Social work bursary: Application form and instructions for students on full-time postgraduate courses

Transcription

1 Business Services Authority Application pack Academic year Social work bursary: Application form and instructions for students on full-time postgraduate courses If you require the bursary application pack in a different format such as large print or Braille etc, contact the Social Work Bursary department. Contents Where to find out more about funding 2 Eligibility 4 How the bursary works 7 Key dates 9 Non-income-assessed assistance 10 Income-assessed assistance 11 Change of circumstances 13 Your questions answered 14 Contacts 16 Introduction The social work bursary is administered by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) on behalf of the Department of Health, who fund and set policy for the bursary. Although the bursary is administered by the NHSBSA, it is not an NHS bursary. The bursary is made up of non-income-assessed* and income-assessed* elements. The non-income-assessed elements include: a basic grant, support towards tuition fees, and allowances for those with a disability. The basic grant was introduced by the Department of Health as an incentive to train in social work and does not have a specific intention other than as a financial incentive. Recipients of the basic grant are free to use it for any legal purpose they deem appropriate. The income-assessed elements include a maintenance grant and allowances to assist with certain costs of living. We offer this additional assistance, as we recognise that students on full-time postgraduate courses cannot access similar grants and allowances from their local authority (LA). Everyone who is eligible for the bursary will receive the non-income-assessed elements automatically. The bursary is administered under the Care Standards Act, which is the legislation authorising the NHSBSA to distribute public funds within the context of the bursary. The bursary scheme also adopts certain elements of the Education (Student Support) Regulations However, the scheme is not legally bound by these regulations. An application must be submitted each year. The application form follows these instructions. *Non-income assessed means we will not take into consideration such things as your (or any other person s) earnings, savings, dependants, mortgage or rent income, disabilities, special needs or any other similar factors. Income-assessed means we will take into account certain income and/or finances Application instructions page 1 of 16

2 Where to find out more about funding Various care councils in the United Kingdom (UK) offer support to students studying social work. Social care is a policy area devolved to each country. As a result, the NHSBSA does not have any policy responsibility for the funding of students from Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. You can find contact details for the social care organisations for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on page 16. My residence* My higher education institution (HEI) is in The full-time course I am studying is Whom do I contact about possible funding? England England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland Postgraduate NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) Scotland Scotland Postgraduate Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) Scotland England, Wales or Northern Ireland Bursaries are not available to any student studying outside Scotland Not applicable Wales England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland Postgraduate Care Council for Wales Northern Ireland Northern Ireland Fast track routes for relevant graduates, leading to the award of Bachelor s degree in social work Social Services Inspectorate (SSI) N.B. The five local Education and Library Boards (ELBs) administer the normal statutory education support provision. Please contact your local ELB for funding advice *The country in which you were living before you started any full-time higher education. If you have not yet started a full-time higher education course, it is the country in which you are normally living (Table continued on next page) Application instructions page 2 of 16

3 My residence* My higher education institution (HEI) is in The full-time course I am studying is Whom do I contact about possible funding? Northern Ireland England, Scotland or Wales The Northern Ireland scheme is not available to any Northern Ireland domiciled student studying on any social work course outside Northern Ireland N.B. The five local Education and Library Boards (ELBs) administer the normal statutory education support provision. Please contact your local ELB for funding advice European Union (EU) England Postgraduate (tuition fee support only) NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) European Union (EU) Northern Ireland EU students will only be entitled to the normal support for EU students under arrangements managed by the Department for Employment and Learning Department for Employment and Learning All information contained in this funding table was correct at the time of publishing but may change. Please check our website at for the most current version of this table. *The country in which you were living before you started any full-time higher education. If you have not yet started a full-time higher education course, it is the country in which you are normally living Application instructions page 3 of 16

