The Education (Student Support) (No. 2) Regulations 2002 (Amendment) Regulations 2004

Regulation 20

SCHEDULE 2

Regulation 22(1)

“SCHEDULE 3 Financial Assessment

Definitions in Schedule 3

1.   In this Schedule:—

(a) “existing student” means an eligible student who is not a new eligible student;

(b) “financial year” means in relation to paragraph 4 the period of twelve months in respect of which the income of a person whose residual income is calculated under the provisions of this Schedule is computed for the purposes of the income tax legislation which applies to it;

(c) “gross taxable income” means, in relation to paragraph 3, in respect of the academic year for which an application has been made under regulation 6 and, in relation to paragraph 4, in respect (subject to sub-paragraphs (4), (5) and (6) of paragraph 4) of the preceding financial year, a person’s taxable income from all sources computed as for the purposes of:—

(i) the Income Tax Acts;

(ii) the income tax legislation of another Member State which applies to the person’s income; or

(iii) (where the legislation of more than one Member State applies in respect of the same period) the legislation under which the Secretary of State considers the person will pay the largest amount of tax in that period (except as otherwise provided in paragraph 4);

(d) “household income” has the meaning assigned to it by paragraph 7;

(e) “independent eligible student” has the meaning assigned to it by paragraph 2(1);

(f) “Member State” means a Member State of the European Union;

(g) “new eligible student” means an eligible student starting a course either on or after 1st September 2004, but does not include an eligible student starting an end-on course during that time where he has already completed a course prior to this time;

(h) “parent” means a natural or adoptive parent and “child”, “mother” and “father” shall be construed accordingly;

(i) “parent student” means an eligible student who is the parent of an eligible student;

(j) “partner” in relation to an eligible student shall mean any of the following:

(i) the wife of an eligible student;

(ii) the husband of an eligible student;

(iii) a woman with whom a male student is ordinarily living as her husband, if he falls within paragraph 2(1)(a) and he is on a course which began on or after 1st September 2000 unless

(aa) his course is an end-on course in relation to a course which began before 1st September 2000; or

(bb) his course is an end-on course in relation to such an end-on course as is mentioned in sub-paragraph (aa);

(iv) a man with whom a female student is ordinarily living as his wife, if she falls within paragraph 2(1)(a) and she is on a course which began on or after 1st September 2000 unless

(aa) her course is an end-on course in relation to a course which began before 1st September 2000; or

(bb) her course is an end-on course in relation to such an end-on course as is mentioned in sub-paragraph (aa);

(k) “partner” in relation to the parent of a new eligible student shall mean any of the following other than another parent of the eligible student:

(i) the wife of an eligible student’s father;

(ii) the husband of an eligible student’s mother;

(iii) a woman with whom an eligible student’s father is ordinarily living as her husband; or

(iv) a man with whom an eligible student’s mother is ordinarily living as his wife;

(l) “preceding financial year” means the financial year ending in the April immediately preceding the relevant year;

(m) “relevant year” means the academic year in respect of which the household income falls to be assessed; and

(n) “residual income” means gross taxable income after the application of paragraph 3 (in the case of an eligible student), paragraph 4 (in the case of an eligible student’s parent), paragraph 5 (in the case of an eligible student’s partner) or paragraph 6 (in the case of the partner of an eligible student’s parent).

Application of this Schedule to an eligible student

2.— (1) An independent eligible student shall mean an eligible student in every case where:—

(a) he is aged 25 or over on the first day of the relevant year;

(b) he has been married before the beginning of the relevant year, whether or not the marriage is still subsisting;

(c) he has no parents living;

(d) the Secretary of State is satisfied that his parents cannot be found or that it is not reasonably practical to get in touch with them;

(e) he has communicated with neither of his parents for the period of one year before the beginning of the relevant year or in the opinion of the Secretary of State can demonstrate on other grounds that he is irreconcilably estranged from his parents;

(f) he has pursuant to an order of a competent court been in the custody or care of, or has been provided with accommodation by, any legal person who is not the student’s parent throughout any three month period ending on a date on or after the date on which he attains the age of 16 and before the first day of his course (“the relevant period”) (provided that he has not in fact at any time during the relevant period been under the charge or control of his parents);

(g) his parents are residing outside the European Community and the Secretary of State is satisfied that either

