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Contents

Introduction 3

SECTION1: Managingyourmoney 41.1 Getorganised 41.2 Drawupabudget 41.3 Budgettemplate 71.4 Balanceyourbudget 8

SECTION2: Top10moneysavingtips 10

SECTION3: Additionalsourcesofincome 163.1 AdditionalfundingavailablefromtheUniversity 163.2 AdditionalfundingfromoutsidetheUniversity 19

SECTION4: Working 234.1 Workingwhilststudying 234.2 Findingwork 244.3 NationalMinimumWage 254.4 Incometaxandnationalinsurance 254.5 Yourrightsasaworker 27

SECTION5: Welfarebenefitsandtaxcredits 285.1 Nonmeans-testedbenefits 285.2 Means-testedbenefits 395.3 Means-testedbenefitsandstudentincome 315.4 TaxCredits 335.5 TaxCreditsandstudentincome 34

SECTION6: Bankingandfinancialproducts 356.1 Bankaccounts 356.2 Otherfinancialproducts 376.3 Commonproblemstoavoid 396.4 Jargonbuster 41

SECTION7: Changesincircumstance 447.1 Changesthatmightaffectbenefits,taxcredits&studentincome447.2 Transferring,withdrawing,takingtimeoutandrepeating 45

SECTION8: Financialdifficultiesanddebt 46

SECTION9: Usefulcontacts 48

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This booklet was produced by the University of Sussex Students’ Union Advice & Representation Centre in August 2010. Whilst every effort was made to ensure that the information in this booklet was correct at the time of publication, no liability can be accepted for omissions, inaccuracies or subsequent legislative changes.

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IntRoDUCtIon

Welcome (or welcome back) to Sussex and the new 2010/11 edition of Money Matters!

Asyouwillnodoubthaverealised,moneymattersalotwhenyou’reastudent.Someofyoumayhavejustlefthomeandarenowhavingtomanageyourownfinancesforthefirsttime.Othersofyoumayhavearrivedhavingbeenmoreaccustomedtomanagingyourmoneybutareperhapsnotusedtolivingonsuchalowincome.StillothersofyoumayhavebeenatSussexawhilebutarestillstrugglingtogettogripswithyourfinancesandconstantlyjugglingthingsaroundinanefforttogetby.Whetheryou’vejuststartedyourcourseorhavealreadybeenhereawhile,managingyourmoneywhilststudyingpresentssomeuniquechallenges.ThecostoflivingatSussexishighandthecurrenteconomicclimatehasbroughtabouthugeincreasesinthecostoffoodandmanyotheressentialsmakingitevenmoreexpensivetolivehereandyetthemajorityofstudentshavetosurviveonaverylimitedbudget.Thisbooklet,producedbytheStudents’UnionattheUniversityofSussex,aimstoprovideinformationonawholerangeofmoney-relatedissuesincluding:

Managingyourmoneywhilstlivingonalimitedincome••

Additionalsourcesofincomethatyoumaybeabletosecure••

Moneysavingtips••

Bankingandfinancialproducts••

Whattodoifyougetintofinancialdifficulties•

TheinformationgiveninthisbookletisaimedatALLstudentsatSussexwhetheryou’refullorpart-time,anundergraduateorpostgraduateandwhetheryouareaUK,EUoraninternationalstudent.Whilstmostoftheinformationprovidedisrelevantforallstudentssomesectionsareaimedatspecificgroups–theseshouldbeclearlyidentified.

Whilstwehopeyouwillfindtheinformationcontainedinthisbookletuseful,rememberthatitisonlyintendedasabriefguidesopleasecontacttheAdvice&RepresentationCentreifyourequiremoredetailedinformation.

Goodluck!

TheUniversityofSussexStudents’UnionAdvice&RepresentationCentre

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seCtIon 1Managing your moneyIt’snoteasytryingtogetbyonwhatformostofyouisprobablyaverylimitedincome,especiallyifyou’veneverbeentaughthowtohandlemoneyorifyou’veneverhadtoliveonsuchalowincomebefore.Strugglingtomakeendsmeet,jugglingpaymentsandworryingaboutwhetheryoucanaffordsomethingyoureallyneedcanleaveyoufeelingreallystressedout.Withcarefulbudgetingandplanningthoughitispossibletogetyourfinancesundercontrolandmanageyourmoneyeffectivelyforthedurationofyourstudies.Thissectionshouldprovideyouwiththebasicsyouneedtostarttheprocess.

1.1 Get organisedBeforeyoucangetontopofyourfinancesyouneedtogetorganised–you’reevergoingtobeabletokeeptrackofyourmoneyifallyourfinancialpapersarerandomlystackedtogether,leftunopenedintheirenvelopesorevenworse,thrownaway!Keepingyourfinancialpapersinorderasyougoalongwillhelpyoufeelmoreincontrol,makeitfareasiertolocatepaperworkthatyoumightneedlater(iffore.g.youdecidetoapplyforanoverdraftorneedtomakeaninsuranceclaim)andsaveyoutimeinthelongrun.

Examplesoffinancialpapersthatyoumayneedtokeepcouldinclude:

Studentincomepapers-financialnotificationletters,paymentschedules,bursary•awardlettersetc.Benefitandtaxcreditpapers–awardletters,calculationsheetsetc.•Statements–bank,creditcards,storecardsetc.•Bills–gas,electricity,water,phone,TVlicenceetc.•Housingdocuments–tenancyagreement,mortgagestatementsetc.•Insurancepapers–buildings,contents,life,traveletc.•Cardocuments–tax,MOT,insuranceetc.•Workdocuments–payslips,P60setc.•Travel&immigrationdocuments–visa,passport,healthcardsetc.•

Takesometimenowtosortthroughyourpapersandfilethem(indateorder)inseparatefolders.YoucanbuycheapfoldersfromtheStudents’Unionshoporaskaroundyourschooltoseeifanyoftheschoolstaffhavesomeoldonestheydon’tneed.Andremember,trytofilethingsawayintherightplaceastheycomeinratherthanpilingthemallupto‘dolater’.

1.2 Draw up a budgetOnceyou’vegotyourpaperworkinorderthenextstepistodrawupabudget.Drawingupabudgetisabsolutelyvitalifyou’regoingtogettogripswithyourmoneyasit’stheonlywaythatyoucanworkouthowmuchmoneyyoucanaffordtospendandcheckthatyouarenotover-spending.Havingabudgetallowsyoutodirectlycomparetheamountofmoneythatyouhavecominginwithallthethingsyouhavetopayforlikerent,food,travelcostsandbills.Italsoallowsyoutoquicklyseeifthere’sanyshortfallbetweenyour

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incomeandexpenditurethatyouneedtoaddress,anysourcesofincomethatyoucouldaddorincreaseaswellasanyareasofexpenditurethatyoucouldorshouldreduce.Havingabudgetisalsocrucialifyouaregoingtoapplyforanythinglikeanoverdraftaswellasbeingusefulwhenitcomestoworkingouthowmuchyoucanafford,ifany,toputasidetowardssavings.Allinall,havingabudgetisthebestwaythatyoucantakecontrolofyourfinancesratherthanlettingyourmoney(orlackofit!)controlyou.

Drawingupabudgetisnotdifficultbutitdoestaketimeifit’sgoingtobeaccurate.Usingtheblanktemplatebudgetsheetinsection1.3followthese5basicsteps:

Step1:ListallyourincomesourcesListeverysourceofincomethatyouhaveinthe1stcolumnofthebudgetsheet.Remembertoincludethingssuchasyourstudentincome,yourwagesfrompart-timework,interestearnedonanysavings,anymoneyyourparentsgiveyouandanybenefitsortaxcreditsyoureceive.

Step2:Listthetotalamount youreceiveforeachincomesourceandtheperiodoverwhichitispaidInthe2ndcolumnofthebudgetsheet,listthetotalamountthatyoureceivefromeachincomesourceandtheperiodoverwhichitispaid.Forexample,aMaintenanceLoanispaidover38weeks(theacademicyear)whereasyourwagesareprobablypaidweeklyormonthly,whilstbenefitsandtaxcreditscouldbepaidweekly,fortnightlyorevery4weeks.

Step3:CalculateyourweeklyincomeConverteachsourceofincomeintoaweeklyamountandlistthisinthe3rdcolumnofthebudgetsheet.Youmaywishtorefertoacalculationsheet(availabletodownloadfromthepublicationssectionofourwebpages)whenyoudothis.Onceyouhavedonethis,addallthefiguresuptofindoutwhatyourtotalweeklyincomeisandenterthisfigureatthebottomoftheweeklyincomecolumn.

NBThebudgetsheetincludedinthisbookletisforaweeklybudgetbutyoumightprefertodrawupamonthlybudgetinstead,that’sentirelyuptoyou.Whicheverwayyouchoosethough,makesureyousticktoit-puttingaweeklyfigureonabudgetwhereallyourotherfiguresaremonthlyisacommonbutdisastrousmistakeasitwillcompletelythrowallyourotherfigures.

Step4:ListeverythingthatyouspendmoneyonListeverythingthatyouspendmoneyoninthe4thcolumnofthebudgetsheet.Remembertoincludethingsliketoiletries,coursebooks/equipment,cleaningproducts,haircuts,Christmasandbirthdaypresents,newspapers/magazines,cigarettes,holidays,mealsoutandtake-awaysaswellasyourmoreobviousexpendituresuchasrent,food,utilitybillsandtravel.

Step5:WorkoutyourweeklyexpenditureWorkoutwhatyourweeklyexpenditureisforeachitemandenteritinthe5thcolumnofthebudgetsheet.Youmaywishtorefertoacalculationsheetagainwhenyoudothis.Foritemsthatyoudon’tspendmoneyonregularly,suchashaircutsandpresents,youmayneedtoworkoutwhatyounormallyspendintotaloneachiteminayearandthen

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convertthisfiguretoaweeklyamount.Forexample,ifyounormallyhave2haircutsinayearatacostof£30each,youspend£60intotalperyear.Dividedoverthe52weeksinayear,thisworksouttoaweeklycostof£1.15(60÷52=1.15).Onceyouhavedonethis,addallthefiguresuptofindoutwhatyourtotalweeklyexpenditureisandenterthisfigureatthebottomoftheweeklyexpenditurecolumn.Ifyouarenotsurehowmuchyouspendandneedsomehelpworkingyourexpenditureout,youmightwanttotrykeepingaspendingdiaryforawhile(atleastamonthifpossible)sothatyoucanworkouthowmuchyouspendonitemsthatarenotfixedandregular.Thisisusefulforworkingouthowmuchyouspendonthingslikemagazines,eatingout,socialisingandtravelwheretheamountyouspendprobablyvariesfromweektoweek.Useanotepadwithadifferentpageforeachdayandlisteverythingthatyouspendmoneyonandhowmuchitcost.Onceyou’vekeptyourspendingdiaryforawhileyoucanstartworkingouthowmuchyouactuallyspendonthingsbyaddingupthetotalamountyouspentoneachitemovertheperiodyoukeptyourdiary,dividingthistotalbythenumberofdaysyoukeptthediaryfor(togetadailyamount),multiplyingthisfigureby365(togetayearlyamount)andthendividingthisfigurebyeither12(togetamonthlyamount)orby52(togetaweeklyfigure)dependingonwhetheryouareusingamonthlyorweeklybudget.

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1.3 Budget template

Sourceofincome

Totalamountandperiodoverwhichpaid

Weeklyamount

Itemsofexpenditure

Weeklyamount

Weeklytotal

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1.4 Balance your budgetOnce youhave drawn up your budget, compare your total income to your total expenditure. If your expenditure is higher than your income, you will need to take steps to balance your budget. Have a look at some of tips below:

Checkyou’regettingeverythingyou’reentitledtoandlookintootherwaystoincreaseyourincome

Checkthatyou’renotmissingoutonanythingyou’reentitledto–(e.g.statutory1.studentsupport,welfarebenefits,taxcredits)andcheckthatyou’regettingpaidthecorrectamount–checkwhatyoumightbeentitledtoonourwebpagesand/orspeaktooneofouradvisersLookintootherwaystoincreaseyourincomesuchaspart-time/vacationwork,tax2.rebates,ALFawards,grantsfromtrusts/charities,scholarships/bursariesetc–seesection3formoreideas

FindwaystoreduceyourexpenditureandavoidmoneydrainsTrytofindwaystocutdownonwhatyouspendsuchasapplyingforhelpwithyour1.healthcosts,usingyourNUScardtogetdiscounts,takingadvantageofstudenttraveldiscounts,makingyourownlunchratherthanbuyingitoncampusandtakingadvantageofshoployaltycards/multibuyoffersetc–seesection2formoreideasAvoidcommonmoneydrainssuchascredit/storecards(highinterestrates),going2.overyouragreedoverdraftlimit(bankcharges)orrunningupexpensivemobilephonebillsbecauseyou’renotonthemostappropriatetariff–seesection2formoreideas

Workoutyourprioritiesandensurethatyouhavesetasidemoneytocoverthesefirst

Makesurethatyouhaveenoughmoneysetasideinyourbudgetforthebasics1.(food,shelter,warmth,lightandhealth)Identifywhatelseismostimportanttoyou(e.g.coursefees,books/equipmentfor2.yourcourseetc)andallocatemoneyforthesenextOnlyallocateanyremainingmoneyinyourbudgettootheritemsonceyouhave3.completedsteps1and2

OrganiseyourpaymentsSetupdirectdebitpaymentsforyouressentialexpenditurewhereverpossiblesothat•youdon’tforgettopaythemSpreadpaymentsasmuchaspossiblesothattheyarelittleandoften;or•Makepaymentsthattieinwithwhenyoureceiveyourincome(e.g.payyourterm’s•rentwhenyourMaintenanceLoanarrives)

SticktoyourbudgetandspendsensiblyBedisciplinedandsticktoyourbudget1.Takeresponsibilityforyourmoneyanddon’texpectfamily/friendstobailyououtif2.yourunshort(rememberthattheyhavefinancialresponsibilitiestoo)Trytoonlytakeoutwhatcashyouneed/canaffordandthendon’ttakeoutany3.more.Makelistswhenyougoshoppingandsticktothem,trytoavoid‘impulse’spending4.Ifyoudogooveryourbudget,makesureyouamendyourbudgetforthefollowing5.