4 Eligibility You must meet both the residency criteria and the other eligibility criteria to be eligible for a bursary. Residency criteria To be eligible for a bursary, you must be ordinarily resident in England on the first day of the academic year. You must also meet all the residency rules in the UK or one of the residency rules outside the UK. Academic year dates For the purpose of all residency conditions, the academic year starts on: 1 September for a course starting in the autumn term; or 1 January for a course starting in the spring term. Ordinarily resident You must be ordinarily resident in England on the first day of the academic year in which your course first starts. If you have moved to England just to start your postgraduate course, you will be considered ordinarily resident in the country from where you have moved and not ordinarily resident in England. You are not eligible for a bursary and you should refer back to the table in Where to find out more about funding on page 2. Residency rules in the UK You must meet both rules on the first day of the academic year in which your course first starts. You must have been living in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for the three years immediately before the start of the academic year. You are not treated as living abroad if you are: a member of the armed forces (this also includes your spouse and children); a student taking a gap year; or temporarily employed abroad. If you are temporarily employed abroad, your work contract must state temporary contract. You must have settled status, which means you must be settled in the UK within the meaning of the Immigration Act (This includes British citizens and applicants with indefinite leave to remain or right of abode.) Residency rules outside the UK You must meet one of the following rules. You, your spouse/civil partner or your parents are UK nationals who have returned from work in another member country of the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland and have got a job in the UK, and you have been living in the EEA for the three years before the first day of the academic year in which your course first starts. You, your spouse/civil partner or your parents are from an EEA country or Switzerland, you can show that you, your spouse or either of your parents have migrant worker status and you have been living in the EEA or Switzerland for the three years before the first day of the academic year in which your course first starts. You, your spouse/civil partner or your parents are from Switzerland or an EEA country, work in England and return to a residence in Switzerland or an EEA country at least once a week and you have been living in the EEA or Switzerland for the three years before the first day of the academic year in which your course first starts. You, your spouse/civil partner or your parents are recognised by the British Government as a refugee and have lived in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man since you were informed of your refugee status. Application instructions page 4 of 16

5 You, your spouse/civil partner or your parents have been granted leave to enter or remain in the UK by the Home Office, and you have been living within the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for the three years before the first day of the academic year in which your course first starts. If you are claiming a social work bursary as the spouse or civil partner of someone who has been granted refugee status or leave to enter or remain, you must have been their spouse or civil partner at the time of their application for asylum. From 1 September 2007, if your Home Office papers confirming your refugee status or leave to enter or remain have an expiry date, your eligibility for support will cease at the end of the academic year in which the relevant status expires, unless further leave is granted. Residency rules for European Union (EU) nationals To be eligible for a bursary EU nationals must have been living in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for the three years immediately before the first day of the academic year in which their course starts, and 51 per cent of those three years must have been in England. If you do not meet any of the other residency rules, we may still be able to help you with your tuition fees, and you should complete the application form that follows these instructions to have your eligibility assessed. Other eligibility criteria You must meet all criteria. You do not already hold a higher education social work qualification, including the Diploma in Social Work (DipSW), awarded by the GSCC, the SSSC, the Care Council for Wales, the NISCC or the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work (CCETSW, the predecessor to the GSCC). You are entering or already studying on a full-time postgraduate social work course that has been approved by the General Social Care Council (GSCC), the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC), the Care Council for Wales or the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC). You can find a list of GSCCapproved degree courses on the GSCC website at You are studying on a college-based course and you are not receiving any of the following support from an employer: any paid time off to allow you to attend your studies; payment of all or part of your tuition fees; payment from a practice learning provider for undertaking placement duties for them;* funding through the Department of Health s National Training Strategy Grant; and/or any other form of support to assist with your social work training. *With the exception of a contribution from your practice learning provider towards your travel expenses that are incurred as a direct result of undertaking your placement duties for them. Application instructions page 5 of 16

