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Help for students with adult dependants

The Adult Dependants' Grant could provide extra help if you are a full-time higher education student with an adult who depends on you financially.

The amount you can get depends on your income and the income of your dependants. The maximum for 2009/2010 is £2,642.

You don't have to repay this help.

Who counts as an adult dependant?

An adult dependant could be a partner (including a partner of the same sex if you began your course in September 2005 or later), or another adult who depends on you financially.

This will usually be a member of your family, but you can't count grown-up sons or daughters as adult dependants.

How to apply

You’ll need to complete the relevant sections on your main student finance application - the one you use to apply for Student Loans and grants.

If you're applying for 2009/2010, the quickest and easiest way is to do it online. But it's also possible to apply on paper for 2009/2010.

• Register, login and apply online for 2009/2010

• More on applying for student finance

Calculating your entitlement

There’s a section in the booklet 'Childcare Grant and other support for full-time student parents in higher education' that can help you estimate how much extra help you may be able to get because you have dependants.

It contains information about other forms of support, along with details on the Adult Dependants' Grant.

• Download Childcare Grant and other support for full-time student parents in higher education 2009/2010 (PDF, 478K)

How is the money paid?

The Adult Dependants' Grant is paid in three instalments, one at the start of each term.

Student Finance England will pay the grant to you at the same time as any Student Loan or other grants you receive.

Effect on other financial help

Any Adult Dependants' Grant you get will be counted as income when working out your entitlement to benefits.

• Benefits for higher education students with low incomes (money, tax and benefits section)

What to do if your circumstances change

If your circumstances change - for example, if your income goes up or down - you should send a completed ‘Notification of change of circumstances for students on full-time courses’ (form CO1) to the organisation you originally applied to (either Student Finance England or your local authority).

This is important because it ensures that you are getting the level of help you're entitled to.

• Download change of circumstances form for full-time students (form CO1) 2009/2010 (PDF, 181K)

• Contact Student Finance England

• Contact your local authority (student finance applications) Opens new window

Applying for 2008/2009?

This page contains information about the 2009/2010 academic year.

If you’re applying for 2008/2009, see ‘Finance for full-time students starting in 2008/2009’.

• Finance for full-time students starting in 2008/2009