PART 12SUPPORT FOR PART-TIME COURSES
New part-time course grant99
1
An eligible part-time student who is a new eligible part-time student qualifies in accordance with this regulation for a new part-time course grant for books, travel and other expenditure in connection with the student’s attendance on, or undertaking of a designated part-time course.
2
A new eligible part-time student does not qualify for a new part-time course grant in relation to an academic year of a designated part-time course if the intensity of study during that year is less than 50 per cent.
3
For the purposes of paragraph (2) the intensity of study during an academic year of a designated part-time course is to be calculated in accordance with regulation 97(2) and (3).
4
The maximum amount of new part-time course grant for the purposes of paragraph (5) is £1,155.
5
The amount of new part-time course grant payable to a new eligible part-time student in relation to an academic year of a designated part-time course is calculated as follows—
a
the maximum amount of new part-time course grant is payable where at the date of the application for the grant, a new eligible part-time student or the new eligible part-time student’s partner is entitled—
i
under Part VII of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 to income support, housing benefit or council tax benefit;
ii
under Part 1 of the Jobseekers Act 1995 to income-based jobseekers allowance or under section 2 of the Employment and Training Act 1973 to an allowance under the arrangements known as the New Deal;
iii
under Part 1 of the Welfare Reform Act 2007 to an income-related employment and support allowance;
iv
to universal credit; or
v
to a reduction under a council tax reduction scheme;
b
the maximum amount of new part-time course grant is payable where the relevant income is less than £26,095;
c
where the relevant income is £26,095 or more but less than £28,180 the amount of new part-time course grant payable is the amount left after deducting from the maximum amount of new part-time course grant £1 for every £1.886 by which the relevant income exceeds £26,095;
d
a new part-time course grant of £50 is payable where the relevant income is £28,180;
e
a new part-time course grant is not available where the relevant income exceeds £28,180.
6
For the purposes of this regulation—
a
“child” (“plentyn”) in relation to a new eligible part-time student includes any child of the new eligible part-time student’s partner and any child for whom the new eligible part-time student has parental responsibility;
b
“current financial year” (“y flwyddyn ariannol gyfredol”) means the financial year which includes the first day of the academic year in respect of which a person is being assessed for a new part-time course grant under this regulation;
c
“dependent” (“dibynnol”) means wholly or mainly financially dependent;
d
“financial year” (“blwyddyn ariannol”) means the period of twelve months for which the income of the new eligible part-time student is computed for the purposes of the income tax legislation which applies to it;
e
“income” (“incwm”) means gross income from all sources excluding—
i
any payment made under section 23C(5A) of the Children Act 1989; and
ii
any tax credits awarded pursuant to any claims under section 3 of the Tax Credits Act 2002;
f
subject to sub-paragraph (g), “partner” (“partner”) means any of the following—
i
the spouse of a new eligible part-time student;
ii
the civil partner of a new eligible part-time student;
iii
a person ordinarily living with a new eligible part-time student as if the person were the new eligible part-time student’s spouse or civil partner;
g
a person who would otherwise be a partner under sub-paragraph (f) is not treated as a partner if—
i
in the opinion of the Welsh Ministers, that person and the new eligible part-time student are separated; or
ii
the person is ordinarily living outside the United Kingdom and is not maintained by the new eligible part-time student;
h
“preceding financial year” (“blwyddyn ariannol flaenorol”) means the financial year immediately preceding the current financial year;
i
“relevant income” (“incwm perthnasol”) has the meaning given in paragraph (7).
7
Subject to paragraph (8), a new eligible part-time student’s relevant income is equal to the new eligible part-time student’s financial resources in the preceding financial year less—
a
£2,000 in respect of the new eligible part-time student’s partner;
b
£2,000 in respect of the only or eldest child who is dependent on the new eligible part-time student or the new eligible part-time student’s partner; and
c
£1,000 in respect of each other child who is dependent on the new eligible part-time student or the new eligible part-time student’s partner.
8
Where the Welsh Ministers are satisfied that a new eligible part-time student’s financial resources in the preceding financial year are greater than the new eligible part-time student’s financial resources in the current financial year and that the difference between the two amounts is £1,000 or more, they must assess that student’s resources by reference to those resources in the current financial year.
9
In this regulation a new eligible part-time student’s financial resources in a financial year means the aggregate of the new eligible part-time student’s income for that year together with the aggregate of the income for that year of any person who at the date of the application for a new part-time course grant is the new eligible part-time student’s partner.