Adult Dependants' Grant :Cross Stitch – Education and learning

If you’re a student in full-time higher education and there’s an adult who depends on you financially, you may be entitled to extra help through the Adult Dependants’ Grant. Find out what help is available.

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 2011/12 and 2012/13 is £2,642.

You don’t have to pay this back.

You won’t get the Adult Dependants’ Grant if your adult dependant is also studying and getting student finance or Disabled Students’ Allowances.

An adult dependant could be

  • a spouse or civil partner
  • a partner, if you are over 25 – including a partner of the same sex if you began your course in September 2005 or later
  • another adult who depends on you financially (usually a member of your family) who earns less than £3,796 a year

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

If you apply for Adults Dependants’ Grant you’ll need to send in some evidence.

Evidence of your adult dependant

To prove you have an adult dependant send one of the following:

  • a marriage certificate (if you’re under 25 and claiming for a spouse)
  • a letter saying why the adult is dependent on you as well as a P60 showing their earnings

Evidence of financial commitments paid by you or your partner

If you (or your partner) have any financial commitments – such as mortgage, rent, council tax, life insurance, buildings and contents insurance or pension payments – you need to send in evidence of these.

Evidence of financial commitments can include:

  • a letter from your accountant
  • annual statements
  • letters from companies proving financial commitments
  • confirmation of payments into a pension fund from your pension provider
  • bank statements
  • mortgage or rent agreement
  • council tax bill
  • insurance policies
  • original evidence of payments
  • credit agreement documentation

If you submit bank statements, you may need to write on the statement making clear what the payment is for. For example, if the only printed details of a rent payment are the person’s name, you should write on the bank statement that this was for rent.

The Adult Dependants’ Grant is paid in three instalments with your loans or grants at the start of each term.