The Education (Student Support) (Wales) Regulations 2015

Grant for disabled distance learning students’ living costs

76.—(1) An eligible distance learning student qualifies in accordance with this Part for a grant to assist with the additional expenditure which the Welsh Ministers are satisfied the eligible distance learning student is obliged to incur by reason of a disability to which the eligible distance learning student is subject in respect of the eligible distance learning student undertaking a designated distance learning course.

(2) An eligible distance learning student does not qualify for the grant under this regulation if the only paragraph in Part 2 of Schedule 1 into which the eligible distance learning student falls is paragraph 9.

(3) An eligible distance learning student does not qualify for the grant under this regulation in respect of any academic year that is a bursary year.

(4) An eligible distance learning student does not qualify for the grant under this regulation unless the Welsh Ministers consider that the eligible distance learning student is undertaking the designated distance learning course in Wales on the first day of the first academic year.

(5) An eligible distance learning student will no longer qualify for the grant under this regulation if the Welsh Ministers consider that the eligible distance learning student is undertaking the designated distance learning course outside the United Kingdom.

(6) Subject to the following paragraphs, the amount of grant under this regulation is the amount that the Welsh Ministers consider appropriate in accordance with the student’s circumstances.

(7) The amount of the grant under this regulation must not exceed—

(a) £21,181 in respect of an academic year for expenditure on a non-medical personal helper;

(b) £5,332 in respect of all the academic years during the period of eligibility for expenditure on major items of specialist equipment;

(c) the additional expenditure incurred—

(i) within the United Kingdom for the purpose of attending the institution;

(ii) within or outside the United Kingdom for the purpose of attending, as a part of the eligible distance learning student’s course, any period of study at an overseas institution or for the purpose of attending the Institute;

(d) £1,785 in respect of an academic year for any other expenditure including expenditure incurred for the purposes referred to in sub-paragraph (a) or (b) which exceeds the specified maxima.

(8) Subject to paragraphs (9) and (10), the grant under this regulation is payable to an eligible distance learning student in respect of the four quarters of the academic year.

(9) Where a grant under this regulation is used for expenditure on major items of specialist equipment (within the meaning of paragraph (7)(b)) it may be payable in respect of the whole academic year.

(10) Where regulation 70(3) applies, an eligible distance learning student may only qualify for a grant under this regulation for the purposes specified in paragraph (7)(a), (c) and (d) in respect of such quarters as begin after the relevant event in regulation 70(4) occurs.