6 You are studying on a college-based course and if receiving a retainer, the retainer meets all of the following criteria: the retainer is offered as an incentive to engage in employment with the retainer provider once the recipient qualifies as a social worker, and not as support towards the recipient s social work training; the retainer is a documented contractual agreement between the retainer provider and the recipient. The contractual agreement indicates the recipient s liability for paying back the retainer to the provider if they do not successfully complete their social work training and/or engage in employment with the retainer provider on qualifying as a social worker; the recipient is not and will not be engaged in employment, be contracted to, on a temporary assignment with or seconded to the organisation(s) providing the retainer, throughout the recipient s social work training; and the retainer is not funded from the Department of Health s National Training Strategy Grant. You are studying on a college-based course and you are not receiving funding from a publicly funded body. Note: Funding through the DfES Access to Learning Fund, government benefit agencies and bursaries from your higher education institution (HEI) is excluded. If you declared funding from a publicly funded body on your application, you will not be considered ineligible for the bursary and can continue to receive that funding as long as it is declared on your application. Employment-based courses You are not eligible for a bursary if you are studying on an employment-based course, including direct Open University courses, regardless of whether your social care employer is supporting you. This applies to all students applying for a bursary for the first time from the academic year. Employment-based degree courses are listed on the GSCC website at If you are still unsure if you are enrolled or will be enrolled on an employment-based course, please confirm directly with your HEI. If you are eligible to apply for a social work bursary or for help with your tuition fees from the NHSBSA, please complete the application form that follows these instructions to have your eligibility assessed. Joint discipline courses If you are studying on a joint discipline course that includes social work, you must apply to the NHS Student Grants Unit for a bursary. Application instructions page 6 of 16

7 How the bursary works These instructions and the appropriate application form are for students studying on an approved full-time postgraduate social work course. We define you as a full-time student from your course attendance pattern designated by your HEI. If you are studying on a part-time course or on a full-time undergraduate course, please refer to our website at to download the correct application pack. You will need to complete and post us an application form if you are: a first-time applicant; currently receiving the bursary; or re-applying after having received the bursary (in full or in part) and then interrupted your studies. Step 1 Familiarising yourself with the bursary application pack Make sure you have read the instructions and the application form in full before completing the application. Step 2 Meeting the eligibility criteria Make sure you meet the residency eligibility criteria described on pages 4-5 and the other eligibility criteria on pages 5-6. Step 3 Completing the application form Fill in the application form. Make sure you answer all the questions. Attach any original documents to support your application. Evidence for first-time applicants If this is the first time you are applying for the bursary, you will need to provide evidence of your residency, such as your original birth certificate or passport. If you meet one of the residency rules outside the UK on pages 4-5 you may also need to provide original Home Office documentation to support your application. You may also need to provide original birth certificates for your child or children if you are applying for the allowances for dependants (see page 12). The Social Work Bursary department only accepts original evidence. We do not accept photocopied, faxed or ed evidence. We highly recommend that you post all original evidence by special delivery and include a self-addressed pre-paid special delivery envelope so that we can return your documents. Posting documents using special delivery will enable you to track your post. We will return all original documentation to you within four weeks. Step 4 Checking your application Check your application for completeness and accuracy using the checklist on the back page of the application form. Incomplete applications will not be assessed and will be returned for you to complete. Photocopy your application form for your own records and keep the application instructions. Step 5 Posting your application Post your application to our Social Work Bursary department before the application closing date of 1 February Make sure that you pay the correct postage as the NHSBSA has instructed Royal Mail that we cannot pay the balance of underpaid postage and your application will not reach us. Application instructions page 7 of 16

8 Step 6 Notification of application outcome You are not eligible for the bursary until you have received the bursary notification letter. Until the assessment of your application is complete we cannot advise you of your eligibility. We can only advise you of the criteria you must meet. The outcome of your assessment is confirmed only by letter, which we will post to you. For dates of when you can expect to receive your letter, refer to page 9. Step 7 Payment of your bursary For payment dates see page 9. All payments will be made by Banks Automated Clearing System (BACS). You will need a UK-based bank or building society account in your name. Your account must be able to accept direct credits. If you re not sure it does, check with your bank or building society. Application instructions page 8 of 16