(i) the assessment of the household income by reference to their residual income would place those parents in jeopardy, or

(ii) it would not be reasonably practical for those parents as a result of the calculation of any contribution under paragraph 8 to send any relevant funds to the United Kingdom;

(h) paragraph 4(10) applies and the parent whom the Secretary of State considered the more appropriate for the purposes of that paragraph has died (irrespective of whether the parent in question had a partner within paragraph 1(k));

(i) he is a member of a religious order who resides in a house of that order; or

(j) he has supported himself out of his earnings for any period or periods ending before the first academic year of the course which periods together aggregate not less than three years, and for the purposes of this sub-paragraph he shall be treated as supporting himself out of his earnings during any period which—

(i) he was participating in arrangements for training for the unemployed under any scheme operated by, sponsored or funded by any state authority or agency, whether national, regional or local (“a relevant authority”);

(ii) he was in receipt of benefit payable by any relevant authority in respect of a person who is available for employment but who is unemployed;

(iii) he was available for employment and had complied with any requirement of registration imposed by a relevant authority as a condition of entitlement for participation in arrangements for training or receipt of benefit;

(iv) he held a State Studentship or comparable award;

(v) he received any pension, allowance or other benefit paid by any person by reason of a disability to which he is subject, or by reason of confinement, injury or sickness; or

(vi) he could not reasonably have been expected to support himself out of his earnings because he had the care of a person under the age of 18 years who was wholly or mainly financially dependent on him.

(2) The household income of an eligible student not falling within sub-paragraph (1) shall be calculated under paragraph 7(1)(a) of this Schedule.

(3) The household income of an eligible student within sub-paragraph (1) who has a partner under paragraph 1(j) shall be calculated under paragraph 7(1)(b) of this Schedule.

(4) The household income of an eligible student within sub-paragraph (1) who does not have a partner under paragraph 1(j) shall be calculated under paragraph 7(1)(c) of this Schedule.

Calculation of eligible student’s residual income

3.— (1) For the purpose of determining the residual income of an eligible student, there shall be deducted from his gross taxable income the aggregate of any amounts falling within any of the following sub-paragraphs—

(a) any remuneration for work done during any academic year of the eligible student’s course, provided that such remuneration shall not include any sums paid in respect of any period for which he has leave of absence or is relieved of his normal duties for the purpose of attending that course;

(b) the gross amount of any premium or other sum paid by the eligible student in relation to a pension (not being a pension payable under a policy of life insurance) in respect of which relief is given under section 273, 619 or 639 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988(1), or where the eligible student’s income is computed for the purposes of the income tax legislation of another Member State, the gross amount of any such premium or sum in respect of which relief would be given if that legislation made provision equivalent to the Income Tax Acts;

(c) any payment made by virtue of any agreement, instrument or enactment by the eligible student for the maintenance of his child or former partner.

(2) Where an eligible student is a person referred to in paragraph 7 of Schedule 1 and not in any other paragraph of that Schedule and his income arises from sources or under legislation different from sources or legislation normally relevant to a person referred to in paragraph 1 of Schedule 1, his income shall not be disregarded in accordance with sub-paragraph (1) but shall instead be disregarded to the extent necessary to ensure that he is treated no less favourably than a person who is referred to in any paragraph of Schedule 1 would be treated if in similar circumstances and in receipt of similar income.

(3) Where the eligible student receives income in a currency other than sterling, the value of that income for the purpose of this paragraph shall be:—

(a) if the student purchases sterling with the income, the amount of sterling the student so receives, and

(b) otherwise, the value of the sterling which the income would purchase using the rate for the month in which it is received published by the Office for National Statistics(2).

Calculation of parent’s residual income

4.— (1) For the purposes of determining the residual income of an eligible student’s parent, there shall not be deducted or exempted from his gross taxable income any deductions or exemptions which (under the Income Tax Acts or under the income tax legislation of another Member State) fall to be made or are permitted—

(a) by way of personal reliefs provided for in Chapter 1 of Part VII of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 or, where the income is computed for the purposes of the income tax legislation of another Member State, any comparable personal reliefs;

(b) in respect of any payment made under covenant;

(c) pursuant to any enactment or rule of law under which payments which would otherwise under United Kingdom law form part of a person’s income are not treated as such; or

(d) pursuant to any United Kingdom enactment irrespective of whether, if the person’s income is determined for the purposes of another Member State, they would not be so permitted.

