Money to Learn

As well as thinking about what you want to do next, you should also consider your money situation.

If you are still in school you’ll get information and advice about what is available and how to claim. Your Connexions personal adviser can help you if you have left school.

For details of all the following – www.direct.gov.uk/moneytolearn

• Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) – a weekly payment of up to £30, paid directly to eligible young people (based on household income) who continue in learning after they reach statutory school leaving age. On top of the weekly allowance, you could receive bonuses if you do well on your learning programme and meet agreed targets.

• Care to Learn – to help pay towards childcare and travel costs while you are in learning. You must be under 20 on the day your publicly funded course or learning programme begins. The funding will continue until you finish your course.

• Dance and Drama Awards – you can only get this award if you take the Trinity College London qualification at one of the 21 accredited colleges. It will pay for the majority of tuition fees but you will be expected to make a contribution.

• Extra help with cost of transport, studying away from home and the Discretionary Support Fund.

Discretionary Support Fund
The Discretionary Support Fund is available in colleges and school sixth forms to help with learning costs. The fund is prioritised for those who face financial hardship. You can make a claim for Discretionary Support funding even if you are already receiving an EMA, Care to Learn funding or Disability Living Allowance.

Disabled Students’ Allowances
This is extra financial help if you have a disability or learning difficulty.
www.direct.gov.uk – go to Disabled people>Education and learning>Disabled Students’ Allowances.

Student Loan Repayments
You will start to repay a student loan (taken out to pay for a course of higher education) when you reach a certain level of earning. This figure is currently £15,000. The money will come out of your wages at the same time as your income tax and national insurance. Your employer will normally take care of the paperwork for you.

You will usually pay interest on this loan – but not as much if you had borrowed the same money from a bank. You can make voluntary payments to pay it off quickly. You will still need to pay this loan off even if you are self-employed or working abroad.

Direct Gov – repaying student loans.
www.direct.gov.uk – go to Education and learning>University and higher education>Student finance>Replaying student loans

Repaying your student loan – everything you need to know.
www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxandu/sl_index.htm

Student Loans Company – student finances.
www.slc.co.uk