9 Key dates Get your application in early to prevent delays in payment of your bursary grant. Acknowledgement We acknowledge receipt of all applications within five weeks. If you do not receive an acknowledgement letter after five weeks, you must call the Social Work Bursary department. If you do not call us we cannot take responsibility for a late application, which may leave you ineligible for the bursary. Do not post another application without speaking to the Social Work Bursary department first. Submission The date we receive your complete application will determine the date when you receive the outcome of your bursary assessment and payments of the grant. If we receive your complete application by 29 June 2007, you will know the outcome of your application by 31 August If we receive your complete application between 2 July 2007 and 31 August 2007, you will know the outcome of your application by 1 October If we receive your complete application after 31 August 2007, it will take 60 calendar days from the date we receive your application until you will know the outcome of your assessment. Deadline Bursary applications close by 1 February By this date, we must receive your complete application, which includes requested original evidence/documentation. Payments The bursary grant is paid in three equal instalments: The first instalment will be paid when your application has been assessed as eligible and no later than eight weeks from the date we receive confirmation of your course enrolment from your HEI, or eight weeks from the date of your bursary notification letter, whichever is the later. The second instalment will be paid by 11 January 2008, but only if you have received your bursary notification letter by 30 November The third instalment is normally paid in April. The specific date will be available at from 1 March Incomplete applications If your application is incomplete we will return all or part of it for you to complete. Your application will be subject to the key dates based on the date it is received by us completed. Re-assessment A re-assessment occurs when you have already received a payment and there is a change in your circumstances that alters your eligibility and/or we require additional evidence that may affect your financial entitlement. We commence re-assessments after we have undertaken an initial assessment of applications that have not received a payment. If we are required to re-assess your application we will write to you with the outcome. We cannot guarantee the date we will notify you as re-assessments are processed in date order. Application instructions page 9 of 16

10 Non-income-assessed assistance Basic grant If you meet the eligibility criteria on pages 4-6, you are automatically eligible for the basic grant and tuition fee assistance. For the academic year , we will offer students on full-time postgraduate courses one of the following grant rates. The grant is paid in three equal instalments. Students studying full-time at a London-based HEI Up to 3,475 for a 52-week period. Students studying full-time at an HEI outside London Up to 3,075 for a 52-week period. Tuition fees Disabled students allowances Students with a disability may also apply for the disabled students allowances (DSAs). To apply for DSAs, download a DSA application pack from our website: DSAs are non-income-assessed and we offer the following rates. Non-medical helper s allowance Up to 12,420 for a 52-week period. Specialist equipment allowance Up to 4,905 for the duration of the course. General allowance Up to 1,640 for a 52-week period. We will offer you up to 3,240. We will pay tuition fees directly to your HEI after 1 December If you withdraw before this date, we are not responsible for any tuition fee payment. Practice learning opportunity (placement) The basic grant includes a fixed contribution of 575 towards your placement travel expenses from your term time address to your placement agency, and vice versa. It is expected that the agency offering your placement will contribute towards the travel costs incurred while carrying out your placement duties. A contribution of this nature will not affect your entitlement to the bursary. Application instructions page 10 of 16

11 Income-assessed assistance The income-assessed element of the bursary is made up of: a maintenance grant; and allowances for dependants. These are subject to eligibility and will be paid in addition to the non-income-assessed elements of the bursary. All students will be assessed as independent. This means we will not take into consideration your age and your parents income when assessing your application. If applicable we will only take into account your partner s income see the terms below for a definition of partner. Terms we use in this section For the purpose of the grant and allowances, the following terms have specific meanings: Partner your spouse, cohabitee (including same-sex cohabitee) or civil partner. For the definition of civil partnership, please refer to page 14. Unearned income income that you have not earned by working, for example dividends from shares you own, interest on savings and most income from land or property. Residual income the gross income from all sources less specific allowances (for example, pension contributions). These allowances are determined by government regulations. Maintenance grant To calculate how much of the maintenance grant you are entitled to, we look at: your net unearned income during the current academic year; and your partner s residual income from the previous tax year Students studying full-time at a London-based HEI Up to 3,832 for a 52-week period. Students studying full-time at an HEI outside London Up to 2,482 for a 52-week period. If your estimated net unearned income is less than 8,064, you will receive the full amount of the income-assessed grant. If your estimated net unearned income is more than 8,064, your grant will be reduced by 1 for every 1 earned over that amount. If your partner s residual income is less than 19,862, you will receive the full amount of the income-assessed grant. If your partner s income is more than 19,862, your grant will be reduced by 45 and an additional 1 for every 8 they earn over that amount. When calculating your maintenance grant, we may also take into consideration other dependants in your family. The information above is provided as a guide only. Calculating your entitlement is complex and you should not base your entitlement on your own calculations. Application instructions page 11 of 16

