CPAG in Scotland Benefits for Students Project

This project aims to help increase the number of low income students who are able to access further and higher education. It also aims to reduce the impact of poverty on students who access such educational opportunities.

Our objective is to increase the capacity of front line advice services (in educational institutions and in the wider community) to provide accurate, high quality and effective advice and information on benefits and tax credits for students to eligible claimants – particularly lone parents and those on low incomes. This is done by providing training, developing factsheets and information resources, and running an advice line.

Training

The project delivers a range of training courses:

• Introduction to benefits for student advisers
• Students and benefits – eligibility in FE and HE
• Students and benefits – treatment of income
• Students and benefits – an update

For more information download our course leaflet for 2008 [143 KB pdf file], or contact us at the address below.

Factsheets and information

We produce a range of factsheets on aspects of benefits for students in Scotland. Printed copies of our recent factsheets are available – please email acarr@cpagscotland.org.uk with your details and which titles you would like.

1. Students and tax credits [148 KB pdf file] (August 2007)
2. Benefits for disabled students [165 KB pdf file] (July 2007)
3. Benefits for young people in further education [117 KB pdf file] (July 2007)
4. Parents claiming for young people in further education or training [117 KB pdf file] (July 2007)
5. Benefits and tax credits for students [103 KB pdf file] (July 2007)

We produce an updated and revised edition of the Benefits for Students in Scotland Handbook early in the academic year.

We also ensure the online version of the Benefits for Students in Scotland Handbook is updated after April each year with new benefit rates and other changes. The current edition of this Handbook is online at http://scottishhandbooks.cpag.org.uk.

E-bulletin: Students and Benefits

CPAG in Scotland’s quarterly Students and Benefits e-bulletin keeps you up to date with changes in benefits that may affect students. Sign up for the Students and Benfits e-bulletin here. Please note, we will not pass your details to anyone outside CPAG, and you can unsubscribe from the e-bulletin at any time.

• CPAG Students and Benefits E-bulletin (June 2008) [opens new window]
• CPAG Students and Benefits E-bulletin (March 2008) [opens new window]
• CPAG Students and Benefits E-bulletin (December 2007) [opens new window]
• CPAG Students and Benefits E-bulletin (September 2007) [opens new window]
• CPAG Students and Benefits E-bulletin (July 2007) [46 KB Word document]
• CPAG Students and Benefits E-bulletin (March 2007) [48 KB Word document]
• CPAG Students and Benefits E-bulletin (December 2006) [39 KB Word document]

Advice line and other information services

CPAG in Scotland telephone advice line for advisers is open Monday to Thursday 10.00am to 12.00noon. This service provides advisers with advice on benefits and tax credits including expert legal interpretation, up to date case law, regulation and procedural changes and support with appeals.

If you work in Scotland and advise students or people thinking about studying, our advice services can help you.

The advice line number is 0141 552 0552.

We can also provide advice via email and letter.

Please email advice@cpagscotland.org.uk or write to us at CPAG in Scotland, Unit 9, Ladywell, 94 Duke Street, Glasgow G4 0UW.

For further information on the Benefits for Students Project please contact:

Angela Toal

tel: 0141 552 8361   atoal@cpagscotland.org.uk

CPAG in Scotland, Unit 9, Ladywell, 94 Duke Street, Glasgow G4 0UW. Tel. 0141 552 8361 email staff@cpagscotland.org.uk

This project is funded by the Scottish Government.