(2) For the purposes of determining the residual income of an eligible student’s parent, there shall be deducted from his gross taxable income the aggregate of any amounts falling within any of the following sub-paragraphs:—

(a) the gross amount of any premium or sum relating to a pension (not being a premium payable under a policy of life assurance) in respect of which relief is given under section 273, 619 or 639 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988, or where the income is computed for the purposes of the income tax legislation of another Member State, the gross amount of any such premium in respect of which relief would be given if that legislation made provision equivalent to the Income Tax Acts;

(b) in any case where income is computed for the purposes of the Income Tax Acts by virtue of sub-paragraph 7, any sums equivalent to the deduction mentioned in sub-paragraph (a), provided that any sums so deducted shall not exceed the deductions which would be made if the whole of the eligible student’s parent’s income were in fact taxable income for the purposes of the Income Tax Acts;

(c) in the case of a parent student or an eligible student’s parent who holds a statutory award, £1,000.

(3) Where, in pursuance of any instrument or by virtue of any applicable legislation, any income is applied by any person for or towards the maintenance, education or other benefit of the eligible student or of any person dependent on the student’s parent, or payments made to his parent are required to be so applied, that income, or those payments, shall be treated as part of the gross taxable income of the parent.

(4) Where the Secretary of State is satisfied that the income of the parent in the financial year beginning immediately before the relevant year (“the current financial year”) is, as a result of some event beyond his control, likely to be not more than 85 per cent of the sterling value of his income in the preceding financial year he may, for the purpose of enabling the eligible student to attend the course without hardship, ascertain the household income for the current financial year.

(5) Where the Secretary of State is satisfied that the income of the parent in any financial year is, as a result of some event beyond his control, likely to be and to continue after that year to be not more than 85 per cent of the sterling value of his income in the previous financial year he may, for the purpose of enabling the eligible student to attend the course without hardship, ascertain the household income for the academic year of the eligible student’s course in which that event occurred by taking as the residual income of the parent the average of his residual income for each of the financial years in which that academic year falls.

(6) Where the eligible student’s parent satisfies the Secretary of State that his income is wholly or mainly derived from the profits of a business or profession carried on by him, then any reference in this Schedule to a preceding financial year shall mean the most recent period of twelve months which ends before the start of the relevant year and in respect of which accounts are kept relating to that business or profession.

(7) Where an eligible student’s parent is in receipt of any income which does not form part of his gross taxable income by reason only that—

(a) he is not resident, ordinarily resident or domiciled in the United Kingdom, or where his income is computed as for the purposes of the income tax legislation of another Member State, not so resident, ordinarily resident or domiciled in that Member State;

(b) the income does not arise in the United Kingdom, or where the parent’s income is computed as for the purposes of the income tax legislation of another Member State, does not arise in that Member State; or

(c) the income arises from an office, service or employment, income from which is exempt from tax in pursuance of any legislation,

his gross taxable income for the purposes of this Schedule shall be computed as though the income under this sub-paragraph were part of his taxable income.

(8) Where the income of the eligible student’s parent is computed as for the purposes of the income tax legislation of another Member State, it shall be computed under the provisions of this Schedule in the currency of that Member State and the income of the eligible student’s parent for the purposes of this Schedule shall be the sterling value of that income determined in accordance with the rate for the month in which the last day of the financial year in question falls, as published by the Office for National Statistics.

(9) Where:—

(a) one of the eligible student’s parents dies either before or during the relevant year; and

(b) that parent’s income has been or would be taken into account for the purpose of determining the household income,

the household income shall—

(c) where the parent dies before the relevant year, be determined by reference to the income of the surviving parent; or

(d) where the parent dies during the relevant year, be the aggregate of—

(i) the appropriate proportion of the household income determined by reference to the income of both parents, being the proportion in respect of that part of the relevant year during which both parents were alive; and

(ii) the appropriate proportion of the household income determined by reference to the income of the surviving parent, being the proportion in respect of that part of the relevant year remaining after the death of the other parent.

(10) Where the parents do not ordinarily live together throughout the relevant year, the household income shall be determined by reference to the income of whichever parent the Secretary of State considers the more appropriate under the circumstances.