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week(s)totakeaccountofyouroverspendIfyoufindthatyouneedtospendlessonanitemofexpenditurethanyouhave6.budgetedfor-don’tincreaseyourexpenditurejustforthesakeofitorblowthemoneyonsomethingelse,putthemoneyasideintoasavingsaccountsothatyouwillalwayshavesomemoneysetasideforemergencies,forunexpectedexpenditureandfortreats

RegularlyreviewyourbudgetMonitorhoweasyyoufindittosticktoyourbudgetandamenditaccordingly1.Checkthatthereisnothingyouhavemissedoutofyourbudget2.Remembertodraftanewbudgetwheneveryourcircumstancesorprioritieschange3.

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seCtIon 2top 10 money saving tips1.AskyourselfwhetheryouactuallyneedtobuysomethingBeforeyoubuyanythingaskyourself“DoIreallyneeditordoIjustwantit?”-thedifferenceiscrucialwhenyouhaven’tgotmuchmoney!Ifyoudoreallyneedtobuysomething,checkwhetherit’ssomethingyoucanborrow(fore.g.fromafriendorfamilymember),getsecondhandcheaplyfromacharityshoporfromtheclassifiedads(seetheFridayAdsatwww.friday-ad.co.uk/ortheUniversity’sSmalladsatwww.sussex.ac.uk/students/newsandevents/smallads/)orevenforfree(seetip2).

2.GetstuffforfreeYoucangetallsortsoffreethingsfromclothestocomputers,sofastosaucepansandbookstobabyequipmentonsitessuchasGreencycleSussex(www.uk.groups.yahoo.com/greencyclesussex)andSnaffleup(www.snaffleup.co.uk/)whilstalsohelpingtostopusableitemsfromgoingtolandfills.

Orwhynottryswappingsomethingyounolongerneedforsomethingyouwant?HavealookattheGumtreeswapshopathttp://brighton.gumtree.com/brighton/brighton-swapshop_3047_1.html

TheFreegansalsohavelotsofideasonwaystolivewithoutspendingmuchmoney.Mainlyknownfortheir‘skipdiving’,Freeganshavelotsofotherideasonwaystolivemorecooperativelyinalessconsumeristway.HavealookatWikipedia(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeganism)formoreinformationandusefullinks.

3.Makeuseofdiscounts&vouchersUseyourNUScardtogetdiscountsandsavingsonclothes,haircuts,books,cinema,foodetc.Don’twaittoseeifastudentdiscountisoffered–ask!Forevenmorediscounts,buytheNUSExtracardfor£10.

MakethemostoftraveldiscountssuchastheISICcard,theStudentSaverbusticket&Unizonetraintickets–havealookatourTravelDiscountsleafletformoreinformation(availabletocollectfromourInformationAreaortodownloadfromthepublicationssectionofourwebsite)

LookoutforonlineandprintablevouchersanddiscountcodesonsitessuchasMoneySavingExpert(http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/deals/discount-voucher-codes)andVoucherCodes(www.vouchercodes.co.uk/).

4.ShoparoundforthebestdealSpendmoretimelookingforbargainsratherthanbuyingeverythinginoneplaceorinthefirstplaceyougo.

Trytobuythingsinthesalesandmakeuseofanyoffers,discountsorvouchers(seetip3).

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Findthecheapestshops–askyourfriends(andanyoneelse)fortheirrecommendedshopsforgettingstuffcheaporhavealookonthemoneynoticeboardinourInformationArea.

Makeuseofcomparisonsitestohelpyoucomparethecostofallsortsofitemssuchasmobilephones,insurance,gasandelectricitysuppliers,internetconnection,foodandevenflights.HavealookatMoneySavingExpert(www.moneysavingexpert.com/)fortipsonwhattolookforandlinkstothebestcomparisonsites.

5.ReduceyourfoodcostsCookyourownfood–readymealsandshop-boughtsandwichescostloads.Ifyoucan’tcook,havealookatwww.studentrecipes.com/forlotsofcheapandeasytopreparerecipesortakeoutsomecookerybooksfromyourlocallibraryandhavefunlearning!

Bringyourownfoodanddrinktocampus–bringingapackedlunchandyourownbottleofwater/flaskofteaorcoffeetocampuswillsaveyouasurprisingamountofmoneyeachweek.

Generally,it’scheapertobuyfoodfromasupermarketratherthansmallshopsbutthereareexceptions(fore.g.marketsareoftencheaperforfruitandvegetables)soit’sstillworthshoppingaround.

Ifyouareusingasupermarket:Shoparoundforthebestdeal-usecomparisonsitessuchasTesco’sprice•comparisonguide(www.tesco.com/pricecheck/)andMySupermarket(http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk/)toseewhichsupermarketoffersthecheapestfoodMakealistandsticktoitratherthanimpulsebuying.Trytoplanwhatmealsyou’re•goingtohaveforaweekratherthanbuyingonadaytodaybasisWorkouthowmuchyoucanaffordtospendanddon’tspendmore–consider•takingacalculatorwithyoutoadditallupasyougoroundortrytokeeparunningtotalinyourheadDon’tshopwhenyou’rehungry–you’llbuymorethanyouneed•Checkthereduceditemsshelvesforfoodbeingsoldcheaperbecauseitisclose•toitssell-bydate–theseareoftenonlyputoutattheendofthedaysoitmightbeworthdoingyourshoppingintheeveningMakeuseofpromotionalmoney-offcoupons(seetip3),loyaltycardsandmultibuy•offersBuythesupermarket’sownoreconomylabelproducts(e.g.Sainsbury’sBasics,•TescoValue,AsdaSmartprice)ratherthanpayingextraforbrandnamessuchasHeinzandKelloggs,there’softenlittleornodifferenceintastebutquiteaconsiderabledifferenceinpriceBuyunpreparedfood(e.g.fruitandvegetablesthatneedwashingandcutting)rather•thanpreparedfood–it’scheaperaswellashavinglesspackagingBuyfoodthat’sinseason,whenit’scheapest•

Clubtogetherwithsomefriends/yourhousematesandbuytogether–it’scheapertobuyinbulkthanforjustone.Itmayalsobecheapertobuyyourfoodovertheinternetandsplitthedeliverycostbetweenyou.

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6.Reduceyourgas,electricityandwaterbillsChecktoseeifyoucangetyourgasorelectricitycheaperbycomparingthecostofenergysuppliersoncomparisonsites–somewillevenpayyoutoswitch!HavealookatMoneySavingExpert(www.moneysavingexpert.com/index.php)fortipsonwhattolookforandlinkstothebestcomparisonsites.

Ifyoureceiveanestimatedbill,checkthemeteryourselfandletthesupplierknowsothatyourbillcanbeadjusted–thismeansyou’repayingfortheenergyyouactuallyuseandavoidsbothunderandoverpaymentshavingtobesortedoutlater.

Spreadthecostofpayingyourbillsovertheyearbysettingupamonthlydirectdebit.

Saveenergyandreduceyourbillsatthesametime!Turnyourthermostatdownby1C(cutsbillsbyaround10%or£100ayear)anduse•thetimer(ifyouhaveone)tosetyourheatingtocomeonforperiodswhenyoumostneeditratherthanleavingitoncontinuouslyUseenergyefficientlightbulbs(theylast12timeslongerthanordinarylightbulbs•andeachbulbcouldsaveyou£9ayearoffyourelectricitybill)andturnthelightsoffwhenyouleavearoomDon’tleaveappliancessuchatelevisions,stereosandmobilephonechargerson•standbyBoilonlythewateryouneedratherthanfillingthekettlecompletely•Don’tleavethetaprunningwhenyoubrushyourteeth•Haveashowerinsteadofabath•Waituntilyouhaveenoughlaundrytodoafullloadoruseahalfloadprogrammeon•yourwashingmachineUseaflush-savingdeviceinyourtoilet.Theseareusuallyofferedfreebyyourwater•companyandsaveupto3,000litresofwaterayearSetyourwatertankcylinderto60C•Letfoodcooltoroomtemperaturebeforeyouputitinthefridgeorfreezer•Fitdraftproofingtosealanygapsaroundwindowsanddoors,makesureyour•propertyiswellinsulatedandthatyourhotwatercylinderandpipeshavelaggingShutalloutsidedoorsandwindowsandclosecurtainsatnight•Checkthatyourboilerandanyheatersaresafeandingoodworkingorder.Ifyou•rent,yourlandlordislegallyresponsibleforensuringthatanygasappliancesarecheckedforsafetyevery12months.Yourlandlordalsohasadutytomaintainanyelectricalsockets,wiringandappliancessuppliedinthepropertyandtheseshouldbecheckedregularly.

Forlotsmoreenergysavingtips,havealookattheEnergySavingTrust’swebsiteatwww.energysavingtrust.org.uk.

7.KeepyourhealthcostsdownUsetheNHS–it’sfree!NHS(NationalHealthService)treatment(doctor,hospital,etc)isgenerallyfree.Howevertherearechargesforprescriptions,sighttests,glassesanddentaltreatment.Ifyouareunder19,inreceiptofcertainqualifyingbenefits,arepregnantorhavehadababyinthelast12months,youwillbeexemptfromsomeorallofthesecharges.

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Non-UKstudents:Ifyouareonacourselasting6monthsormore,youareentitledtofreemedicaltreatmentfromtheNationalHealthService(NHS)onthesamebasisasanyonewhoisordinarilyresidentintheUK.Ifyourcourselastsfor6monthsorless,wewouldadvisethatyoutakeouthealthinsuranceunlessyoucomefromanEUcountryoracountrywithareciprocalagreementforfreehealthcareintheUK.

Ifyou’reonalowincome,applyforhelpwithhealthcostssuchasprescriptions,dentaltreatment,sighttestsandglasses–fillinformHC1(availabletocollectfromourInformationAreaoryourGPsurgery).Ifyoudohavetopayforprescriptionshoweverandyouneedthemregularly,considerbuyingaprescriptionprepaymentcertificate.FormoreinformationhavealookattheNHSBusinessServiceswebsiteatwww.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/1127.aspx.

8.Getcheap(orfree)booksDon’trushoutandbuyallthesuggestedbooksonyourreadinglist,thechancesareyou’llneverreadthemagainanyhow!Atleastonecopyofeverybookonyourreadinglistshouldbeavailablefromthelibraryoncampusforyoutoborrowwithoutcharge.

Manycoursebookswillbeavailabletobuycheaplyfromstudentswhoboughtthemlastyear–checkoutthenoticeboardsaroundcampusandhavealookattheUniversity’sSmallAds(www.sussex.ac.uk/students/newsandevents/smallads/)butmakesureyoubuythecorrectedition.Youcanalsochecktoseeifanyarebeingsoldviatheinternet–havealookatwww.amazon.co.uk.

Ifyouabsolutelyhavetobuyabooknew,considerclubbingtogetherwithafewothersonyourcourseandsharingit–thiswillspreadthecostbutyouwillneedtoagreehowyou’regoingtosharethebook.

Fornon-coursebooksuseyourlocallibrary-visitwww.citylibraries.info/libraries/default.aspandwww.eastsussex.gov.uk/libraries/find/default.aspxtofindoutwhereyournearestlibraryis.Alternatively,considerswappingyourbookswithothers–seewww.readitswopit.co.ukfordetails.

9.Avoidunnecessaryfines/costsReturnlibrarybooks/rentedDVDsetcbackontimetoavoidunnecessaryfinesthatcanquicklymountup.BewareinparticularthatunpaidlibraryfinesowedtotheUniversitycanleadtotheUniversitytakingescalatingactionagainstyouuptoandultimatelyincludingremovingyoufromtheUniversityonfinancialgrounds.

IfyouhaveaTV–getalicence!Ifyou’recaughtwithoutoneyoucouldbefinedupto£1,000.IfyoubuyyourTVlicenceinOctoberanddon’tneeditoverthesummervacation,youcangetapartialrefund(seewww.tvlicensing.co.uk/index.jsp).

Don’ttrytobunkthetrain–ticketinspectorstravelonthetrainsandwaitatFalmerstationregularlyandwillfineyouifyoudon’thaveaticketnomatterhowgoodyourexcuse!

Avoidparkingticketsandclampingcosts.It’scheaper(nottomentionmore

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environmentallyfriendly)nottohaveacarandBrightonhasgoodpublictransportandlotsofcyclelanestomakeiteveneasier.Ifacar’sanecessitythoughwatchoutforparkingrestrictions,there’splentyofthemandanyfinescanescalatequicklyifyoudon’tpaythemimmediately.

Don’ttakeoutanycreditorstorecards–thesehavehighinterestrates,severepenaltiesifyoudefaultandcanquicklyleadtoyoubeinginasituationwhereyouaremakinglargemonthlypaymentsthatonlypayofftheinterest,leavingyouractualdebtunpaid(seesection6.2).

Don’tgooveryouragreedoverdraftlimit–yourbankwillchargeyoufordoingsoandmayevenremoveyouroverdraftfacilityaltogetheranddemandthatyourepaythefullamount(seesection6.3).

Mostfull-timestudentsonacourselasting6monthsormoreareexemptfrompayingCouncilTax(seetheinformationonCouncilTaxwithintheHousingsectionofouronlineadvicepagesformoredetails).Evenifyouareliable(orifsomeoneelseinyourhouseis)itmaybepossibletogetadiscountand/ortoclaimCouncilTaxBenefittohelpwiththecost.HavealookatDirectGovformoreinformation(www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/on_a_low_income/DG_10018923)orspeaktooneofourprofessionaladvisers.

