This will depend on what funding your spouse / civil partner or partner is receiving for their course. The amount we can award will be based on whether they receive public funding, such as a student loan, or NHS Bursary funding to support them on their course and whether they already receive support for dependent children.
They receive public funding which includes child allowances
Dependants Allowance cannot be awarded for your spouse / civil partner / partner if they are a publicly funded student but you may be awarded half the usual rates of Dependants Allowance and full Parent Learning Allowance for any applicable children. Any income declared by your spouse / civil partner / partner on your application will be disregarded during the calculation of these allowances for the applicable children.
They receive public funding which does not include any child allowances
Dependants Allowance cannot be awarded for your spouse / civil partner or partner if they are a publicly funded student but you may be awarded Dependants and Parent Learning Allowances for any applicable children at the full usual rates. Any income declared by your spouse / civil partner / partner on your application will be disregarded during the calculation of these allowances for the applicable children.
They receive no public funding
Dependants and Parent Learning Allowances can be awarded for your spouse / civil partner or partner and applicable children in full if your spouse / civil partner or partner is not eligible to public funding. However, 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 / 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 you should complete a change of circumstances and provide a copy of their most recent Student Finance / Student Loans Company funding letter. If they are not receiving any funding for their course, please provide a brief covering letter explaining the reason for this as well as a letter from their college or university to confirm their attendance
They are an NHS funded student
Dependants Allowance cannot be awarded for your spouse / civil partner / partner if they are also an NHS Bursary funded student but you may be awarded Dependants Allowance and Parent Learning Allowance for any applicable children which will either be paid at half the usual rates to both of you, or in full to one of you. If you are also applying for Childcare Allowance this can only be paid to one of you. We would advise that only one of you apply for Dependants Allowance and Parent Learning Allowance to minimise processing times. You should include a cover letter giving details, such as reference, name and DOB, of your spouse or partner when providing your evidence. Your spouse / civil partner / partner should do the same.
If your partner leaves education
If your partner has been in receipt of student support from Student Finance England (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 and Dependants Allowances will be awarded accordingly.
Normally if your partner is a full time student we cannot award any Dependents Allowances for them, but we can award a reduced rate for any dependent children you may have. However, 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 will depend on your circumstances and whether your partner is in receipt of any income for the period in question.