(11) Where the parents do not ordinarily live together for part only of the relevant year, the household income shall be determined by reference to the aggregate of:—

(a) the appropriate proportion of the household income determined in accordance with sub-paragraph (10), being the proportion in respect of that part of the relevant year for which the parents do not so live together; and

(b) the appropriate proportion of the household income determined otherwise in respect to the remainder of the relevant year.

Calculation of eligible student’s partner’s residual income

5.— (1) Subject to sub-paragraphs (2), (3) and (4) of this paragraph and with the exception of sub-paragraphs (9), (10) and (11) of paragraph 4, an eligible student’s partner’s income shall be determined in accordance with paragraph 4, references to the parent being construed as references to the eligible student’s partner.

(2) Where an eligible student acquires a partner within the meaning of paragraph 1(j) during any relevant year, the household income shall be determined by reference to the eligible student’s partner’s income under sub-paragraph (1) divided by fifty-two and multiplied by the number of complete weeks before the end of that academic year or before the end of the course (whichever is earlier) during which that person was the eligible student’s partner within the meaning of paragraph 1(j).

(3) Where an eligible student ceases to have a partner within the meaning of paragraph 1(j) during any relevant year, the household income shall be determined by reference to the eligible student’s partner’s income under sub-paragraph (1) divided by fifty-two and multiplied by the number of complete weeks after the beginning of that academic year during which that person was still the eligible student’s partner within the meaning of paragraph 1(j).

(4) Where an eligible student has more than one partner in any one academic year, the provisions of this paragraph apply in relation to each.

Calculation of parent’s partner’s residual income

6.   The income of a new eligible student’s parent’s partner shall be determined in accordance with paragraph 5, references to the eligible student’s partner being construed as references to the new eligible student’s parent’s partner, and references to the eligible student being construed as references to the new eligible student’s parent.

Calculation of household income

7.— (1) The household income shall be:—

(a) in the case of an eligible student falling within paragraph 2(2), the residual income of the eligible student aggregated with the residual income of the eligible student’s parent or parents and (in the case of a new eligible student) the residual income of the new eligible student’s parent’s partner (if any);

(b) in the case of an eligible student falling within paragraph 2(3), the residual income of the eligible student aggregated (subject to sub-paragraph (3)) with the residual income of the eligible student’s partner; or

(c) in the case of an eligible student falling within paragraph 2(4), the residual income of the eligible student.

(2) There shall be deducted from the sum of the household income under sub-paragraph (1) the sum of £1,000

(a) for each child wholly or mainly financially dependent on the eligible student or the eligible student’s partner, or

(b) for each child other than the eligible student wholly or mainly financially dependent on the eligible student’s parent or the eligible student’s parent’s partner.

(3) For the purpose of calculating the contribution payable in respect of a parent student, the residual income of the parent student’s partner shall not be aggregated under sub-paragraph (1)(b) in the case of a parent student whose child or whose partner’s child holds an award:

(a) in respect of which the household income is calculated with reference to the residual income of the parent student or of the parent student’s partner or of both; or

(b) in respect of which a parental contribution is otherwise applicable with reference to the parent student or his partner.

Calculation of contribution

8.— (1) In relation to an eligible student falling within paragraph 2(2) or (3), the contribution payable shall

(a) in any case where the household income is £21,475 or more be £45 with the addition of £1 for every complete £9.50 by which the household income exceeds £21,475, and

(b) in any case where the household income is less than £21,475 be nil.

(2) In relation to an eligible student falling within paragraph 2(4), the contribution shall

(a) in any case where the household income is £10,000 or more be £45 with the addition of £1 for every complete £9.50 by which the household income exceeds £10,000.

(b) in any case where the household income is less than £10,000 be nil.

(3) The amount of the contribution payable under sub-paragraphs (1) or (2) shall in no case exceed £7,075.

(4) In a case falling within paragraph (5), the aggregate contributions shall not exceed:—

(a) £7,075; or

(b) the contribution which would have been payable if only one eligible student held an award.

(5) Paragraph (4) applies where a contribution is payable in relation to—

(a) more than one eligible student falling with paragraph 2(2), in respect of the same income under both paragraphs 4 and 6; or

(b) more than one eligible student falling within paragraph 2(3), in respect of the same household income.

