Summer Vacation Funding
Funding during the summer vacation
Look into how you may be able to raise money to assist with your summer vacation costs. These pages contain nformation on:
Employment
If you already have a temporary job then it may be possible to increase your hours over the vacation period. Contact your employer to discuss this possibility.
Local papers are a good source of job vacancies. If you plan to stay and work in Leicester the University can sometimes offer job opportunities over the summer, or you could try Unitemps. For help with job search skills and developing your CV contact the University's Careers Service.
Income Tax
There are special rules about tax for students who only work in the Easter, summer, and Christmas holidays. These rules do not apply if you also work during term time, when the normal rules for tax and National Insurance will apply to all your earnings, (both term time and holidays) in the same way that they do for non-students.
If you are a student and you work only in these holiday periods you may be able to receive your wages without tax being deducted. You will need to:
- be a student who is planning to continue being a student after the holiday;
- have a total annual income from all sources (but not including from student loans, scholarships and educational grants) of less than the personal allowance rate (£6,475 in 2010/11 for most people)
If you believe you will qualify you will need to complete a student exemption FORM P38(S) .
If you have paid any tax you may qualify for a refund.
The students and tax website offers further information on these issues, including how to apply for a refund.
State benefits
Some students are unable to work over the summer vacation, perhaps because of caring responsbilities, disability, health difficulties or other commitments. It may be possible for these students to claim extra support from State Benefits, or from the University's discretioney hardship funds.
The following advises who may be able to apply for additional support, and how to do so, according to individual circumstances:
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Lone parent
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Student couple with child
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Couple with child (partner is not a student)
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Student With Health Difficulties or Disabilty
Lone parent
If you are the lone parent of a child under 16 (or under 20 and in “relevant education”) you can claim Income Support during the summer vacation. If you are entitled to Income Support and pay rent for your accomodation then you will also be eligible for Housing Benefit also.
If you are applying for Income Support/Housing Benefit most student income is not taken into account over the summer vacation
Students who continue to receive Income Support/Housing Benefit during term time will normally have their ward increased over the summer vacation. You will also continue to be entitled to Child Tax credit and Child Benefit
All lone parents are also advised to apply to the University Access to Learning Fund for extra financial support over the summer vacation. This is especially relevant to lone parent students who have a mortgage, childcare or other exceptional costs over this period. The Access to Learning Fund is based upon individual circumstances and follows a mean-tested process. Therefore no student can be guaranteed support from this Fund.
It is recommended that lone parent students also apply for term-time assistance from the University Access to Learning Fund.
Full-time continuing undergraduate students who maintain childcare costs over the summer vacation period (including nursery retainer fees) may be eligible to claim these costs from the Childcare Grant paid as part of their Student Funding. The Childcare Grant covers a 52 week period and students are advised to check if they have claimed their full entitlement.
If you choose to work over the vacation then you may be eligible to claim Working Tax Credits as long as you work at least 16 hours per week. However, in working more than 16 hours you will lose your eligibility to Income Support and potentially decrease your entitlement to Housing Benefit
Student couple with child
If you are a couple, your partner is also a full-time student and you have a dependent child you can claim Job Seekers Allowance during the summer vacation. If you are entitled to Job Seekers Allowance and have rental costs then you may be eligible for Housing Benefit also. If you are applying for Job Seekers Allowance / Housing Benefit it is important to note that most student income is not taken into account over the summer vacation and for those who continue to receive Housing Benefit during the academic year your award should increase over the summer vacation. You will also continue to be entitled to Child Tax credit and Child Benefit.