Protectyourmoney–youwouldn’tleaveyourwalletorpurselyingaroundforanyonetotakeyourcashbutwe’renotalwayssocarefulwithourpersonaldetails,bankdetailsanddocumentsthatrevealpersonaldetailssuchasyourNationalInsurancenumberthatcouldbeusedbyotherstobuythingsortoapplyforcreditinyourname.Identitytheftisbecomingincreasinglycommonbutyoucanhelppreventitbykeepingallyourdocumentssafe(&shreddingthemorrippingthemupintotinypieceswhenyounolongerneedthem),nevergivingyourpersonalorbankdetailstoanyonewhorequeststhembyemailorrespondingtoscamssayingyou’vewonthelotteryandallyouneedtodoissendyourbankdetails!Checkyourbankstatementsregularlytomakesuretherearen’tanytransactionsyoudidn’tmakeyourselfandinformyourbankorlenderstraightawayifthereare.

10.SpendsensiblyDrawupabudgetandsticktoit(seesection1.2).

Don’tblowallyourmoneyinthefirstweek–ifyoureceivemoneytermly,itmightseemlikealotwhenitarrivesbutit’sgottolastyoufor3monthssodon’tfallintothetrapofthinkingyou’rebetteroffthanyouare!

Don’timpulsebuy–waitatleastaweekandifyoustillreallywantitworkouthowyouaregoingtoafforditbeforeyourushouttobuyit

Avoidthecashpoint—ifthemoney’snotinyourpocketyoucan’tspendit.Tryandtakeoutasetamountfortheweekandliveonthat.

Avoidtakingyourbankcardwithyouonanightout–takehowmuchyoucanaffordto

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spend(makingsureyou’vegotenoughlefttogethome)incashsoyoucan’toverspendbyusingyourcard.It’salsocheapertodrinkathomebeforeyougoout-butdrinksensibly.

Keepallyourreceiptsincaseanythinggoeswrong–youhaveawholerangeofconsumerrightsguaranteedbylegislation(fore.g.youhavetherighttobuygoodsthataresafe,ofasatisfactoryquality,fitforpurposeandastheyaredescribedbytheseller).Areceiptactsasaproofofsaleandwillmakeitmucheasiertoobtainarefundonanythingyoubuythatturnsoutnottowork.Formoreinformationaboutyourrightsasaconsumerhavealookatwww.consumerdirect.gov.uk/.

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seCtIon 3Additional sources of incomeThissectiongivesinformationaboutadditionalsourcesofincomethatyoumaybeabletosecuretosupplementyourmainfunding.Forinformationaboutthemainsourcesoffundingthatmaybeavailableforyourcoursepleaseseeourwebpages.

3.1 Additional funding available from the University of Sussex

ScholarshipsandBursaries

TheSussexBursary(Full-timeUKundergraduatesonly):TheUniversityofSussexawardsabursaryof£1,000foreachyearofthecoursetoallnew-systemfull-timeundergraduatehomestudentswhoareassessedashavingahouseholdincomebelowthethresholdfortheMaintenanceGrantorSpecialSupportGrant.Thismeansthat,ifyouareassessedasbeingeligibletoreceivethefullMaintenanceGrantorSpecialSupportGrant,youwillalsoautomaticallyreceiveafullbursaryfromtheUniversityofSussex.

PleasemakesurethatyoudonotticktheboxesunderthedeclarationsonyourPN1orPR1applicationformthatpreventtheStudentLoansCompanyfromsharingsomeofyourinformationwiththeUniversity.TheUniversitywillonlybeabletopayanybursarytoyouifithasreceivedconfirmationfromtheStudentLoansCompanythatyourassessedhouseholdincomeisbelowthethresholdforeligibility.

TheChancellor’sScholarship(Full-timeUKundergraduatesonly):Upto200non-repayablescholarshipsof£1,000foreachyearofyourcourseareavailabletofull-timeundergraduatehomestudentswhosehouseholdincomeislessthan£30,000pa.Theselectioncriteriafavoursapplicantswithlittleornofamilybackgroundofhighereducationwhohavecircumstancesofdisadvantage

TheChancellor’sInternationalScholarship(Internationalstudentsonly):Upto40scholarshipsof£3000areavailableeachyeartonewinternationalfeepayingstudentsontaughtdegreeprogrammesatbothundergraduateandpostgraduatelevel.

Otherscholarships:TheUniversityofSussexoffersarangeofscholarshipsandbursariesincluding:

High-flyerscholarshipsof£1,500peryearforstudentswithhighgradesinChemistry,•Biochemistry,Informatics,Business,ManagementandEconomics.Sportsbursariesincludingfinancialsupportandfreeuseofsportsfacilitiesfor•talentedstudentswhohavereachednationalstandardintheirchosensport

ForinformationaboutallthescholarshipsandbursariesofferedbyattheUniversityofSussex,havealookatthefundingsectionoftheUniversity’swebpages(www.sussex.ac.uk/study/funding).

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TheAccesstoLearningFund(UKstudentsonly)

Whatisit?TheGovernmentgivesalluniversitiesmoney-calledtheAccesstoLearningFund-everyyeartohelpstudentswhoneedextrafinancialsupportbecausetheyhavehigherthanexpectedcostsorarefacingafinancialcrisis.

Whocanapply?Allfull-time‘home’undergraduateandpostgraduatestudentsareeligibletoapply.Part-time‘home’studentswhoarestudyingatleast50percent(60credits)ofafull-timeequivalentcoursearealsoeligibletoapply.

DisabledstudentscanapplytotheAccesstoLearningFundforhelptowardsthecostofapreliminarydiagnostictestandforotherdisabilityrelatedcoststhatarenotmetthroughDisabledStudents’Allowances.

Ifyouarenotattendingyourcourse-forexampleduetohealthreasonsorbecauseofcaringresponsibilities-andyouhavenotpermanentlywithdrawnfromyourstudiesandyouintendtoreturntouniversityafteryourtimeout,youcanapplyforhelpfromtheFund.

Whenandhowtoapply?IfyouthinkyoumightneedtoapplyforhelpfromtheFund,don’twaituntilyouhaverunoutofmoney,asanapplicationcantakeseveralweekstobeassessedandpaymentmade.

Applicationsaregenerallyacceptedfromaboutweek4oftheAutumnterm.ApplicationformsandguidancenotescanbeobtainedfromtheStudentLifeCentreandfromtheAdvice&RepresentationCentre.YoucanalsodownloadformsfromtheUniversitywebsiteorfromtheAdvice&RepresentationCentrewebsite.

AssessingyourapplicationTheassessmentformulaissetbytheGovernmentnationally.WhenassessingyourapplicationtotheAccesstoLearningFund,theUniversitywilllookatyourexpectedincomeandwhattheGovernmentconsiderstobe“reasonable”expenditureonlivingcosts,rent,travelandcourse-relatedcosts(includingchildcare).Youwillbeexpectedtohaveappliedforanyfundingthatyouareentitledto.Inaddition,postgraduatestudentswillbeexpectedtodemonstratethatyouhavemadeadequatefinancialprovisionforthedurationofyourcourse.

Ifyouarefacingafinancialemergencyortherearespecialcircumstancesattachedtoyourapplication,theUniversitywilllookatthisonanindividualbasis.Ifyouareasinglestudentunder25withoutdependantsandcannotdemonstratethatyouhaveexceptionalfinancialneedsyouareunlikelytobemadeanaward.

AccesstoLearningFundawardsarenotanautomaticentitlementandstudentsmustprovideevidencetoshowthattheyareexperiencingextremefinancialhardship.

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SummervacationpaymentsfromtheAccesstoLearningFundIfyouareinfinancialhardshipoverthesummervacationyoumaybeabletoapplyforapaymentfromtheAccesstoLearningFundif:

Youhavenotyetfinishedyourcourse;and•Youhavelittleornoincomefromanyothersourceandareunabletoworkforall•orpartofthesummerperiodduetochildcareresponsibilities,medicalreasonsorbecauseyouarerepeating/re-sittingexams.

Applicationscanbesubmittedatanytime.Pleasebeawarehoweverthatduringsummervacationapplicationsmaybedelayedifstaffareonleave,oronrareoccasionstheFundmaybeclosediffundshavebeenspent.

Ifyouareclaimingmeans-testedbenefitssuchasIncomeSupportandHousingBenefityouwillbetreatedaspossessinganystudentfundingfromthe1stdayofthe1stcompletebenefitweekinSeptemberinyour2ndandsubsequentyearsevenifyoudon’tactuallyreceiveituntilthebeginningofterm,andconsequentlyyourentitlementtobenefitssuchasthesewillbereduced.ThereforeyoucouldhaveaseverelyreducedincomeduringSeptember.YoucanapplytotheAccesstoLearningFundforadditionalfinancialsupportifthiswillleaveyouinhardship.

For further information about benefits and tax credits please see Section 5.

AlumniHardshipandOpportunitiesFund(Allstudents)

Thisisasmallfundavailabletostudentswhoareexperiencingunexpectedfinancialdifficulties.Thefundisopentobothundergraduateandpostgraduatestudents.Awardsareusuallyuptoamaximumof£500andcanbeeithergrantsorloans.Applicationsareassessedonindividualneedsbutpriorityisgiventostudentsintheirfinalyearwhohaveexperiencedanunexpecteddisruptionintheirfundingandwhereanawardwillenablethemtocompletetheircourse.

TheFundcanalsooffersupporttodisabledstudentstoenhancetheirexperienceatSussex.Thiscouldbeby,forexample,providingfundingtowardsthecostofspecialistequipmentneededtotakepartinclubsandsocieties.

TheFundcanonlyofferadditionalassistancetostudentsexperiencingfinancialdifficultyandisNOTabletoprovidethemainsourceoffundingforacourse.

Toapply,contacteitherSaraDyerorLizAkerblomintheInternationalandStudyAbroadOfficeatinternational@sussex.ac.uk.YourapplicationwillthenbeassessedbytheStudentFundingTeam,whichislocatedwithintheStudentLifeCentreinChichesterI.

UKstudentsapplyingtotheFundmusthavefirstappliedtotheAccesstoLearningFund(seeabove).

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BridgingLoans(UKstudentseligibleforstatutoryfundingonly)

Bridgingloansareshorttermloansdesignedtoassiststudentswhoareinatemporarycrisissituation.Allloansmustberepaidinfull.

Bridgingloansareforamaximumof£200ifyouliveinUniversity-ownedaccommodationor£400ifyouliveinprivaterentedaccommodation,andaredesignedtotideyouoverifyouhaveappliedforbutnotyetreceivedyourMaintenanceLoan.ApplicationsshouldbemadeinpersonthroughtheStudentFundingTeam(whichislocatedwithintheStudentLifeCentreinChichesterI)andloansshouldberepaidassoonasyoureceiveyourMaintenanceLoanpayment.

ViceChancellor’sLoans(Allstudents)

Theseareshort-terminterest-freecashloansofupto£100*fromtheUniversitytoassistyouifyouareinfinancialcrisis.YoucanapplyforaVCloanif:

YouareregisteredwiththeUniversity•YouarenotindebttotheUniversity(e.g.fees,rent,largelibraryfinesetc)•YouhaverepaidpreviousVCloans(exceptinexceptionalcircumstances)•

YouwillgenerallybeexpectedtorepaytheVCloanfromyournextMaintenanceLoanpayment(ifyouareeligibleforone)orassoonasisreasonablypossible.FailuretorepayaVCloancanleadtotheUniversitytakingactionagainstyoutorecoverthedebt.

Toapply,contacttheStudentFundingTeamintheStudentLifeCentre,ChichesterI.

*Exceptionally, loans above £100 can be made.

3.2 Additional funding from outside the University

WelfarebenefitsIngeneralifyouareafulltimestudent,unlessyouhavechildrenoranIllnessordisability,youwillnotbeeligibleforanywelfarebenefitsuntilyougraduateorformallywithdrawfromyourcourse.Ifyouarecurrentlyinreceiptofanymeans-testedbenefits,thesearelikelytobeaffectedbyanyfundingyoureceive.Part-timestudentsmaybeeligibleforwelfarebenefitsaslongasyousatisfyallthequalifyingcriteria.

For further information about welfare benefits please see Section 5.

TaxcreditsDependingonyourcircumstances,youmaybeeligibletoapplytoHMRevenueandCustomsforChildTaxCreditand/orWorkingTaxCredit.

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ChildtaxcreditIfyouareresponsibleforachildorchildrenunder16(orunder20andinfull-timenon-advancededucationorapprovedtraining)youmaybeeligibleforChildTaxCredit.

WorkingTaxCreditIfyouareresponsibleforachildorchildrenandareworkingatleast16hoursperweek,ORifyoudoNOThavechildrenbutare25oroverandworkatleast30hoursperweek,ORifyouare16oroverandworkatleast16hoursperweekandhaveadisabilitythenyoumaybeeligibleforWorkingTaxCredit.

For further information about tax credits please see Section 5.4.

WorkingMoststudentswillhavetoundertakepaidworkwhilststudyingatuniversityinordertosupplementtheirincome.Dependingonyourcircumstances,youmaychoosetoworkduringvacationsonlyoryoumayalsoworkpart-timeduringterm-time.

TheUniversityofSussexhasaCareersandEmployabilityCentre(formallyCDEC)inFalmerHouse.TheCareersandEmployabilityCentrehaslistsofjobvacanciesaswellasofferinghelpandadviceontopicssuchaswritingCVsandinterviewskills.Havealookattheirwebsiteformoreinformationabouthowtheycanhelp:www.sussex.ac.uk/careers/.

InformationandadviceonfindingworkanddetailsofcurrentvacanciescanalsobefoundontheDirectGovsiteatwww.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/index.htm.

For further information about working (including information on paying tax and National Insurance, the National Minimum Wage and visa restrictions for non-UK students) please see Section4.

StudentbankaccountsMosthighstreetbanksofferstudentaccountswitharangeofincentivestoattractyourcustomalthoughtheseareusuallyonlyopentoUKstudents.Theadvantageofstudentbankaccountsisthattheyofferinterestfreeoverdraftfacilities,thoughthesearenotautomaticandneedtoberequested.Banks’termsandconditionsdovary,asdotheparticularstudentpackagestheyoffer.Whendecidingwhichbanktoopenanaccountwithtrytoignorethecashincentivesandfreebies-hardasthatmaybe!Insteadfindouthowbiganinterestfreeoverdrafttheyofferandwhathappenstotheoverdraftonceyougraduate.

