Cash Help for 16 to 19 year olds and Their Parents

Other potential sources of income for students

Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) provides student support from a variety of the following: tuition fees, student loan, young students bursary, additional loan and supplementary grants:   

• Additional childcare grant for lone parents
• Care leavers vacation grant
• Dependants grant
• Disabled students allowance
• Lone parents grant
• Travel expenses

Young students bursary: Apply if you are under 25 years at the start of your course and a student from a family with an income below £27,900 per year. (Married students and those who have supported themselves from benefits or earnings for 3 years before the course are not eligible.)

Hardship funds: Payments are made on a discretional basis to help with living costs. You are expected to have applied for a full students loan before making application. Colleges and universities administer these funds.

Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA): This is a means-tested weekly allowance, paid fortnightly during term time but not during breaks to young people in non-advanced education. There is also a bonus attached that is linked to performance at college.
Travel expenses: You can claim help with the cost of travel to and from college and if living away from home for one trip home per term.

Carers

Once you reach age 16 you may be eligible to claim Carers Allowance if you look after someone for 35 hours or more per week.

Disability Living Allowance

Mobility- If you have difficulty getting around you may be able to claim Disability Living Allowance.

Care- If you have difficulty cooking a meal, need someone to keep an eye on you or help with looking after yourself, you may be able to claim Disability Living Allowance.