Parents' Learning Allowance and Adult Dependants' Grant
Lesson 13 of 15 in our free Student Finance guide: a 5-minute money game with the key points below.
Shown for England. Some rules here are different in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland: the lesson shows your nation's version.
This lesson is in the full version.
Free with a code from your uni, college, council, landlord or employer (worth £600/year). Lesson 1 of Student Finance is free for everyone.
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Questions you'll answer
An England student gets the maximum Parents' Learning Allowance (£2,024 a year) and the maximum Adult Dependants' Grant (£3,545 a year). What's the total each year, before any childcare help?
Halfway through the year, your partner loses their job and now depends on your income. What now?
Quick facts
- Single parent who needs money for books, travel and a laptop for the course → Parents' Learning Allowance. PLA helps students with dependent children meet course-related costs.
- Student whose partner, who doesn't work, relies on their income → Adult Dependants' Grant. ADG is for an adult who depends on you financially, usually a partner.
- Parent paying a registered nursery while at university → Childcare Grant. The Childcare Grant is for registered childcare costs.
- Parent of a 9-year-old, struggling with field-trip and printing costs → Parents' Learning Allowance. Course costs with a dependent child point to PLA.
- Myth: “Parents' Learning Allowance is added to your student loan balance.” — It's a grant, not a loan, so it doesn't add to what you owe.
- Fact: “The amount you get depends on your household income.” — Both grants are income-assessed, so the full amounts go to lower-income households.
- Fact: “You apply for these alongside your main student finance application.” — Tick the extra support boxes when you apply, or add them later if your circumstances change.
- Myth: “Adult Dependants' Grant can be claimed for your children.” — ADG is for an adult dependant. Children are covered by PLA and the Childcare Grant. ADG can also affect income-related benefits, so get a benefits check.