12 Allowances for dependants If your adult dependant s net income for the tax year is more than 21,605, you will not be eligible for allowances for dependants; incomes below this amount do not mean that you will receive allowances for dependants, but an income assessment will be made. Allowances for dependants consist of the childcare allowance, adult dependants allowance, and parents learning allowance (PLA). Although we calculate your eligibility for these three allowances at the same time, we may award them independently. For example, we may award you with PLA even though you are not claiming childcare costs. We will calculate your entitlement using the estimated net income of your partner for the tax year and your childcare costs for the academic year. As the income information cannot be confirmed until the end of the tax year, your third instalment will be held until you provide confirmation of the relevant income, for example your partner s P60. As all three allowances are income-assessed, you do not automatically qualify for them just because you have dependants. Childcare allowance For information on the childcare allowance please download the application pack from our website at Adult dependants allowance If you have an adult who is wholly or mainly financially dependent on you when you are studying, you may be eligible for this allowance. You may claim for one adult dependant only. If the adult dependant is not your partner, their net income cannot be more than 3,610 for the tax year. If your partner is a student and is receiving a statutory award, you are not eligible for this allowance. Students with an adult dependant Up to 2,510 for a 52-week period. Parents learning allowance If you have a child or children, you may be eligible for PLA. This normally includes children up to the age of 18 in full-time education, but does not include children in higher education. Students with dependent children Up to 1,435 for a 52-week period. Application instructions page 12 of 16

13 Change of circumstances If your circumstances change at any time after you have submitted your application, you must tell us immediately in writing. This includes but is not limited to: your address and contact details; any change of course, regardless of whether it is at the same HEI; any change of HEI; change of main campus; change of course attendance pattern (full-time or part-time); change of social care employment; withdrawal, suspension, deferral or interruption from your course, regardless of whether you intend to return; being unable to attend your course for any reason where it exceeds 15 calendar days; any change to your practice learning opportunity; any change to the account you want your payments made to;* and gaining support from your social care employer or another publicly funded body (excluding Access to Learning Fund, government benefit agencies and bursaries from your HEI). Minimise debt, fees and charges If your circumstances change after you have submitted a bursary application, you must inform us. It is your responsibility, not that of your HEI, to inform us of any changes to your circumstances (although we will verify the details you provide with your HEI). If we do not receive notification in writing from you of your withdrawal, suspension, deferral or interruption from your course (regardless of whether you are planning to return to the course) within 28 calendar days of the withdrawal, suspension, deferral or interruption date (we use the date according to your HEI), in addition to the overpayment itself you will also be required to pay all reasonable fees and charges incurred by the NHSBSA in recovering the overpayment. Fees incurred by the NHSBSA can be up to 35 per cent of the overpayment. By signing the applicant s declaration on the bursary application form, you agree that you will pay any overpayment and, if applicable, all reasonable fees and charges. We cannot take responsibility for delays with an assessment or payment which arise from your failure to notify us of changes. *If you request that payments be made into a different account, do not close the previous account to which payments were made until you receive a bursary payment into the different account. Depending on the timing of your request and bursary payment cycles, it is possible that bursary payments may be paid into your previous account even after you have notified us of the change of account Application instructions page 13 of 16