HavealookatMoneySavingExpert(www.moneysavingexpert.com/com/banking/Student-bank-account)formoreinformationaboutstudentbankaccounts,fortipsonhowtochooseanaccountandforacomparisonofthemajorstudentbankaccountscurrentlyonoffer.

For further information about banking and financial products please see section 6.

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ProfessionalandCareerDevelopmentLoans(PCDLs),ProfessionalStudiesLoansandotherbankloansProfessionalandCareerDevelopmentLoans(PCDLs)arebankloansthatcanbeusedtohelppayforworkrelatedlearning.Youcanborrowbetween£300and£10,000tohelpsupportthecostofuptotwoyearsoflearning(orthreeyearsifitincludesoneyear’srelevantunpaidpracticalwork).TheYoungPeople’sLearningAgencywillpaytheinterestontheloanwhileyouarelearningandforonemonthafterwards.Theloancanbeusedtopaycoursefeesorothercostssuchastravelandlivingexpenses.Youcanalsousetheloantosupplementotherformsofsupportsuchasgrantsorbursaries.BecausetheProfessionalandCareerDevelopmentLoanisacommercialloanproduct,theyshouldonlybeconsideredasanoptiononceallotherstudentfundingoptionshavebeeninvestigated.Forfurtherinformationonfinancialassistancetosupportyourlearning,pleasevisittheDirectGovwebsite(www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/AdultLearning/DG_96)orcontactCareersAdviceon0800100900.TheUniversityofSussex’sLearningProviderRegistrationNumberis8432.

PCDLsareNOTgenerallyavailableforfull-timeundergraduatestudy.

SomeotherhighstreetbanksoffersimilardelayedrepaymentloanscalledProfessionalStudiesLoansorProfessionalTraineeLoanstostudentsoncertain(usuallyvocational)courses.Formoreinformationhavealookatwww.prospects.ac.uk/bank_loans.html.Tocomparedifferentloanpackageshavealookatwww.moneyfacts.co.uk/compare/loans/graduate-package/.

Youmayalsobeabletonegotiatealoanwithyourownbankalthoughthisisnotrecommendedbecauseoftheusuallyhighinterestratesthatapplyandtheseriousconsequencesinvolvedinfailingtokeepupwithrepayments.

Pleasenote:PCDLsandProfessionalStudiesLoansarecommercialbankloansandhighinterestratesoftenapply.Strictpenaltiesapplywherethetermsandconditionsoftheloanarenotadheredto.Anybankloanshouldonlybeconsideredifyouhavenoothersourceoffundingandcannotdelaystartingyourcourse.TheAdvice&RepresentationCentredoesNOTrecommendthatyoutakeoutanybankloan.

EducationalTrustsandCharitiesThereareanumberofeducationaltrustsandcharitieswhomaybeabletoofferadditionalfinancialhelptostudentswhoareinseverefinancialhardshiporwhohaveparticularcircumstances(fore.g.studentswithadisability/illnessorwhohavedependantchildren).Theeligibilitycriteriafortheseorganisationsisverystrictandisusuallyveryspecifictogender,age,course,nationalityanddisability.Awardsareusuallyonlysmallandthereisalotofcompetitionforthefundingthat’savailable.

TheAdvice&RepresentationCentrehasaPCinourInformationAreawithaprogrammecalled‘FunderFinder’onit,whichyouarewelcometocomeanduse.YoudonotneedtomakeanappointmenttouseFunderfinder.Funderfinderwillaskyouaseriesofquestionsaboutyourpersonalcircumstancesandthentrytomatchyouranswerstotheeligibilitycriteriaoftheorganisationsinitsdatabase.Youcanthenprintoutalistofanytrustsor

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charitiesithasidentified.

YoucanalsohavealookinTheEducationalGrantsDirectory(abooklistingthedetailsofmostorganisationsofferingfundingforeducationalpurposes)–acopyisavailableintheAdvice&RepresentationCentreforreferenceuseonly.

OnlinesearchfacilitiesarealsoofferedbytheEducationalGrantsAdvisoryService(www.family-action.org.uk/section.aspx?id=1037)andTheAssociationofCharitableFoundations(www.acf.org.uk/trustsandfoundations/?id=74).

Ifyouowemoneyforawater,gasorelectricitybillandyouarecurrentlysuppliedbySouthernWater,EDFEnergyorBritishGasyoumaybeeligibletoapplytoatrustfundsetuptohelpcustomersinfinancialdifficultiestocleartheirarrears.Formoreinformation,havealookattherelevantwebsite:

SouthernWaterTrustFundwww.swtf.org.uk/

EDFEnergyTrustwww.edfenergytrust.org.uk/

BritishGasEnergyTrustwww.britishgasenergytrust.org.uk/

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seCtIon 4Working

4.1 Working whilst studyingThechancesarethatmostofyouwillneedtofindajobtosupplementyourincomeatsomepointduringyourstudies.

Dependingonyourcircumstancesyoumaydecidetoworkthroughouttheyear(part-timeduringterm-timeandfull-timeduringthevacations)oryoumaybeabletoearnenoughfromworkingduringthevacationsthatyoudon’tneedtoworkduringterm-time.Howmuchandwhenyouworkwillalsodependonyourcourseandhowmanyhoursaweekyoucanrealisticallyworkwithoutundulyaffectingyourstudies–theUniversityrecommendsthatyoudon’tworkmorethan15hoursperweekinpaidemploymentduringterm-timebutformanystudentsit’sanecessitytoworkmoreinordertoaffordtostudy.

Non-UKstudentswillalsoneedtocheckwhetheryouareallowedtowork,whetheryouneedtoregistertoworkandwhetheranyrestrictionsapplytothenumberofhoursortypeofworkthatyoucanundertake:

EuropeanEcononicArea(EEA)andSwissnationals:AllEEA(theEEAiscomposedofthecountriesintheEU,plusNorway,IcelandandLiechtenstein)andSwissnationalstudentscanworkintheUK.HoweverA8nationals(nationalsoftheCzechRepublic,Estonia,Hungary,Latvia,Lithuania,Poland,SlovakiaorSlovenia)mightneedtoregisteryourworkundertheWorkerRegistrationScheme.Youcanstartworkwithoutanyspecialdocuments,andtherearenorestrictionsonthetypeofworkyoucandooryourhoursofwork,butyouhavetoapplytoregisterinyourfirstmonthofwork.Thereisa£90feeforthisapplication.

A2nationals(nationalsofBulgariaandRomania)mightbesubjecttotheWorkerAuthorisationScheme.IfyouareintheUKasastudent,thismeansyoumighthavetoapplyforaregistrationcertificateasastudentbeforeyoucanstartwork.Anyemploymentislimitedto20hoursaweekintermtime,butyoucanworkfulltimeinyourholidaysandonworkplacements,andforuptofourmonthsafteryourstudiesend.Thisapplicationisfree.

Internationalstudents:Checkwhatyourpassportsticker(entryclearanceorresidencepermit)oridentitycardsays.IfyouareintheUKwithstudentimmigrationpermissionandyouridentitycardsays“Restrictedwork,p/ttermtime,f/tvacations”oryourpassportstickersays“Work(andanychanges)mustbeauthorised”or“AbletoworkasauthorisedbytheSecretaryofState”,youareallowedtoworkduringyourstudies.Ifyourpassportstickeroridentitycardsays“Nowork”,youmustnotworkintheUK.Thiswouldbeabreachofyourimmigrationconditions,whichisacriminaloffence.IfyouareintheUKandyouhaveentryclearance

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(avisa)thatmakesitclearyouarehereasastudentbutyouhavea“nowork”condition,youcanmakeanimmigrationapplicationtochangeyourconditiontoallowyoutowork.

Ifyouhavestudentimmigrationpermissionwhichyouappliedforonorafter31March2009,underTier4ofthePointsBasedSystemofimmigration,youcanworkupto20hoursaweek(insomecasesupto10hours)duringterm-timeandfull-timeduringyourholidays.Youcanworkfull-timeonaworkplacementbutonlyifyourcoursemeetscertainrequirements.

Ifyouhavestudentimmigrationpermissionthatwasgrantedbefore31March2009(orwhichyouappliedforbefore31March2009andwhichwasgrantedonorafterthatdate)thatallowsyoutotakeemployment,youcanworkupto20hoursaweekduringterm-timeandfull-timeduringyourholidays,aworkplacementwhichispartofasandwichcourse,oraninternship.

Youcandomostkindsofwork,butyoumustnotengageinbusiness,beself-employed,provideservicesasaprofessionalsportspersonorentertainer,orpursueacareerbyfillingapermanentfull-timevacancy.Thisapplieswhetheryourimmigrationpermissionisgrantedbeforeoronorafter31March2009.

Ifyourimmigrationpermissiondoesnotallowyoutowork,thismeansthatyoumustnotundertakepaidorunpaidemployment,includingworkplacementswhicharepartofyourcourse.Thiscanincludevoluntarywork.

ForfurtherinformationaboutworkingintheUKcontacttheUniversity’sInternational&StudyAbroadOffice(www.sussex.ac.uk/International/)orvisittheUKCouncilforInternationalStudentAffairswebsiteatwww.ukcisa.org.uk.

4.2 Finding workOnceyou’vedecidedyouneedtofindajobandyouknowhowmanyhoursyouwant/need/areallowedtowork,thenextstepisfindingajob.Formanyofyouthismightinvolveworkingintypical‘student’jobssuchasbars/clubs,hotels/restaurantsorshops/retailoutletsasthesetendtoofferhoursthatarefairlyeasytofitaroundyourcoursebuttherearelotsofothertypesofjobsoutthereandit’sworthconsideringwhetheryoucanfindajobthatcomplementsyourstudiesorwhichwillprovideanopportunitytolearnnewskills.

TheUniversityofSussexhasaCareersandEmployabilityCentre(formallyCDEC)inFalmerHouse.TheCareersandEmployabilityCentrehaslistsofjobvacanciesaswellasofferinghelpandadviceontopicssuchaswritingCVsandinterviewskills.Havealookattheirwebsiteformoreinformationabouthowtheycanhelp:www.sussex.ac.uk/careers/.

Therearealsolotsoflocalemploymentandrecruitmentagencies(doawebsearchandyou’llfindloads)aswellasnationalwebsitessuchasFish4Jobs(www.fish4jobs.co.uk)wherejobsareadvertised.ManyjobswillalsobeadvertisedinlocalpaperssuchasThe

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Argus(www.theargus.co.uk)andtheSussexExpress(www.sussexexpress.co.uk).

InformationandadviceonfindingworkanddetailsofcurrentvacanciescanalsobefoundontheDirectGovsiteatwww.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/index.htm.

4.3 National Minimum WageSince1April1999mostworkersintheUKaged18oroverhavebeenprotectedbyminimumwagelegislation,whichmeansthatemployersareobligedbylawtopaytheirworkersanationalminimumhourlywage,regardlessofwheretheywork,thesizeofthefirmortheworker’soccupation.Thiswasextendedtoworkersaged16and17fromOctober2004.

Allworkers(althoughtherearesomeexceptions)areentitledtobepaidatleasttheNationalMinimumWage(NMW).Thisincludespart-timeworkers,workersonshort-termcontracts,casualworkers,agencyworkersandpeoplefromoverseaswhoareworkingintheUKsothechancesarethatifyougetajobyouareentitledtobepaidatleasttheNMW.

TheNMWisfixedatdifferentratesforcertaingroupsofworkers,dependingonyourage:

TypeofNMWHourlyrateofNMWFrom01.10.09

HourlyrateofNMWFrom01.10.10

Workersaged22orover £5.80 £5.93

Workersaged18-21inclusive £4.83 £4.92

Workersaged16and17 £3.57 £3.64

FormoreinformationabouttheNMW,orforadviceonwhattodoifyouremployerisnotpayingyouatleastthisamount,contactthePayandWorkRightsHelplineon08009172368.

4.4 Income Tax and National InsuranceUnderUKlawtherearecertaindeductionsemployershavetomakefromemployees’wages.Theseincludetaxandnationalinsurance.AsastudentyouhavetopaybothincometaxandnationalinsuranceinthesamewayasanyoneelseworkingintheUK.Howmuch(ifanything)youhavetopaydependsonhowmuchyouearnandyourtaxstatuse.g.whetherornotyouhaveanyspecialallowances.

IncomeTaxEveryonecanearnorreceiveanamountofincomeineachyearbeforepayingtax.Thisiscalledthepersonalallowanceandiscurrently£6,475peryearinthe2010/11taxyearforsinglepeopleunder65.Ifyourincomeisbelowyourpersonalallowanceduringthetaxyearyouwillnothavetopayanyincometax.

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Ataxyearstartson6Aprilinoneyearandendson5Aprilinthenext.Ifyouhavepaidtaxthroughouttheyearbutyourtotalincomewasnot,orisnotlikelytobe,asmuchasyourpersonalallowanceyoumaybeabletoclaimarefund.Askyourlocaltaxofficeforarepaymentclaimform(aP50)ordownloadonefromHMRevenueandCustomswebsite(www.hmrc.gov.uk).

IfyouthinkyourtotaltaxableincomeforthewholetaxyearislikelytobelessthanyourpersonalallowanceyoushouldmentionthistoyouremployerwhenyoustartworkandaskforaP46form(ifit’sduringterm-time)oraP38(S)form(ifit’sduringvacations).Fillinandsigntheformbeforegivingitbacktoyouremployertocomplete.Youremployershouldthenpayyouwithoutdeductingtax.Ifanytaxisdeductedyouremployerwillrefundittoyoulater.However,ifyourtotalincometurnsouttobemorethanyourpersonalallowanceafterallyouwillhavetopaytaxonthedifferencebetweenthetwoamountssobeware!

