This depends on what funding your spouse, civil partner, or partner is receiving for their course.
The amount we can award will be based on if they:
- receive public funding such as a student loan or NHS Bursary funding to support them on their course
- already receive support for dependent children
Follow the guidance if:
- they receive public funding
- they do not receive public funding
- they're an NHS funded student
- they've left education
Receive public funding
Dependants Allowance cannot be awarded for your spouse, civil partner, or partner if they're a publicly funded student.
If they receive public funding which includes child allowances, you may be awarded half the usual rates of Dependants Allowance and full PLA for any applicable children.
If they receive public funding which does not include any child allowances, you may be awarded Dependants Allowance and PLA for any applicable children at the full usual rates.
Any income declared by your spouse, civil partner, or partner on your application will be disregarded during the calculation of these allowances for the applicable children.
Do not receive public funding
Dependants Allowance and PLA can be awarded for your spouse, civil partner, or partner and applicable children in full if they're not eligible to public funding.
Dependants Allowance cannot be awarded for your spouse, civil partner, or partner if they chose not to apply for potentially available public funding.
All income declared for your spouse, civil partner, or partner on your application will be considered in the calculation of these allowances.
If your partner becomes a full-time student at any point during your academic year, complete a change of circumstances and provide a copy of their most recent Student Finance or Student Loans Company funding letter.
If they're not receiving any funding for their course, provide a covering letter explaining the reason for this and a letter from their college or university to confirm their attendance.
NHS funded student
Dependants Allowance cannot be awarded for your spouse, civil partner, or partner if they're also an NHS Bursary funded student.
You may be awarded Dependants Allowance and PLA for any applicable children which will either be paid:
- at half the usual rates to both of you
- in full to one of you
If you're applying for Childcare Allowance (CCA), this can only be paid to one of you.
Only one of you must apply for Dependants Allowance or PLA to minimise processing times.
When providing your evidence, you must send a covering letter including your spouse or partner's:
- reference number
- full name
- date of birth
Your spouse, civil partner, or partner must do the same.
Leaves education
If your partner has been in receipt of student support from Student Finance England (SFE) or equivalent but then leaves their course, we may be able to reassess your entitlement based on your partner's total income for the previous full financial year.
If your partner was a full-time student during that period, their income will normally be used as zero for means testing purposes. Dependants Allowance will be awarded accordingly.
If your partner is a full-time student, we cannot award any Dependents Allowance for them.
We can award a reduced rate for any dependent children you may have.
If your partner's circumstances change and they leave their course, we may be able to award additional Dependants Allowance for them on a pro-rata basis from the date they stopped being a student. This depends on your circumstances and if your partner is in receipt of any income for the period in question.