14 Your questions answered I am moving to England from another part of the UK to start my course. Am I eligible for a bursary? No, you will not be eligible for a bursary if you have moved to England only to take up your position on a full-time postgraduate course. Please refer to Where to find out more about funding on pages 2 and 3 for details of your relevant funding organisation. I need to undertake a study year I have already attempted. Am I eligible for funding? We offer funding (up to a maximum of one study year) of the income-assessed elements of the bursary if you need to re-attempt academic modules. Also, if your HEI charges tuition fees for re-attempting academic modules, a maximum of up to 3,240 tuition fee support is available. You will need to submit a complete application by the deadline in order to be assessed. If you are entitled to funding it will be proportional based on your academic modules. The non-income-assessed basic grant is intended as a one-time incentive for each study year of the established course structure. The basic grant is not available to students who undertake all or part of a study year they have already attempted, regardless of whether the study year is undertaken on the same full-time postgraduate course or another full-time postgraduate course. What do I do if my partner s financial circumstances change? If your partner s income drops by more than 15 per cent during the current academic year, you may ask for a re-assessment of your bursary. This is known as a current year assessment. You will be asked to give an estimate of your partner s income for the tax year. We will calculate your entitlement based on this estimate. Your third instalment will remain on hold until we receive evidence at the end of the tax year that your estimate was correct. Based on how accurate your estimate was, your third instalment may increase or decrease. If you have a current year assessment in any one year, all future assessments will be processed in the same way. What is a civil partnership? Civil partners are now treated in line with married couples for student support purposes. Cohabiting same-sex partners who are not in a civil partnership will be treated in the same way as cohabiting opposite-sex partners. Will the postgraduate bursary have an impact on any other benefits? The postgraduate bursary may affect your entitlement to other benefits and allowances. If you are awarded the bursary, it is your responsibility to inform any appropriate organisations from which you are receiving benefits or allowances. For example, if you receive housing or council tax benefit and you are awarded a bursary, you must inform your LA. Can I work while I am studying and how will this affect my entitlement? You can work when you are studying on a full-time postgraduate course. We will not take this income into account when assessing your entitlement to a bursary. Do I have to pay back the bursary? You will not have to pay back the bursary unless you receive an overpayment. This can occur if you experience one of the circumstances listed in section d of the Applicant s declaration on page 23 of the application form. It is your responsibility to inform us in writing immediately if you experience one of these circumstances. Application instructions page 14 of 16

15 An overpayment of the bursary is calculated by dividing the bursary awarded by 365 days. This figure is then multiplied by the number of days you were in attendance. This figure is then subtracted from any bursary payments received. The difference is the overpayment due. Overpayments can occur with other elements of the bursary; however, these may vary depending on individual circumstances. If you have an overpayment and you are entitled to further payments of the bursary, these will be used to offset the overpayment. You may still be required to pay back money if any further entitlement does not cover the overpayment. The NHSBSA can only accept payment of an overpayment by cheque or BACS. Otherwise recovery of an overpayment is referred to our debt collection agency. Am I entitled to a payment of the bursary if I stop my studies? Not if you stop your studies before you receive a payment. You will not be entitled to a payment for the days you were in attendance on the course, as the scheme does not make retrospective payments. Application instructions page 15 of 16

16 Contacts If you have any questions about the bursary that are not answered in these instructions or on our website, contact the Social Work Bursary department: NHS Business Services Authority Social Work Bursary Sandyford House Archbold Terrace Newcastle Upon Tyne NE2 1DB Tel: Fax: Web: Other helpful contacts Social work careers helpline Tel: Web: NHS Pensions Agency/Student Grants Unit Hesketh House, Broadway, Fleetwood, Lancashire FY7 8SS Tel: Fax: Web: General Social Care Council Goldings House, 2 Hay s Lane, London SE1 2HB Tel: Fax: info@gscc.org.uk Web: If you live elsewhere in the UK, contact the social care regulatory council in your country. Scottish Social Services Council Compass House, 11 Riverside Drive, Dundee DD1 4NY Tel: Fax: enquiries@sssc.uk.com Web: Care Council for Wales Student Funding Team South Gate House, Wood Street, Cardiff CF10 1EW Tel: Fax: Minicom: studentfunding@ccwales.org.uk Web: Northern Ireland Social Care Council (social work course enquiries) Seventh Floor, Millennium House Great Victoria Street, Belfast BT2 7AQ Tel: Fax: info@niscc.n-i.nhs.uk Web: Social Services Inspectorate (Northern Ireland) (funding enquiries) Student Supporting Scheme, Castle Buildings, Stormont, Belfast BT4 3SQ Tel: Web: Department for Education and Skills European Team Podium Room 38, Mowden Hall, Staindrop Road, Darlington DL3 9BG Tel: Fax: EUTeam@slc.co.uk Web: Department for Employment and Learning Web: Application instructions page 16 of 16

17 Business Services Authority Application form Academic year Social work bursary: For students on full-time postgraduate courses Instructions You must read the appropriate application instructions before you complete this form. Remember Pay the correct postage. The NHSBSA has instructed Royal Mail that we cannot pay the balance of underpaid postage. Payments Do you want to know when you can get paid? See page 9 of the application instructions. Deadline Bursary applications close on 1 February Completing this form This form is for the social work bursary only. To apply for registration onto the English Social Care Register, you will need to contact the General Social Care Council. Their contact details can be found on page 16 of the application instructions that come with this form, or by visiting Use blue or black ink and write clearly in CAPITAL LETTERS. Do not use pencil. Answer all questions in full, even if you have previously supplied the details. Use the space in section 10 if you need to continue any of your answers. If your application is incomplete or does not include the evidence we request, it will be returned to you and payments are likely to be delayed. Application form page 1 of 26