NB:Ifyouhavemorethanonejobatthesametime,youshouldcontactyourlocaltaxofficetogetadifferenttaxcodeforyoursecondjob.

NationalInsuranceContributions(NICs)Ifyourgrosspayismorethanacertainamounteachweekyouremployerwillalsodeductnationalinsurancecontributions(NICs)fromyourpay.NICsareimportantforUKnationalsbecausetheyentitleyoutocertaincontributorybenefitsandcounttowardsyourpensionbutallworkers,includingnon-UKworkers,mustpaythemdependingonhowmuchyouearn.

Ifyouareearningbelowwhat’scalledthe‘lowerearningslimit’(£97perweekforthe2010/11taxyear)noNICswillbedeductedfromyourpay.Ifyouearnabovethelowerearningsthresholdbutlessthanwhat’scalledthe‘primarythreshold’(£97-£110perweekinthe2010/11taxyear)youwon’tactuallyhavetopayanyNICsbutyourcontributionsrecordwillbecreditedwithcontributionsasifyou’dpaidthem.NICswillbedeductedfromyourpayhoweverforanygrossearningsbetween£110.01and£844perweek.AllUKnationalsareautomaticallyallocatedaNationalInsurance(NI)numberat16(aslongasChildBenefithasbeeninpayment).Ifyouareanon-UKstudentwhoisworkingintheUKthereisnorequirementtohaveaNInumberbeforeyoustartwork-howeveronceyouhaveajob,youwillneedtoapplyforone.Toapply,ring08456000643(Mon-Fri8am-6pm).ItwilltakesometimeforyourNInumbertobeallocatedtoyoubutinthemeantimeyouremployercansetupatemporaryNInumber.

NB:Ifyouhavemorethanonejob,youwillpayNICsonbothjobs(unlessbothjobspaylessthanthelowerearningslimit;i.e.£97perweek,inwhichcaseyouwillnotpayanyNICs).

ForfurtherinformationaboutincometaxorNationalInsuranceContributions,havealookatthesectionoftheHMRCwebsitespecificallyforstudents(http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/students/)orcontactyourlocaltaxoffice.

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4.5 Your rights as a workerEmploymentlawprovidesmostworkersintheUKwithawholehostofrightsdesignedtoprotectyouintheworkplace.Theseincluderightssuchastherightnottobediscriminatedagainstonthegroundsofsex,race,disability,sexualorientation,age,religionorbelieforgenderreassignment,therighttopaidholidayandlimitsonthenumberofhoursyoucanberequiredtowork.

Youcangetinformationonwhatyouremploymentrightsarefromourwebsite,theDirectGovsiteatwww.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/index.htm,theCitizensAdvicesiteatwww.adviceguide.org.uk/index/life/employment/basic_rights_at_work.htmandtheWorkSmartsiteatwww.worksmart.org.uk.Youcanalsospeaktooneofourprofessionaladvisersifyouthinkyouarebeingtreatedunfairlyatworkorhaveanyotheremployment-relatedproblems.

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seCtIon 5Welfare benefits and tax creditsWelfarebenefitsandtaxcreditsarepaymentsmadebythegovernmenttocertainindividuals,couplesandfamiliesinordertoprovidealevelofincomeappropriatetotheirneeds.Benefitsandtaxcreditsmaybepaidtopeoplewhoareunemployedoronalowincome,topeoplewhoareresponsibleforachildorchildren,topeoplewithadisabilityorwhoareunabletoworkduetoill-healthandtopeoplewithcaringresponsibilitiesamongstothers.

Non-UKstudents:Mostnon-UKstudentsdonotqualifyforwelfarebenefitsortaxcreditseitherbecauseyoudonotsatisfytheresidenceandpresenceconditionsand/orbecauseyouaresubjecttoimmigrationcontrol.Therearesomeexceptionstothishowever–havealookattheUKCouncilforInternationalStudentAffairsinformationsheetonwelfarebenefits(www.ukcosa.org.uk/student/info_sheets/welfare.php)orspeaktooneofourprofessionaladvisersforinformation.

Thelegislationsurroundingentitlementtobenefitsandtaxcreditsisvastandcomplicatedandyoushouldspeaktooneofourprofessionaladvisersformoreinformationifyouthinkthatyoumaybeeligibleorareworriedabouthowbeingastudentwilleffectyourcurrententitlement.

Ifyouareinreceiptofbenefitsbeforestartingyourcourse,youmustinformtherelevantoffice(s)whenyoubecomeastudent.Itisalwaysbesttodothisinwritingandtokeepacopyofyourletter.Failuretoinformtherelevantofficecouldleadtoanoverpaymentbeingmadewhichmayberecoverable;deliberatefailuretoinformtherelevantbenefitsofficemaybeclassedasfraud.

Havealookattheinformationinthissectionforanoverviewofwhomaybeeligibletoclaimandsomeofthemainissuesrelevantforstudents:

5.1 Non means-tested welfare benefitsNonmeans-testedwelfarebenefitsarebenefitsthatarepaidtopeoplewhomeetthequalifyingcriteria.Entitlementisnotbasedonincomeandnoincome-assessmentisundertakeninordertodetermineeligibility.

Beingastudentdoesnotgenerallyaffectyourentitlementtononmeans-testedbenefits(althoughseeCarersAllowanceandJobseekersAllowancebelow)andanystudentincomeyoureceivewillnotaffecttheamountofbenefityoureceive.

Themainnonmeans-testedbenefitsthatstudentsmaybeeligibletoreceiveare:

ChildBenefit–paidtopeoplewhoareresponsibleforachildorqualifyingyoungperson

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DisabilityLivingAllowance(DLA)–paidtopeopleunder65whohavecareand/ormobilityneeds(i.e.peoplewhohavedifficultieslookingafterthemselvesorcommunicatingorwhoposesomesortofriskand/orwhofinditdifficulttogetoutandabout)asaresultofadisabilityorillness.Thisisacommonbenefitforstudentswithbothphysicalandmentalhealthneedstoclaim.

AttendanceAllowance–paidtopeopleaged65oroverwhohaveattentionorsupervisionneedsasaresultofadisabilityorillness.

CarersAllowance-paidtopeoplewhoprovideregularandsubstantial(atleast35hoursperweek)careforsomeonewhoisseverelydisabled.YoucannotreceiveCarersAllowanceifyouareafull-timestudent.

Contributions-basedEmploymentandSupportAllowance–paidtopeoplewhohave‘limitedcapabilityforwork’whoarenotentitledtoStatutorySickPayandwhosatisfycertainnationalinsurancecontributionconditions

Contributions-basedJobseekersAllowance–paidtopeoplewhoareunemployed(orwhodonotcountasbeinginfull-timeemployment)whosatisfycertainnationalinsurancecontributionconditions.YoucannotgenerallyreceiveJobseekersAllowanceifyouareafull-timestudentexceptduringthesummervacationincertaincircumstances.

Althoughbeingastudentshouldnotaffectyourentitlementtoanynonmeans-testedbenefits(withtheexceptionofCarersAllowanceandJobseekersAllowanceforfull-timestudents)initself,youdostillhaveadutytoinformtherelevantoffice(s)whenyoubecomeastudent.Itisalwaysbesttodothisinwritingandtokeepacopyofyourletter.

5.2 Means-tested welfare benefitsMeans-testedbenefitsarepayabletocertaingroupsofpeoplewhoareonalowincome.Inadditiontomeetingtheusualqualifyingcriteriaforameans-testedbenefityoumustalsoundertakeanincomeassessmenttodeterminewhetherornotyouareeligible.Ingeneral,full-timestudentsarenotusuallyeligibletoclaimmeans-testedwelfarebenefits.Part-timestudentsandcertaingroupsoffull-timestudentsarehoweversometimeseligible.

Full-timestudentsAlthoughmostfull-timestudentsarenotentitledtoclaimanymeans-testedbenefits,certaingroupsmaybeabletomakeaclaimforsomemeans-testedbenefitsdependingonyourindividualcircumstances.

Themainnonmeans-testedbenefitsthatstudentsmaybeeligibletoreceiveare:

IncomeSupport–paidtopeopleonalow-incomewhodonothavetobeavailableforwork(fore.g.loneparentswithyoungchildren)Income-relatedEmploymentandSupportAllowance-paidtopeopleon

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alowincomewhohave‘limitedcapabilityforwork’andwhoarenotentitledtoStatutorySickPay

HousingBenefit/LocalHousingAllowance–paidtopeopleonalow-incomewhoareliabletopayrent

PensionCredit–paidtopeopleonalowincomewhoareaged60orover

Asageneralguide,youmaybeabletoclaimoneormoreofthesemeans-testedbenefitsifyou:

arealoneparent•haveapartnerwhoisalsoastudent-andoneorbothofyouareresponsiblefora•childhaveadisability,andqualifyforthedisabilitypremiumorseveredisabilitypremium•areinreceiptofDisabilityLivingAllowance•havebeentreatedasincapableofworkforacontinuousperiodofatleast28weeks•are60orover•

Ifyouhaveapartnerwhoisnotastudentandthey’reeligibleforanymeans-testedbenefits,yourpartnercanclaimonbehalfofyouboth.

Youmaybeabletoclaimincome-basedJobseeker’sAllowanceduringthesummervacationifyou:

arealoneparentandyou’renoteligibletoclaimIncomeSupport;or•youhaveapartnerwhoisalsoafull-timestudentandoneorbothofyouis•responsibleforachildoryoungperson

HoweveryoumustsatisfytheusualqualifyingconditionstoclaimJobseekersAllowanceandmustdemonstratethatyouare“availablefor”and“activelyseeking”work.

YoumayalsobeabletoclaimbothJobseekersAllowanceandHousingBenefit/LocalHousingAllowanceifyou’rewaitingtogobacktoacourse,havingtakenapprovedtimeoutforaperiodofuptooneyearbecauseofanillnessorcaringresponsibilitythathasnowcometoanend.

Part-timestudentsPart-timestudentscanapplyforanyofthemeans-testedlistedbenefitsaboveifyou’reonalowincomeandmeettheusualqualifyingconditionsforthosebenefits.Inadditionpart-timestudentsmaybeeligibletoclaimCouncilTaxBenefit(tohelpmeetthecostofyourCouncilTaxbill)andincome-basedJobseekersAllowanceatanypointduringtheyearsubjecttosatisfyingtheusualqualifyingconditions.Howeverpart-timestudentsclaimingJobseekersAllowanceshouldbeawarethattheseconditionsincludethattheclaimantmustbe“availablefor”and“activelyseeking”work.IfyourhoursofstudyclashwiththetimesthatyouhaveagreedwiththeDWPthatyouareavailableforwork,youwillonlybeacceptedasavailableforworkifeither:

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youareabletorearrangeyourhoursofstudy;or•youarewillingandabletogiveupthecourseshouldajobbecomeavailable•

Therulessurroundingstudentsandentitlementtomeans-testedbenefitsarecomplex,andwhetheryoucangetanymeans-testedbenefitswilldependonyourpersonalcircumstances.Evenifyoubelongtoagroupwhichiseligibleformeans-testedbenefits,thisdoesn’tnecessarilymeanyou’llgetthem–yourstudentincomemaybetoohigh(seesection5.3).

5.3 Means-tested benefits and student incomeThewaythatanystudentincomeistreatedforbenefitspurposesiscomplicatedandconfusing.ForinformationabouthowyourstudentincomeistreatedfortaxcreditsseeSection5.5.

Pleasenotethatthefollowinginformationappliesonlytomeans-testedbenefitssuchasIncomeSupportandLocalHousingAllowance/HousingBenefit.Nonmeans-testedbenefits(suchasChildBenefitandDisabilityLivingAllowance)arenotgenerallyaffectedbyyourstudentincome.

IfyouareunsurewhethertheDepartmentforWorkandPensionsorlocalauthorityhaveassessedyourbenefitentitlementcorrectlypleasecomeandspeaktooneofourprofessionaladvisers.

MaintenanceLoansYourMaintenanceLoanwillbetreatedasincomeformeans-testedbenefits.However,partofyourloanwillbedisregarded:for2010/11anotionalamountof£693*fortravel,booksandequipmentwillbeignoredaswellasafurther£10aweek.Theremainderofyourloanwillthenbedividedovertheperiodstarting6September2010until3July2011(approximately43weeks).Howeverinyourfirstyearofstudyyourbenefitswillnotactuallystarttobereduceduntilthedayyoustartyourcourse.

* This amount may change when the amending regulations are laid (due sometime in September 2010). Please check our webpages for the latest rate.

DuringJulyandAugustyourloanwillnotbetreatedasincome.YourbenefitsentitlementmaythereforeincreaseoryoumaybeabletomakeafreshbenefitsclaimifyourMaintenanceLoanincomewaspreviouslytoohightoclaimbenefits.However,whenyouenteryoursecondoranysubsequentyearofstudy,youwillbetreatedasifyouhavereceivedyourMaintenanceLoanfromthe1stdayofthe1stcompletebenefitweekinSeptemberpriortothestartoftermdespitethefactthatyouwillnotactuallyreceiveyourloanuntiltermstarts.Asaresult,youmayexperiencefinancialdifficultiesforthatperiodbetweenthe1stweekinSeptemberandthestartofterm.YoushouldtrytobudgetforthisperiodinadvancesothatyouhavesomemoneywithwhichtopayforyouressentialexpenditureuntilyoureceiveyourMaintenanceLoanandanygrants.YoumayalsoapplytotheAccesstoLearningFundforassistanceduringthisperiodbutpleaseensureyoumakeyourapplicationingoodtime(seeSection3.1).

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PleasenotethatevenifyouchoosenottotakeoutaMaintenanceLoantheDepartmentforWorkandPensions(DWP)andlocalauthoritywilltreatyouaspossessingthemaximumloantowhichyouareentitledandreduceyourbenefitsentitlementaccordingly.