Student couples with dependent children are eligible to claim Housing Benefit for the full 52 weeks of the year and not just over the summer vacation
You are also advised to apply to the Universitys Access to Learning Fund for extra financial support over the summer vacation. This is especially relevant to students who have a mortgage, childcare or other exceptional costs over this period. However, the Hardship fund Committee which administers this fund will not consider any financial assistance until a student couple has either claimed Job Seekers Allowance or found relevant employment. The Access to Learning Fund is based upon individual circumstances and follows a mean-tested process. Therefore no student can be guaranteed support from this Fund. It is recommended that student couples apply for term-time assistance from the University Access to Learning Fund also
Full-time continuing students who maintain childcare costs over the summer vacation period (including nursery retainer fees) may be eligible to claim these costs from the Childcare Grant paid as part of their Student Funding. The Childcare Grant covers a 52 week period and students are advised to check if they have claimed their full entitlement. The Childcare Grant does not cover all actual costs and therefore for student couples it would be economically beneficial to withdraw their children, if possible, from childcare provision over the summer vacation
If you choose to work over the vacation then you may be eligible to claim Working tax credits as long as you work more than 16 hours per week. However, in working more than 16 hours you may lose your eligibility to Income Support and potentially decrease your entitlement to Housing Benefit.
From April 2012 the Working Tax Credit eligibility criteria will change so that if you are a couple with children, to qualify for Working Tax credit you and your partner must work 24 hours per week between you and one of you must work over 16 hours.
Couple with child (partner is not a student)
If you are a couple with dependent children and your partner is not a full-time student your partner is eligible to claim benefits on behalf of the household. Which benefit, if any, your partner is eligible to apply for will be determined by their particular circumstances. In certain circumstances (such as ill health) the full-time student may also be eligible to apply although it is more likely to be your partner that is eligible. Check benefit eligibility
If you and/or your partner are eligible to claim benefits it is important to note that this eligibility may not just cover the summer vacation period and you can apply for support all year round. In most cases however during term times you will receive a lesser amount of benefit because student income is taken into account when calculating your benefit entitlement. Over the summer vacation this income is mostly disregarded and for those who continue to receive Benefits during the academic year your award should increase over the summer vacation. You will also continue to be entitled to Child Tax credit and Child Benefit.
You are also advised to apply to the Universitys Access to Learning Fund for extra financial support over the summer vacation. This is especially relevant to couples who have a mortgage, childcare or other exceptional costs over this period. However, the Hardship Fund Committee which administers this fund will not consider any financial assistance until a student couple has either claimed Job Seekers Allowance or found relevant employment. The Access to Learning Fund is based upon individual circumstances and follows a mean-tested process. Therefore no student can be guaranteed support from this Fund.
It is recommended that students with children apply for term-time assistance from the University Access to Learning Fund also.
Full-time continuing undergradaute students who maintain childcare costs over the summer vacation period (including nursery retainer fees) may be eligible to claim these costs from the Childcare Grant paid as part of their Student Funding. The Childcare Grant covers a 52 week period and students are advised to check if they have claimed their full entitlement. The Childcare Grant does not cover all actual costs and therefore for most couples it would be economically beneficial to withdraw their children, if possible, from childcare provision over the summer vacation.
If you choose to work over the vacation then you may be eligible to claim Working tax credits as long as you work more than 16 hours per week. However, in working more than 16 hours you may lose your eligibility to certain benefits (e.g Job Seekers Allowance: Income based / Income Support) and potentially decrease your entitlement to others (e.g Housing Benefit).
From April 2012 the Working Tax Credit eligibility criteria will change so that if you are a couple with children, to qualify for Working Tax Credit you and your partner must work 24 hours per week between you and one of you must work over 16 hours.
Health Difficulties or Disability
If you are unable to work over the summer vacation because of ill health then it may be possible to claim Employment Support Allowance and / or Disability Living Allowance, your entitlement to these benefits is not just restricted to the summer vacation. If you are successful in receiving one or both of these benefits then you will also become eligible for Housing Benefit to help cover the cost of your rent. If you are applying or receiving Employment Support Allowance: Income based and/ or Housing Benefit it is important to note that most student income is not taken into account over the summer vacation and for those who continue to receive Employment Support Allowance: Income based and/ or Housing Benefit during the academic year your award should increase over the summer vacation.