Split contributions

9.— (1) Where a contribution is payable under paragraph 8 other than in relation to sub-paragraph (2) of that paragraph, the contribution shall be payable in accordance with the following sub-paragraphs—

(a) for any year in which a statutory award other than an award referred to in sub-paragraph (b) is held by—

(i) more than one child of the eligible student’s parents;

(ii) the eligible student’s parent; or

(iii) the eligible student’s parent’s partner,

the contribution payable in respect of the eligible student shall be such proportion of any contribution calculated under paragraph 8 as the Secretary of State, after consultation with any other authority involved, considers just, taking into account the application of paragraph 6 of this Schedule to new eligible students and existing students respectively;

(b) for any year in which an award payable under these Regulations, the Education (Mandatory Awards) Regulations 2003(3) or section 63 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 (and no other statutory award) is held by more than one child of the eligible student’s parents, the contribution payable in respect of the eligible student shall, subject to this paragraph, be such proportion of any contribution calculated under paragraph 8 as is equal to the proportion payable in respect of any other such statutory award holder;

(c) if, as a result of the apportionment under sub-paragraph (b), any part of that contribution would not be applied in respect of any statutory award and there would remain any part of any statutory award in respect of which the contribution had not been applied, the contribution shall instead be applied

(i) first in relation to the smallest statutory award (or each such statutory award) to which the contribution may apply, and

(ii) then, in increasing order of size, in relation to each remaining statutory award to which the contribution may apply, until the balance of the contribution can be apportioned equally without any part of it remaining or until there remains no part of any statutory award to which the contribution has not been applied.

(2) In any case where

(a) the eligible student’s parent has a partner within paragraph 1(k) of this Schedule;

(b) a contribution is payable in relation to more than one eligible student who is the child of either the eligible student’s parent or the eligible student’s parent’s partner; and

(c) the amount payable in relation to each eligible student is not equal to the amount payable in respect of every other eligible student,

the contribution in respect of each eligible student shall be calculated under paragraph (3).

(3) Where paragraph (2) applies, the contribution payable in respect of each household shall be calculated and the apportionment carried out in accordance with sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph withholding only that part of the contribution apportioned to each eligible student who is not part of the household.

(4) In a case where a contribution is payable in respect of more than one eligible student, and the residual income of any such eligible student is greater than nil, the contribution in relation to each eligible student shall be calculated in accordance with the following sub-paragraphs:

(a) the contribution in respect of each eligible student shall be calculated without reference to paragraph 3 but otherwise in accordance with this Schedule and shall be apportioned between each eligible student in accordance with this paragraph;

(b) there shall then be applied in addition in respect of each eligible student a further contribution of £1 for every complete £9.50 by which the sum calculated under sub-paragraph (c) exceeds £21,475;

(c) the sum referred to in sub-paragraph (b) shall be the aggregate of any amounts calculated under paragraphs 3, 4 and 6 (where appropriate) of this Schedule with the deduction of the amount (if any) by which the aggregate of the amounts calculated under paragraphs 4 and 6 exceeds £21,475.

(5) Subject to sub-paragraph (6), there shall be added to a parent student’s residual income for the purpose of calculating the contribution to his statutory award any sum remaining:—

(a) where the parent student is the parent of only one eligible student and the contribution payable in respect of that eligible student is greater than the statutory award in respect of that eligible student, the difference between that contribution and that statutory award; or

(b) where a parent student is the parent of more than one eligible student, any sum remaining after the apportionment of the contribution to his children under this paragraph.

(6) Where a parent student has a partner within paragraph 1(k) of this Schedule, the sums added to his residual income under sub-paragraph (5) of this paragraph shall be calculated as though the contribution in respect of his children had been assessed with reference to paragraph 6 of this Schedule, whether or not the contribution was actually calculated on that basis.

(7) In this paragraph, “household” means all those eligible students in respect of whom a contribution is calculated with reference to the same income under both paragraphs 4 and 6.”

(1)

1988 c. 1. Section 273 was amended by section 35 of and paragraph 10 of Schedule 3 to the Finance Act 1988.

(2)

“Financial Statistics”, reference 7.1A (ISSN 0015-203X)

(3)

SI 2003/1994