18 Social work bursary: Application form for students on full-time postgraduate courses 1 Your details 1.1 About you Have you previously applied or are you intending to apply for: Disabled students allowances Yes No Childcare allowance Yes No First name Middle name Last name Previous names Date of birth DD / MM / YYYY Use your legal name, which you should also use when applying to your higher education institution (HEI) and local authority (LA). If you use different names we will not be able to match your bursary application to HEI and LA information. This will prevent payment of the bursary. This will help us to locate your file if you have changed your name since you last applied. Title Mr Mrs Other Ms Miss Gender Male Female Country of birth Marital status Single Married Widowed Divorced Civil partnership Separated Cohabiting Date of marriage/registration of civil partnership DD / MM / YYYY Refer to page 14 of the application instructions for the definition of civil partnership. HEI providing your course Are you currently receiving or have you ever received a bursary (in full or part) from the General Social Care Council (GSCC) or the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work (CCETSW)? No Yes Give details Your bursary reference number Give the month and year that you first applied to the GSCC or CCETSW for funding. MM / YYYY Application form page 2 of 26

19 1 Your details continued 1.2 Contact details Residential address All correspondence will be sent to the address you give here. Town/city Postcode Country Mobile phone number Daytime phone number ( ) This helps us contact you more quickly and may prevent processing delays Qualifications Do you have any degrees, diplomas or other qualifications at higher education level? No Yes Give details Name of qualification Subject Date awarded HEI / / Do not include your A-Level qualifications. / / / / / / Application form page 3 of 26

20 2 Payment method All payments are made by Banks Automated Clearing System (BACS). You must provide your account details by completing the BACS form below. We will not make payments to an account that is not in your name. The account must be in the UK, able to accept payments by direct credit and in the name of the bursary applicant. If you are unsure of these details, please check with your bank or building society. Payments by BACS mean you receive your money faster, provided that you supply the correct information. Please take time to complete this section carefully and write neatly, otherwise it is likely to delay or prevent payments. Office use only Action Sort code and bank account verified No Yes FEAST updated No Yes Initials Date Name account held in Account details Bank/building society name Branch address Town/city If you are unsure about any of these details, check with your bank or building society. If you miss out any details, your payments will be delayed. Postcode Bank/building society sort code Account number Roll or reference number Building society accounts only This is not your credit or debit card number and may include symbols and letters. Application form page 4 of 26

21 3 About your full-time postgraduate course 3.1 Course details Full name of social work course Type of qualification you will gain MA MSc Other Give details If you are unsure, check with your HEI admissions department. Country where you will be studying England Scotland Wales 3.2 HEI details Northern Ireland Channel Islands Name of your HEI Address This is your teaching institution. Town/city Postcode Main campus where you will study if different to address above Name Address If you are unsure, check with your HEI admissions department. Town/city Postcode 3.3 Study details Date you intend to start or first started your course MM / YYYY When do you expect to complete your course? MM / YYYY Year of course you are studying in the academic year st year 2nd year Other Give details Is the course employment-based or college-based? Employment-based College-based Placements are an essential component of your study and do not necessarily mean you are on an employment-based course. If you are unsure about what type of course you are studying, refer to page 6 of the application instructions. Application form page 5 of 26

22 3 About your full-time postgraduate course continued 3.4 Repeat study Will you need to complete any social work modules from a previous year in the academic year ? No Skip to section 4 Don t know Inform us in writing of details when you know go to section 4 Yes Select one of the following I will be repeating modules at the same time as the next stage of my course I will be repeating the entire study year I need to repeat modules before I can continue to the next stage of my course Complete date below On what date do you expect to start these modules? DD / MM / YYYY If the modules include a practice learning opportunity (PLO) from a previous year to be undertaken in the academic year , give details Repeating Extended Deferred Not applicable Go to table below On what date do you expect to start your PLO? DD / MM / YYYY Don t know How many days will the PLO take? Include details of non-plo modules you are repeating Name of modules repeating Credit value (if applicable) If you are unsure of the credit value for your modules, check with your HEI. Application form page 6 of 26

