costs while you are at university.
Student Finance England (or your local authority, if they’re handling the application) will have assessed your eligibility to finance based on your parents or partner’s income. This has determined how much you get and assumes a level of contribution from them.
Postgraduate Students
Student Finance England has advice regarding funding post-graduate study.
There are also some possible providers in ‘Other Potential Sources of Funding.’
www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/ChoicesAfterYouGraduate/DG_10012463
Some postgraduate students are eligible for a Career Development Loan
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/AdultLearning/FinancialHelpForAdultLearners/CareerDevelopmentLoans/index.htm
You should ensure that you have made reasonable provision for your financial support before starting your course.
EU and international Students
Student Finance England has advice regarding funding.
www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/StudentFinance/DG_10035314
It’s also worth checking ‘Other Potential Sources of Funding.’
If you are an international student and you are experiencing significant financial hardship, please contact the International Welfare Officer for advice on or 01244 511550.