MaintenanceGrantandSpecialSupportGrantAnyMaintenanceGrantyoureceivewillbetreatedasincomeforbenefitspurposesandwillbecountedinfullovertheperiodstarting6September2010until3July2011(approximately43weeks).However,ifyouhaveanunderlyingentitlementtomeans-testedbenefits(i.e.ifyoumeetthequalifyingcriteriaforentitlementtomeans-testedbenefitssuchasIncomeSupportorHousingBenefit)and/orifyouareeligibleforadisabilitypremium,youshouldbeawardedtheSpecialSupportGrantratherthantheMaintenanceGrant(seeourwebpagesformoreinformationaboutthis).AnySpecialSupportGrantthatyoureceivewillNOTcountasincomeforbenefitspurposes.

AdultDependantsGrantAnyAdultDependantsGrantyoureceivewillbetreatedasincomeforbenefitspurposesandwillbecountedinfullovertheperiodstarting6September2010until3July2011(approximately43weeks).

UniversityofSussexBursariesIfyouareawardedoneofthesebursariesitwillNOTbecountedasincomeforbenefitspurposesaslongasitisawardedforcourse-relatedcostsratherthanforordinarylivingcosts.Yourbursaryawardlettershouldspecifythisandyouareadvisedtoprovidetherelevantbenefitoffice(s)withacopy.

PostgraduateResearchCouncilAwards,SocialWorkBursariesandTeacherTrainingBursariesAnyamountawardedthatisspecificallyintendedtopayforyourtuitionfeesorchildcarecostswillbeignoredbutanyamountawardedtocoveryourlivingcostswillgenerallybecountedasincomeforbenefitpurposesinfullandwillbeapportionedoverthenumberofbenefitweeksintheperiodoverwhichtheawardispayable(generally52weeks).

ProfessionalandCareerDevelopmentLoansAnyamountpaidthatisspecificallyintendedtopayforyourtuitionfeeswillbeignoredbutanyamountpaidtocoveryourlivingcostswillbecountedasincomeforbenefitpurposesinfullandwillbeapportionedoverthenumberofbenefitweeksintheperiodoverwhichtheloanispayable

OtherstudentincomeMostotherformsofstudentincomearedisregardedforbenefitspurposes.

Forfurtherinformationabouthowstudentincomeiscountedforbenefitpurposesortocheckwhetheryourentitlementhasbeencorrectlyassessed,pleasespeaktooneofourprofessionaladvisers.

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5.4 Tax creditsTaxcreditsareadministeredbyHMRevenueandCustomsandarecoveredbyseparatelegislationtowelfarebenefits.Theyarestillpaymentsmadebythegovernmenthowevertoprovideacertainlevelofincometolowandmiddle-incomefamiliesandworkingadults.

Beingafull-timestudentwillnotinitselfaffectyoureligibilityfortaxcredits,providingyoustillmeetalltherelevantqualifyingcriteria.Therearetwodifferenttaxcredits,ChildTaxCreditandWorkingTaxCreditanddependingonyourcircumstancesyoumaybeeligibletoclaimeitherorboth.

ChildTaxCreditIfyouareresponsibleforachildorchildrenunder16(orunder20andinfulltimenon-advancededucationorapprovedtraining)youmaybeeligibleforChildTaxCredit.ThisispaidinadditiontoChildBenefitandtheamountyoureceivedependsuponyouandyourpartner’sincome,thenumberofchildrenyouhaveandwhetheranyofyourchildrenhaveadisability.

ChildTaxCreditcanbepaidwhetheryouareinworkornot.IfyoureceivethefullChildTaxCredit,youwillalsobeentitledtofreeschoolmealsforyourchildren.

From6April2004noamountsforchildrenareincludedinnewclaimsforIncomeSupportandincome-basedJobseeker’sAllowance,andclaimantswillthereforeneedtoapplyforChildTaxCreditfortheirchildren.PeoplewithchildrenwhowerealreadyonIncomeSupportorincome-basedJobseeker’sAllowancepriorto6April2004willgraduallyhavethechildpartoftheirclaimtransferredtoChildTaxCredit.Thisprocessisknownas‘migration’.Peoplewillbetransferredatdifferentdates,butwillbepaidamountsforchildrenintheirbenefituptothepointthattheyaretransferred.

WorkingTaxCreditYoumaybeeligibleforWorkingTaxCreditifyoufallintoanyofthefollowinggroups:

youareresponsibleforachildorchildrenandareworkingatleast16hoursper•week;oryoudonothavechildrenbutare25oroverandworkatleast30perweek;or•youare16oroverandworkatleast16hoursperweekandhaveadisability•

Theamountyoureceivedependsuponfactorssuchasyouandyourpartner’sincome,whetheryouoryourpartnerhaveadisabilityandwhetheryouoryourpartnerworkmorethan30hoursaweek.

Youcanalsoclaimhelpwithchildcarecostsincertaincircumstances,althoughnotifyouarereceivinghelptowardsyourchildcarecoststhroughthestudentfundingsystem(i.e.theChildcareGrant).

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5.5 Tax credits and student incomeThemajorityofstudentloanandgrantincomeisdisregardedwhencalculatingentitlementtotaxcredits:onlytheAdultDependants’GrantandanypartofaProfessionalandCareerDevelopmentLoanpaidforlivingcostswillbetakenintoaccountasincome.

Forfurtherinformationabouttaxcredits,pleasespeaktooneofourprofessionaladvisersorhavealookattheHMRCTaxCreditswebsiteatwww.hmrc.gov.uk/Taxcredits/.

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seCtIon 6Banking and financial products

6.1 Bank accountsMostofyouprobablyalreadyhaveabankaccountbutifnot,now’sthetimetoopenone!Bankaccountsareprettymuchanecessitynowadays,besidesbeingasaferplacetokeepyourmoneythanunderyourmattress,you’llneedabankaccountifyou’regettinganymoneypaidtoyou(fore.g.studentfunding,wages,moneysentfromabroadetc)orifyouneedtomakeregularpaymentstoothers(e.g.forrentandutilitybills).

It’sagoodideatoshoparoundforabankaccount–spendsometimefindingonethatoffersthefeaturesyouneedmostwhilstyou’restudyingratherthanjuststickingwithyourcurrentbankoropeninganaccountwiththefirstbankyoufind.Thereare2banksoncampus(HSBCandBarclays)butyoucanusuallywithdrawcashfromanybank’shole-in-the-wall(ATM)cashdispenserwithoutchargeandmostenquiriescanbedealtwitheitheronlineorbyphonesothere’snoneedtobankwiththese2justbecausethey’reoncampus.

Therearetwotypesofbankaccountformanagingeverydaymoney:abasicbankaccountandacurrentaccount.Somebanksalsoofferaccountsspecificallyforstudentscalledstudentbankaccounts.Mostbanksandbuildingsocietiesalsooffersavingsaccounts,whichusuallypaymoreinterestthancurrentaccounts.Creditunionsofferanalternativetobanksandbuildingsocietiesasaplacetokeepyoursavingsaswellasoffering(usuallylow-interest)loansforpeoplewhohaveapoorcreditratingandareunabletoborrowelsewhere.

BasicbankaccountsBasicbankaccountsofferthe‘basics’only.Withabasicbankaccountyoucanpaymoneyin,getcashoutusingacashcard,payinchequesorcashfreeofcharge,andsetup‘directdebits’whichpayregularbillsautomaticallyfromyouraccount.Youdon’tgetachequebookwithabasicbankaccount,andyoucan’ttakeoutmoremoneythanisintheaccount(‘gooverdrawn’)soyoucanonlyspendmoneyifthere’senoughinyouraccount.

Basicbankaccountsaregoodaccountstohaveifyou’vegotapoorcreditratingandareunabletoopenanaccountwithanoverdraftfacility.Theyarealsogoodaccountstohaveifyouareworriedaboutoverspending–asyousimplycan’tspendwhatyouhaven’tgotwithoneoftheseaccounts.

CurrentaccountsCurrentaccountshavemorefeaturesthanbasicbankaccountsandusuallyallowyoutoborrowmoneyfromthebank(intheformofanoverdraft).Theyusuallyoffer:

chequebookandachequeguaranteecard(actsasa‘guarantee’somakescheques•morewidelyacceptable)

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debitcard-allowsyoutopayforthingswithoutusingcashaswellastowithdraw•cashfromthe(ATM)cashdispensersdirectdebits-automaticbillpaymentsdirectfromyouraccount•standingorders-regularsetpaymentsfromyouraccounttosomeoneofyourchoice•BACS(Bankers’automatedclearingservice)-thefacilitytoacceptpaymentsdirectly•intoyouraccount(fore.g.wagesfromyouremployer),orforyoutomakeone-offpaymentstosomeoneelseoutoftheaccountoverdraftfacility-thebankmayallowyoutogooverdrawnuptoacertainamount;•butyouneedtoarrangethisinadvanceandchargesmayapplyunlessyouhaveastudentbankaccount(seebelow).Youpayextrachargesifyougooverdrawnwithoutanagreement

Somecurrentaccountspayinterestonmoneyyouleaveintheaccount,buttherateisusuallylow.

StudentbankaccountsStudentbankaccountsarecurrentaccountsaimedspecificallyatstudents.Theyusuallyofferallthesamefeaturesascurrentaccountsbutalsoofferaninterest-freeoverdraftfacility(meaningyoudon’tgetchargedforbeingwithinyouragreedoverdraftlimit)forthedurationofyourcourseandforaperiodafterwards(toallowyoutimetoclearanyoverdraftyou’vebuiltupafteryoufinishyourcoursebeforeyoustartbeingchargedforbeingoverdrawn).

StudentbankaccountsareusuallyfreetoUKstudents,indeedmostusuallyofferarangeofincentivestotryandenticeyou(fore.g.freetravelinsurance,railcards,cinematicketsetc).Trytoignorethefreebiesonofferandconcentrateinsteadoncomparinghowbiganinterest-freeoverdraftisonofferandhowlongtheoverdraftremainsinterest-freeonceyougraduate.

Non-UKstudents:Thereareonlyafewbanksthatwillofferstudentbankaccountstonon-UKstudentsandtheseusuallyrequireyoutomakealargecashdepositinordertoopentheaccountaswellashavingtopaymonthlyfees.Formoreinformationaboutopeningabankaccountseewww.ukcisa.org.uk/student/bank_account.php.

Formoreinformationaboutstudentbankaccounts,fortipsonhowtochooseanaccountandforacomparisonofthemajorstudentbankaccountscurrentlyonofferhavealookattheMoneySavingExpertwebsite(seewww.moneysavingexpert.com/com/banking/Student-bank-account).SavingsaccountsBanksofferawiderangeofsavingsaccounts.Themaindifferencesbetweenthemarehowquicklyyoucangetatyourmoney,theminimumamountrequiredtokeeptheaccountopenandthetypeandrateofinterestpaid.

It’sagoodideatohaveasavingsaccountasaplacetokeepmoneyasideandtoprovideyouwithanemergencyfundtodipintowhenyoureallyneedit.Evenifyouareonavery

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limitedincome,trytoputjustsmallamountsintoasavingsaccountwheneveryoucanandyou’llbesurprisedhowquicklyitwilladdup.

Forinformationaboutbasicbankaccounts,currentaccountsandsavingsaccounts,includingwhattolookforwhenchoosinganaccount,havealookattheConsumerFinancialEducationBody(CFEB)MoneyMadeClearwebsiteatwww.moneymadeclear.org.uk.

CreditUnionsCreditunionsofferalocal,ethicalalternativetobanksandbuildingsocieties.Theyareownedandrunbytheirmembers,fortheirmembersandmembershipisusuallyofferedonthebasisofhavingacommonbond,fore.g.livingorworkinginaspecificarea.

Creditunionsaimtohelpyoutakecontrolofyourmoneybyencouragingyoutosavewhatyoucan.Onceyouhaveareliablerecordasasaver,youcanapplytoborrowmoneyfromthembuttheywillonlyletyouborrowwhatyoucanaffordtorepay.Creditunionsmaybeagoodoptionforyouifyouhaveapoorcreditratingandhavefounditdifficulttoopenanaccountwithabankorbuildingsociety.

Therearetwolocalcreditunions:

EastSussexCreditUnion:www.eastsussexcu.org.uk/CityofBrightonandHoveCreditUnion:www.communigate.co.uk/sussex/cbhcu/

YoucanalsofindmoreinformationaboutcreditunionsingeneralattheAssociationofBritishCreditUnionsLimited(ABCUL)atwww.abcul.org/.

6.2 Other financial productsInadditiontobankaccounts,thereareawholehostofotherfinancialproductssuchasmortgages,lifeinsurance,pensions,loansandcreditcards.Forinformationaboutwhattheseare,howtheyworkandhowtochoosetherightoneforyou,havealookatCFEBsMoneyMadeClearwebsiteatwww.moneymadeclear.org.uk.Inthemeantime,havealookbelowforabriefsummaryofsomeofthemainfinancialproductsusedbystudents:

CreditcardsAcreditcardisaformofborrowing.Youcanapplyforonefromabank,buildingsocietyandsomehighstreetstoresandsupermarkets.Ifyouareissuedwithoneyourcardissuerwillsetyouacreditlimit(theamountyoucanborrow),whichisthemaximumamountyoucanspendonyourcreditcard.

Banksareoftenkeentooffercreditcardstostudentswhenyou’reopeningastudentbankaccountwiththem(oftenofferingadditionalfreegiftsandotherincentives)butwhilsttheymayseemtemptingitreallyisbesttoavoidthematallcosts.Unlessyoupayoffthefullbalance(i.e.paybackallthemoneyyouhavespentonthecard)eachmonthyouwillbechargedinterestontheamountremaining.Interestratesvarybutareusuallyextremelyhighanditisalltoocommonforpeopletorunupdebtsoncreditcardsthattheycannotrepay.Thesedebtsthenspiraloutofcontrolasinterestisaddedtothe

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increasingamountthatyouhavebeenunabletorepay.Youwillalsorunupadditionalchargesifyoumakelatepaymentsorgooveryouragreedcreditlimit.Lateormissedpaymentscanaffectyourcreditratingandcanharmyourchancesofobtainingothercreditinthefuture.Evenonlyafewmissedpaymentscanresultinthecardissuertakingrecoveryactionagainstyouincludingtheuseofdebtcollectionagenciesandthethreatofcountycourtaction.

