80.—(1) This paragraph applies to payments from access funds that are not payments to which paragraph 83(2) or (3) (income treated as capital) applies.
(2) A payment from access funds, other than a payment to which sub-paragraph (3) applies, must be disregarded as income.
(3) Subject to sub-paragraph (4) of this paragraph and paragraph 40 of Schedule 7 (disregards in the calculation of income other than earnings: persons who are not pensioners)—
(a)any payments from access funds which are intended and used for an item of food, ordinary clothing or footwear, household fuel, or rent of a single applicant or, as the case may be, of the applicant or any other member of the applicant’s family; and
(b)any payments from access funds which are used for any council tax or water charges for which that applicant or any other member of the applicant’s family is liable,
must be disregarded as income to the extent of £20 per week.
(4) Where a payment from access funds is made—
(a)on or after 1st September or the first day of the course, whichever first occurs, but before receipt of any student loan in respect of that year and that payment is intended for the purpose of bridging the period until receipt of the student loan; or
(b)before the first day of the course to a person in anticipation of that person becoming a student,
that payment must be disregarded as income.