If you are unsure which benefits may be applicable to your circumstances check benefit eligibility or contact us for more detailed advice.
Although most health treatment is free under the NHS there are fixed charges for some NHS services such as prescriptions, dental treatment etc. You may be able to receive financial assistance toward these health costs
You are also advised to apply to the Universitys Access to Learning Fund for extra financial support over the summer vacation. This is especially relevant to students in ill health who live independently or have other exceptional costs (e.g travel costs to hospital, health costs etc) over this period. However, the Hardship Fund Welfare Committee who administers this fund will not consider any financial assistance until a student has both proven their ill health / inability to work and claimed the relevant benefits, if applicable. The Access to Learning Fund is based upon individual circumstances and follows a mean-tested process. Therefore no student can be guaranteed support from this Fund.
It is recommended that students with health difficulties apply for term-time assistance from the University Access to Learning Fund also.
If your health difficulties are affecting your academic performance it is recommended to contact the Accessability Centre for advice and support especially in regards to your possible entitlement to Disabled Students Allowance.
If you suffer from mental health difficulties it is recommended to contact the Mental Health and Well Being Service for extra support.
Discretionery Funding
Student Under 25 With No Family Home To Return To
Most students under 25 are still dependent upon their parents and can return home over the long summer vacation. However, it is acknowledged that some students are unable to return home during this period for a number of reasons. Examples of this are as follows
· Permanently estranged from their parents;
· No Living Parents;
· Family breakdown;
· Parents are unable to provide vacation accommodation.
This is not an exhaustive list and some students may have other exceptional circumstances.
It is important that students in these circumstances try and find appropriate employment to maintain themselves but in view of the extra living costs that will be required over the summer vacation (e.g rent, bills etc) you are advised to apply to the Universitys Access to Learning Fund for extra financial support. However, the Welfare Committee who administers this fund will not consider any financial assistance until a student has proven their personal circumstances. The Access to Learning Fund is based upon individual factors and follows a mean-tested process. Therefore no student can be guaranteed support from this Fund. It is recommended that students under 25 who have little or no family support also apply for term-time assistance from the University Access to Learning Fund and contact us for more detailed advice.
A Welfare Advisor may also be able to identify possible means of increasing the general student funding of students Under 25 with little or no parental support. Students under 25 are normally assessed for their loan and grant entitlement based upon parental income. However,in exeptional cases it may be possible to apply as an independent student whereby a student is assessed against their own income. In many cases this can substantially increase a student’s funding entitlement. Examples of when a student can be assessed as independent are as follows:
1. Where the student married or entered into a civil partnership before the beginning of the academic year;
2. The student’s parents have both died.
3. Where the household income assessment is based on the income of one parent (e.g. where parents have separated) and that parent dies
4. If the student's parents are residing outside the European Community and the assessment of a parental income would place them in jeopardy, or it would not be reasonably practicable for them to send a contribution to the UK. Although this provision does not refer to a specific category of students, parents of refugees or those who have been granted exceptional leave to enter or remain in the UK are most likely to fall within its provisions.
5. Where the student has supported him/herself for periods ending before the first academic year of the course amounting in aggregate to not less than 3 years. Any period of self-support, however short, may be counted, provided that it occurred before the first year of the course. Periods of self-support include, among other things, paid holidays, breaks between jobs when the person supported himself from savings, and paid periods of experience on a sandwich course (other than the current course).
6. Where a student has care of a person under the age of 18 on the first day of the academic year for which they are applying for support.
7. Where the student is irreconcilably estranged from his/her parents.
Although the Student Support regulations allow these concessions for independent status any applications to apply as such must have documentary evidence to prove the situation. In many cases, such as family estrangement this is difficult to provide. Students in these circumstances should seek advice from an experienced University Welfare Advisor before submitting any application to their funding body as an independent student. Failure to do so may jeopardise your chances of applying as independent and mean that you miss out on other potential funding opportunities.