StorecardsTheseareverysimilartocreditcardsbuttendtochargeevenhigherratesofinterestandcangenerallyonlybeusedinaparticularstoreorgroupofstores.Allthesameproblemsaswithcreditcardsapplyanditisagainbesttoavoidthematallcost.

PersonalloansPersonalloansareanotherformofborrowing.Youborrowafixedamountandpayitbackwithinterestoveracertainlengthoftime(usuallyonetofiveyears).

Apersonalloanmayseemlikeagoodideaifyouarerunningoutofmoneyastheyappeartoprovideaninstant‘solution’butitreallyisbesttosteerclearofthemcompletely.Interestratescanbefixedorvariablebutunlessyouhaveasecuredloan(whichisalsonotrecommendedastheassettheloanissecuredon,usuallyyourhome,isatriskifyoudon’tkeepupwithrepayments),theinterestrateislikelytobeextremelyhigh.Youwillalsorunupadditionalchargesifyoumakelatepayments.Lateormissedpaymentscanaffectyourcreditratingandcanharmyourchancesofobtainingothercreditinthefuture.Evenonlyafewmissedpaymentscanresultinthelendertakingrecoveryactionagainstyouincludingtheuseofdebtcollectionagenciesandthethreatofcountycourtaction.

ContentsinsuranceInsuranceisawayofprotectingyourselfandyourbelongings.Therearelotsofdifferenttypesofinsurance(fore.g.medical/health,life,buildings,contents,mobilephoneandcarinsuranceetc)butmostpeoplewillnotneedinsuranceforallofthese.Contentsinsurancecoverslossordamagetothecontentsofyourhome(fore.g.computerequipment,clothes,jewelleryetc)intheeventofanadverseincidentsuchasafireorburglary.

Ifsomethinghappensyourinsurerwillpayoutanagreedamount,ortheamountneededtomakegoodanydamage/coveranyrepairs.Whilstitistruethatnothingbadmayhappen,contentsinsuranceisawayofprotectingyourselfjustincaseitdoes–it’scertainlyfarcheapertopayforinsurancethantoreplaceallofyourbelongingsiftheywerestolenordestroyedinafire.Asaresult,thisisonefinancialproductwedoactuallyrecommend!

Theamountyoupayforinsurancewillbebasedontheinformationyougivetheinsurancecompanyandyouwillusuallypayeitherasumforthewholeyearorsmalleramountsatregularintervals(normallymonthly).Whenpurchasinginsurance,rememberthatit’svitalthatyougivetheinsurancecompanythecorrectinformationasincorrectinformationmightaffectoreveninvalidateyourclaim.Contentsinsurancepoliciesnormallylastfor

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1year,atwhichtimeyoucaneitherrenewyourpolicyorshoparoundforabetterdealwithadifferentinsurer.Alwayscomparewhat’scoveredbyapolicyaswellastheprice–somemightbecheaperbutnotofferthesamelevelofprotection.

FormoreinformationandlinkstocomparisonsiteshavealookattheMoneySavingExpertsite(www.moneysavingexpert.com).

6.3 Common problems to avoidSadlyeveryyearweseestudentsexperiencingproblemsrelatedtoeithertheirbankaccountsorotherfinancialproducts.Mostoftheseproblemscanhoweverbeavoidedaslongasyouareawareofthecommonpitfallstoavoid.Includedbelowaresomeofthemostcommonproblemsencounteredandhowtoavoidthem:

BeingrefusedabankaccountWhenyouapplyforabankaccount(orindeedanykindofcredit)thebankwilldowhat’scalleda‘creditcheck’.Theywillusuallyworkoutyour‘creditscore’byaskingyouaseriesofquestionsandcheckyour‘credithistory’withacreditreferenceagency.

Unlessyouknowthatyouhaveapoorcredithistory(iffore.g.youknowthatyou’vehaddebts,missedpaymentsormadelatepaymentstocompaniesyouowemoneytointhelastfewyears),themostcommonreasonforfailingacreditcheckisthatyouhavenotregisteredontheelectoralroll.ToregisteryouneedtocontactElectoralServicesinyourlocalcouncil.InformationforresidentsinBrightoncanbefoundatwww.brighton-hove.gov.uk/index.cfm?request=b1000098.ResidentsofLewesshouldlookatwww.lewes.gov.uk/council/450.asp.

Youmightalsofailacreditcheckthoughbecauseyourcreditfileholdsinaccurateinformationaboutyousoit’sworthcheckingtoseewhetherwhat’sonyourcreditfileiscorrect.Downloadacopyofthebooklet‘CreditExplained’fromwww.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/library/data_protection/practical_application/credit_explained_leaflet_2005.pdforhavealookatCFEB’sMoneyMadeClearwebsite(www.moneymadeclear.org.uk)formoreinformationaboutcreditratingsandhowtoobtainacopyofyourcreditfile.

Ifyoudohaveapoorcredithistoryand/orcontinuebeingrefusedabankaccount,youcanusuallystillopenabasicbankaccount(seesection6.1fordetails).

BeingchargedinterestandchargesBankaccounts:Ifyougooveryouragreedoverdraftlimityouwillbechargedinterestandpossiblyalsoadditionalcharges(checkthesmallprintofyourcontractwiththebanktofindoutwhenandhowmuchtheywillcharge).Youwillalsobechargedforanytransactionsthatyoutriedtomake(successfullyornot)onceyouwerebeyondyouragreedoverdraftlimit.Keepacloseeyeonyourbankbalancesothatyoudon’tgooveryouroverdraftlimitbymistake.Ifyou’regettingclosetoyourlimit,tryaskingyourbankforatemporaryextensiontoyouroverdraft.Iftheyrefuse,seekadviceaboutwhatelseyoumightbeabletodoandinthemeantimetrynottospendanything.Credit/storecards:Unlessyoupayoffthefullamountthatyouoweonyourcardeach

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monthyouwillbechargedinterestonwhatever’sleft.Theonlyrealwaytoavoidthisisnottotakeoutacreditcardatallor,ifyoudo,toalwayspayoffthefullbalanceeachmonth.Somecompaniesdooffertemporary0%interestdeals(usuallyonlyfor6months)soyoucouldconsidertransferringyourbalancetoacardthatoffersoneofthesedeals.Whilstthiswillbuyyouabitoftimetotryandpayoffwhatyouowe,youwillbechargedinterestonwhateverremainsassoonasthedealends.Youwillalsobechargedforanylateormissedpaymentssotrytoensureyoumakeallyourpaymentsontime.

Bankthreateningtowithdrawyouroverdraftfacilityand/orcloseyouraccount:Thisisusuallyeitherasaresultofpersistentlyexceedingyouragreedoverdraftlimit(seeabove)orbecauseofaccountinactivity.Accountinactivityusuallyariseswheresomeoneopensmorethan1studentbankaccount(inordertotakeadvantageofmultipleinterest-freeoverdraftfacilities),hastakentheirbalanceuptotheoverdraftlimitonanaccountbutisgettingtheirstudentincomepaidintoadifferentaccount.Thetermsandconditionsofmoststudentbankaccountsrequireyoutohaveyourstudentincomepaidintothataccountsoyouhavelittledefenceagainstthissituationifitarises.Itisthereforeadvisablenottoopenmorethan1studentaccount–inadditiontoensuringthatyouareabidingbythetermsandconditionsofthataccount(bynotpayingyourstudentincomeintoanotheraccount)thiswillalsopreventyoufromgettingintomoredebtfromtheuseofmultipleoverdrafts.Ifyoudohavemorethan1studentaccounthoweverensuringthatevensmallregularcreditsaremadeintoanaccountwillusuallyensuretheaccountremainsactiveandhopefullythereforepreventthebanksfromactinginthefirstinstance.

Bankaccountfrozenduetosuspiciousaccountactivity:BanksarerequiredtoreportanysuspiciousaccountactivitytotheSeriousOrganisedCrimeAgency(SOCA)whocanfreezeabankaccountwhilsttheyinvestigate.Oneofthethingsbanksaretoldtolookoutforandreportislargeunexpectedcashdeposits.ThishasbeenanissueinthepastforsomeinternationalstudentswhohavebeenunabletoopenabankaccountintheUKuntiltheirarrivalandhavesubsequentlybroughtlargeamountsofcashintotheUKtodepositinaUKbankoncethey’vemanagedtoopenanaccounthere.Apartfromtheobviousrisksinvolvedincarryinglargeamountsofcashwhenyou’retravelling,makingalargecashdepositintoaUKbankaccountthatyou’vejustopenedcouldtriggerasuspiciousactivityreport.

ThiscanbeavoidedbyeitheropeninganaccountinyourhomecountrywithalargemultinationalbanksothatyoucanusetheirATMs(cashmachines)intheUKtoaccessyourmoneyorbyopeningabankaccountassoonasyougettotheUKbutensuringthatyoucanaccessmoneywhilstyouwaitfortheaccounttobeactive(thiscantakeseveralweeks)byusingtravellerscheques,yourhomecountrycreditcardoracashcard.

Non-UKstudents:ForinformationaboutthedifferentwaystotransfermoneytotheUK(fore.g.internationalmoneyorders,electronictransfersandtelegraphictransfers),havealookattheInternationalStudents’Handbook,availabletodownloadfromtheInternationalandStudyAbroadOffice(www.sussex.ac.uk/International/)

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Yourbanktransfersmoneyfromyourcurrentaccountwithoutyourpermissionorknowledgetopayoffadebt(‘SettingOff’):Ifyouhavecreditcards,loansoramortgagewiththesamebankthatyouhaveyourbankaccountwithandyoufallbehindonanypayments,yourbankcantakemoneyfromyourcurrentaccount(withoutpermissionandusuallywithoutyourpriorknowledge)tomeetthosepayments.Thisisknownas‘settingoff’andisbeingincreasinglyusedbybankswherestudentshavefallenbehindoncreditcardorloanpayments.Themainproblemwiththisisthatbytakingmoneyfromyourcurrentaccounttopayoffdebts,youmaybeleftwithinsufficientfundsinyouraccounttopayyourrent,buyfood,payforatraintickethomeetc.Inaddition,ifthere’sinsufficientfundsleftinyouraccountafterthebankhas‘setoff’tocoveranydirectdebts,standingorders,chequesorrecentcardtransactionsthathavenotyetleftyouraccount,youcouldalsobeleftwithinterestandbankcharges.

Theonlywaytoavoidthisproblemistoensurethatyoudon’thavecreditcards,loansoramortgagewiththesamebankthatyouholdyourbankaccountwith.Ifyoualreadydothenconsideropeninganewaccountwithadifferentinstitutionandtransferringyourcurrentaccountthere.Youroriginalbankwon’tthenbeabletosetoffmoneyfromyourcurrentaccounttopayoffanydebtsyouowethemforotherfinancialproducts.

You’vereceivedaletterfromadebtcollectionagentactingonbehalfofyourbankorcardissuer:Ifyouhavefallenbehindonpaymentstoyourcardissuerorfailedtorepaymoneydemandedbyyourbankoneoftheoptionsopentothemthattheycommonlyuseistogetdebtcollectionagentsinvolved(eitherin-houseoranexternalcompany)totryandrecoverthemoney.

Theonlywaytoavoidreceivinglettersfromdebtcollectionagentsistoensurethatyoukeepuptodatewithyourcardrepaymentsandsticktothetermsandconditionsofyourbankaccount(fore.g.staywithinyouragreedoverdraftlimit).Ifyou’vealreadyreceivedaletterfromadebtcollectionagenthowever(orifyourbankorcardissuerhasbeensendingyoulettersthreateningtotakerecoveryactionagainstyou)don’tignoreit-seekadvice!Inthemeantime,seesection8forsomegeneraladviceonhowtodealwithdebtsandpickupacopyofourbooklet‘DealingwithDebt:AhelpfulguideforSussexstudents’(availabletocollectfromourInformationAreaortodownloadfromthepublicationssectionofourwebpages).

6.4 Jargon busterConfusedbyallthelanguageusedbybanks,cardissuersandotherfinancialinstitutions?You’renotalone!Havealookbelowforsomeofthemostcommonterminologyusedandbriefexplanationsofwhattheyreallymean:

Assets–Thingsthatyouown,fore.g.ahome,acaretc

APR(AnnualPercentageRate)–Theactualamount(includinginterestandanycharges)thatyouwillpayoverthecourseofayear.ThesmallertheAPRthebetter

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Credit–Moneyborrowedthatyouwillhavetopayback

Creditcard–Acardusedtoborrowmoneyortobuygoodsorservicesoncredit.Thecardallowsyoucreditwhichyoumustthenrepaytothelender(yourcardissuer)monthly.

Creditcheck–Asearchofyourhistoryofborrowing(yourcredithistory)carriedoutbyacreditorbeforetheydecidewhethertolendyoumoney

Creditreferenceagency–Anorganisationthatcollectsinformationaboutyourcredithistoryandholdsitonfile(yourcreditfile)

Creditor–Someoneyouowemoneyto

Debitcard–Acardissuedbyyourbankusedtobuygoodsandservicesusingmoneythat’sactuallyinyourbankaccount.Youcanalsouseittowithdrawcash.

Debt–Moneyyouowe

Directdebit–Aninstructionyougivetoyourbankorbuildingsocietytomakeregularpaymentsdirectlyfromyouraccounttoacreditor.Thecreditorcanvarytheamountfrommonthtomonth.

Default–Whenyoufailtomeetrepaymentsthatweredue

Grossincome–Thefullamountofmoneyyouearnbeforeanyincometaxornationalinsuranceisdeducted

Guarantor–Apersonwhoguaranteesthattheywillmakeanypaymentsifthepersonborrowingthemoneydoesn’t

Interest–MoneythatyouearnonmoneyyoukeepinabankaccountORmoneyyoupayforborrowingmoney

Interestrate–Theamountofinterestpaidorcharged

Loan–Moneyborrowedfromalenderthatyouagreetorepayoveraperiodoftime

Minimumpayment–thesmallestamountyoucanpaybacktowardsthemoneyyouoweonyourcreditcard

Netincome–Theamountofmoneyyouactuallygetpaid(your‘take-homepay’)afterincometaxandnationalinsurancedeductions

Overdraft–Aformofborrowing.Anarrangementwiththebankwhichallowsyoutowithdrawmoremoneyfromyouraccountthanyouactuallyhaveinthataccount

Securedloan–Aloanwherethelendercansellthesecuredasset(usuallyyourhome)ifyoudon’tkeepupwithrepayments

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Standingorder–Aninstructionyougivetoyourbankorbuildingsocietytomakeregularpaymentsdirectlyfromyouraccounttoacreditor.Unlikeadirectdebit,thecreditorcannotvarytheamount

Unpaidbalance–theamountyoustillowe

Unsecuredloan–aloanthatisnotlinkedtoyourassets

Utilities–Essentialservicessuchasgas,electricityandwater

VAT(ValueAddedTax)–Agovernmenttaxaddedtothepriceofmostproducts

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seCtIon 7Changes in circumstancesSometimesyourcircumstancesmightchangeduringyourcourse.Forexample,youmightmoveinwithapartner,haveababy,startreceivingsomemoneyyouweren’tgettingbeforeortaketimeoutfromyourcourseamongstmanyotherthings.Dependingonyourindividualcircumstances,anyofthesechangesmightaffectyourfinances.

IfyourcircumstanceschangewhilstyouareatSussex,speaktooneofourprofessionaladviserstoseehowthismightaffectyourfinances.Inthemeantime,havealookattheinformationinthissectionforanoverviewofthekindsofchangesthatmightaffectyouandhowthesechangesmightaffectyourfinances:

7.1 Changes of circumstance that might affect welfare benefits, tax credits and student incomeIfyourcircumstanceschange,yournewcircumstancesmaywellaffectyourentitlementtoanystudentfundingyoureceive.Yourentitlementtoanywelfarebenefitsortaxcreditsyoucurrentlyreceivemaystop,ortheamountyouareentitledtoreceivemaychange.Youmayevenbecomeentitledtomoneyyouweren’teligibletoreceivebefore.

Changesthatmightaffecthowmuchmoneyyouareentitledto(pleasenotethatthislistisnotexhaustive):

Gettingmarriedormovinginwithapartner•Ifyoustoplivingwithsomeone•Movinghouseormovingabroad•Havinganewbaby,startingtolookafterachildorifachildmovesoutofyourhome•Becomingillordisabled•Ifyouarenolongerillordisabled•Turning25or60•Startingwork,receivingapayriseorchangingjobs•Stoppingwork,changingyourhoursorreceivingapaycut•Takinginalodgerorboarders•Ifyoustopreceivinganymoneyyouweregetting,ortheamountchanges•Ifyoustartreceivinganymoneyfromadifferentsourcethatyouweren’treceiving•beforeIfyoutaketimeoutfromyourcourse,returnafteraperiodawayorneedtorepeata•periodofstudyStartingortransferringtoanewcourse•Leavingacourse•

Youhavealegaldutytoinformtherelevantbenefitoffice,localauthorityorHMRCofanychangesinyourcircumstancesthatmightaffectyourentitlementtobenefitsortaxcredits.Failuretodosocouldresultinyounotreceivingmoneytowhichyouareentitledorreceivinganoverpaymentthatwillneedtoberepaid.Ifyoudeliberatelyfailtoreport

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achangeinyourcircumstancesyouwillbetreatedasifyouhavecommittedfraud.Ifyou’reprosecutedforfraudyoucouldbefinedorevensenttoprison.

Youalsohaveadutytoinformwhoeverassessesyourentitlementtoanystudentfundingofanychangesthatmightaffectyourentitlementortheamountyouareeligibletoreceive.Failuretodosocanresultinyounotreceivingmoneytowhichyouareentitledorreceivinganoverpaymentthatwillneedtoberepaid.Ifyouareoverpaidyoumayfindthatfuturepaymentsarereducedoreventhatyouarenotentitledtoanyfurtherpaymentsuntiltheoverpaymenthasbeenrepaidinfull.Ifyoudeliberatelyfailtoreportachangeinyourcircumstancesyoumaybetreatedasa‘personunfittoreceivesupport’oreveninvestigatedforfraud.Ifyou’reprosecutedforfraudyoucouldbefinedorimprisoned.

Wheninforminganyofficialbodyofachangeinyourcircumstancesitisalwaysbesttodosoinwritingandtokeepacopyofyourletter.

Internationalstudents:Changestoyourcircumstancesmayalsohaveimplicationsforyourvisa.IfyourcircumstanceschangeyoushouldseekadvicefromtheInternationalandStudyAbroadOffice(www.sussex.ac.uk/International/)orfromtheUKCouncilforInternationalStudentAffairs(www.ukcisa.org.uk/)tofindoutwhat,ifany,implicationsthismighthaveforyourvisa.

7.2 Transferring, withdrawing, taking time out (intermitting) and repeatingSomestudentsdecidetowithdrawfromuniversity,transfertoanothercourse,taketimeout(intermit),orhavetorepeatallorpartoftheircourse.Thefundingimplicationsofthesedecisionscanbeseriousandyoushouldbeawareoftheminordertomakeinformedchoicesshouldyouneedto.

Ifyouareconsideringtransferring,withdrawingortakingtimeourfromyoucourse,orifyouneedtorepeatanypartofyourcourse,havealookattheacademicsectionofouronlineadvicewebpagesandcomeandspeaktooneofourprofessionaladvisersbeforemakinganydecision.Wecanadviseyouabouttheimplicationsofyourdecisionforyourstudentfunding,yourfeeliability,howyouwillsupportyourselfifyourfundingstops,whetheryoucanapplyfordiscretionaryfunding,totheAccesstoLearningFundorforanyothersourcesofsupport,howtodealwithanyoverpaymentsandyourentitlementtofuturefunding.Wecanalsoadviseyouonanyotherissuesthatmayberelated(fore.g.yourhousingsituation,yourCouncilTaxliabilityoryourbenefitclaims).

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seCtIon 8Financial difficulties and debtIfyoufindyourselfgettingintofinancialdifficulties,helpisathand.TheStudents’UnionAdvice&RepresentationCentrehasprofessionaladviserswhocanadviseyouonanymoney-relatedissueincludingdebts,benefits,budgetingandwaystoincreaseyourincome.Itisimportanttoseekhelpassoonasyourealisethatyouarelikelytobeindifficultysincethemoretimewehave,themorewecanusuallydo.Studentsexperiencingfinancialdifficultieswhoneedhelpbecauseofeitheranunexpectedfinancialcrisisoron-goinghardshipmaybeabletoapplyforhelpfromeithertheUniversityorfromexternalsources.ThiscouldincludeapplyingtotheAccesstoLearningFund,theAlumniHardshipandOpportunitiesFundortoeducationaltrustsandcharities.Pleaseseesection3formoreinformationaboutthese.Inaddition,therearesomeemergencyfundsavailabletostudentswhoneedcashurgently.TheseemergencyfundsincludeVCLoans(seesection3.1)andDWPCrisisLoans(seethepageonwhattodoifyougetintofinancialdifficultiesinthemoneysectionofouronlineadvicewebpages).

DealingwithdebtTherearemanyreasonswhypeoplefallintodebt.Itmightbebecauseyouhavelostyourjoborareunabletoworkbecauseofillnessordisability.Itcouldbethatyouhaverecentlysplitupwithapartner,hadababyorexperiencedsomeotherchangeinyourpersonalcircumstancesthatleavesyouwithlessmoneythanyouneed.Formany,especiallystudents,itcouldbethatyousimplydon’thaveenoughmoneytopayeverythingthatyouowe.Whateverthereason,beingindebtisacommonbutalltoofrighteningandstressfulexperiencebutdon’tpanic,wecanhelp!

Itisunderstandablethatyoumaywanttoignoreanylettersfromcreditors(i.e.peopletowhomyouowemoney)butyoursituationwillgetworseifyoudo-thesooneryouseekprofessionalhelptheeasieritistosortthingsout.

TheAdvice&RepresentationCentreactsnon-judgmentallyandincompleteconfidence.Ifyoucometousforhelpwithyourdebtswewillgothroughyourfinanceswithyou,lookforwaystomaximiseyourincome,reduceyourexpenditureandhelpyouworkoutwhatyoucanaffordtopayandtowhom.

Wehavealsoproducedaself-helppackcalled‘Dealingwithdebt–ahelpfulguideforSussexstudents’,availabletocollectfromourInformationAreaortodownloadfromthepublicationssectionofourwebpages.Thispackprovidesyouwithalltheinformationyouneedtoknowtohelpyounegotiatewithcreditorsandgetbackincontrolofyourfinances.Italsoincludesatemplatefinancialstatement,templateletterstosendtocreditors,acalculationguideandapull-outbudgetsheet.Inthemeantime,forsomeveryquickguidelinestosortingoutyourdebts,havealookatthe10tipsbelow:-

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Whateveryoudodon’tignoreyourdebts-theywon’tgoawaysothequickeryou1.starttodealwiththemthebetterCheckthatyouaregettingeverythingthatyouareentitledtoandwhetherthereare2.anywaysyoucouldreduceyourexpenditure(seesections3and4)Trytoavoidborrowingmoremoneytopayoffwhatyoualreadyowe3.Checkwhetheranyofyourpaymentsarecoveredbypaymentprotectioninsurance4.–youmayhavepaidforadditionalprotectionforcircumstanceslikelosingyourjoborbeingoffsickGetintouchwithyourcreditorsassoonasyoustarttoexperiencedifficulties5.keepingupwithrepayments(orasearlyaspossibleafterthis)–theyarelikelytobemoreunderstandingifyouexplainyoursituationratherthanjustmissingyourpaymentswithoutwarningorexplanationIdentifyyourprioritydebts(e.g.moneyyouoweforrent/mortgage,utilitybills,TV6.licence,etc)anddealwiththesefirst–theultimateenforcementactionopentoprioritydebtcreditorsismoreseriousevenifothercreditorsarekickingupmoreofafussDrawupaFinancialStatementlistingallyourincome,expenditure,priorityandnon-7.prioritydebtsandanyoffersofrepayment–youcansendthistoyourcreditorssothattheycanseeyourcurrentfinancialcircumstancesIfyoucan,offerregularpaymentstoallofyourcreditors–creditorspreferbeingpaid8.evenverysmallregularamountsratherthantakingfurtheractionagainstyouBepersistentwhennegotiatingwithcreditors–don’tgiveupifacreditorisbeing9.difficultorunhelpful,itonlytakesonetoagreeandthentheothersoftenfollowsuitMakesureyoukeepcopiesofanylettersorotherdocumentsthatyousendor10.receiveandwritedownthedetailsofanyphonecallssothatyoucanrelyontheseifthereisanydisputeaboutwhatwasagreed

DebtstotheUniversityIfyouowemoneytotheUniversity-e.g.forrentarrearsortuitionfees-contacttheUniversityortheStudents’UnionAdvice&RepresentationCentreassoonaspossible.Youshouldbeabletoreachasuitablearrangementtoclearyourdebtbutifyoudonot,thenultimatelyyoumayberefusedentryintothenextyearofyourcourse,bewithdrawnonfinancialgroundsorhaveyourdegreecertificatewithheld.Itislegallydebatablewhetheruniversitiescantaketheseacademicsanctionsfornon-academicrelateddebts(e.g.rentarrears,unpaidVC/bridgingloans).IfyouareaffectedbythispleasecontacttheAdvice&RepresentationCentre.

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seCtIon 9Useful contactsUniversityofSussex

Students’UnionAdvice&RepresentationCentre1stFloor,FalmerHouseUniversityofSussexBrighton,BN19QFTel:01273877038Fax:01273873501Email:advice@ussu.sussex.ac.ukWeb:www.sussexstudent.com/advice

InternationalandStudyAbroadOfficeTel:+44(0)1273678422Fax:+44(0)1273678640Email:International@sussex.ac.ukWeb:www.sussex.ac.uk/International/

CareersandEmployabilityCentreTel:01273678429Fax:01273678846Email:cdec@sussex.ac.ukWeb:www.sussex.ac.uk/careers

StudentLifeCentreGroundFloor,ChichesterITel:01273876767Email:studentlifecentre@sussex.ac.ukWeb:www.sussex.ac.uk/studentlifecentre

UsefulagenciesinBrightonandHove

BrightonJobcentrePlus/DepartmentforWorkandPensions(DWP)WindsorHouse30-35EdwardStreetBrightonBN20LNTel:08456043719

HoveJobcentrePlus/DepartmentforWorkandPensions(DWP)BoundaryHouse,BoundaryRoadHoveBN37HDTel:08456043719

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BrightonandHoveCityCouncilHousingandCouncilTaxBenefitOfficePOBox2929,PrioryHouseBrightonBN11PSTel:01273292000

BrightonandHoveCouncilTaxOfficeGroundFloor,PrioryHouseBartholomewSquareBrightonBN11JPTel:01273291291Email:council.tax@brighton-hove.gov.uk

Nationalagencies

UKCouncilforInternationalStudentAffairsWeb:www.ukcisa.org.uk/AdviceLine(openMonday-Friday1pm-4pm):OutsidetheUK:+442071079922InsidetheUK:02071079922HMRevenueandCustomsTaxCreditsHelpline:08453003900(openMonday-Sunday8am-8pm)Web:www.hmrc.gov.uk/Taxcredits/

NationalUnionofStudents(NUS)Web:www.nus.org.uk

ConsumerDirectHelpline:08454040506(openMonday-Friday8am-6.30pm&Saturday9am-1pm)Web:www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/

EnergySavingTrustTel:0800512012Web:www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/

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notes