Some students are still in contact with their family but their parents are unable to support them financially. In these circumstances a student will not be able to apply as an independent student but is advised both to apply to the University Access to Learning Fund and speak with their parent/s about re-applying for extra support from their relevant funding body (e.g Student Finance England, SAAS etc) For example Student Finance applications for 2011/12 are usually assessed on household income for the 2009-10 tax year. If your parental income has dropped by at least 15 per cent you can re-apply for support based upon parental expected current year income. To do this, they will need to complete a 'Current year income assessment form'. It is important to note that in order to prove a 15% drop in income then your parents will still need to submit their financial details for 2009/10 first.
If students require assistance in finding suitable vacation accommodation it is recommended that you contact us for advice from our Accommodation Officer (W elfare) who will offer expert support and advice both in regards to University and private accommodation options.
Care Leaver
It is understood that care leavers may not have a home to return to over the summer vacation and therefore must maintain themselves independently over this period.
The University offers a whole package of general support for care leavers and it is important that full advantage is taken from all available funding opportunities. It is recommended that students who are care leavers contact us, if they have not already done so, for more detailed advice.
If students require assistance in finding suitable vacation accommodation it is recommended that you contact the Accommodation Officer who will offer expert support and advice both in regards to University and private accommodation options.
Carer
If you have caring responsibilities for an ill relative or friend over the summer vacation that prevents you from finding suitable employment you will face many difficulties in accessing financial support.
It will be difficult to claim benefits as a carer because full-time students more often than not lose their eligibility to claim Carers Allowance This is because you are ineligible to claim Carer's Allowance as a full-time student if your hours of study exceed 21 hours per week. The 21 hours include classes, lectures, seminars and individual study for course work and your “full-time status” covers all periods of long and short vacations. Most University courses exceed this 21 hour limit but you can, with the support of your Department, try and apply for Carers Allowance by proving that you spend fewer hours on coursework than the University would normally expect. This can be a complicated process and it is recommended that you contact us to discuss your potential entitlement before pursuing such an option.
Being a carer is also not one of the qualifying conditions for Full Time Students Who are Eligible to Claim Income Support and without Income Support it is probable that you would lose eligibility for Housing Benefit.
One option worth considering is to check with the person you care for if they are receiving a severe disability premium within their benefit award (Income support, Employment Support Allowance / Housing Benefit) or additional amount if claiming Pension Credit. The Severe Disability Premium is an extra £55.30 a week in benefits and is paid if a person is
- disabled and receives Attendance Allowance(AA) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA), at the middle higher rate, AND
- lives alone AND
- no one is receiving Carer’s Allowance for looking after them.
This additional premium is approximately the same amount as Carers Allowance and if the person you care for is receiving this premium they may agree to pay this amount to you in order that you can continue caring for them without facing the financial penalty of not being eligible for Carers Allowance as a full-time student.
Nonetheless, most full-time student carers are in an extremely vulnerable financial and personal situation. It is important that students in these circumstances try and find appropriate part-time employment to fit around their caring responsibilities but we would advise all carers to apply to the University Access to Learning Fund for extra financial support. The Hardship Fund Committee which administers this fund will not consider any financial assistance until a student has proven their personal circumstances. The Access to Learning Fund is based upon individual factors and follows a mean-tested process. Therefore no student can be guaranteed support from this Fund. However, bearing in mind the lack of available support from all other sources it is strongley encouraged to apply.
It is recommended that student carers apply for term-time assistance from the University's Access to Learning Fund and contact us for more detailed advice.
Compulsory Fieldwork
Although fieldwork in itself will not prevent students from taking up employment over the summer vacation, it may nonetheless reduce a student's availability and earning capacity. For this reason a student may be eligible to apply for a vacation Fieldwork Bursary
Further Information
You can contact us if you require further information or would like to discuss your situation in more detail.