23 4 Residency details Read pages 4-6 in the instruction notes before completing this section. 4.1 Residency and nationality details What is your nationality? Reconfirm country of birth Date you came DD / MM / YYYY OR Not applicable to England Main reason you came to England OR Not applicable 4.2 The bursary in Did you receive the bursary in the academic year ? Yes Go to section 5 unless you are claiming migrant/frontier worker status, in which case you need to complete all of section 4 No Complete all of section Time spent living outside the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man Have you ever lived outside the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man? No Yes Give details Date Country Main reason From To you lived in you lived there What was the main reason you returned to the UK? Application form page 7 of 26

24 4 Residency details continued 4.4 Your residency status in the UK Tick the description of your or your relative s residency status in the UK and provide the evidence we ask for. For the purposes of this application, your relatives are: your spouse/civil partner; your parents; your step-parents; and your legal guardians. I am a UK national Post your original birth certificate or passport OR I am a European Union (EU) national Post your original birth certificate or passport OR I or any of my relatives are European Economic Area (EEA) or Swiss national migrant/frontier workers Post: applicant s original birth certificate or passport; migrant/frontier worker s original evidence of three years employment history in the UK, dating back from 1 September 2007; and frontier worker s evidence of keeping a property in an EEA country or Switzerland. Who is the migrant/frontier worker currently working in the UK? You Your spouse Your civil partner Your parents Your step-parents Your legal guardians If you are the migrant/frontier worker, do you intend to continue working while you study? Yes No Please give employment details for you or any of your relatives who are working in the UK. Person who is working Employer Field of work Date started If you need more space to give details, use section 10 of this application form. OR I am a non-uk national with the following status: I have settled status I or my relative has refugee status I or my relative has leave to enter or remain Expiry date of status You must receive settled status by the first day of the first academic year of your course, and the status must last for the duration of your course. DD / MM / YYYY OR No expiry date Post: your original birth certificate or passport; and any original Home Office documentation regarding your or your relative s status in the UK and the date it was awarded, and the date it expires if applicable. Application form page 8 of 26

25 5 Other grants, bursaries, retainers or support Are you applying for any other grant, bursary, retainer or support as well as the social work bursary? No Yes Give details Name of organisation you are applying to If you need more space to give details, use section 10 of this application form. Name of the grant, bursary, retainer or other support Dates of support From DD / MM / YYYY Are you currently receiving any other grant, bursary, retainer or support as well as the social work bursary? No Yes Give details Name of organisation providing support to DD / MM / YYYY If you are applying for or receiving a retainer, you must complete a bursary retainer declaration. Contact the Social Work Bursary department for this. If you need more space to give details, use section 10 of this application form. Name of the grant, bursary, retainer or other support Dates of support From DD / MM / YYYY If you apply for or receive ANY other grant, bursary, retainer or support after you submit your application, you must inform us in writing. Career development loans do not affect your application for a bursary, but if we confirm your entitlement to a bursary, you are obliged to let your loan provider know. to DD / MM / YYYY If you are applying for or receiving a retainer, you must complete a bursary retainer declaration. Contact the Social Work Bursary department for this. Application form page 9 of 26

26 6 Employment details 6.1 Will you be employed in the social care sector during your course? No Go to section 7 Yes You must ask your line manager to complete the following declaration If you are receiving a retainer only, please refer to page 6 of the application instructions. 6.2 Social care employer s declaration to be completed by your employer Note to employers By completing this section you are confirming that the bursary applicant is your employee and is not receiving any of the following: sponsorship/support; any paid time off to allow them to attend studies; all or part of their tuition fees; any practice learning opportunity with pay or any other financial support; support through the Department of Health Training Support Grant; or any other form of support in order to assist with their social work training. The person who completes this declaration must be the applicant s line manager. If you have any questions contact us at: NHS Business Services Authority Social Work Bursary Sandyford House Archbold Terrace Newcastle Upon Tyne NE2 1DB Tel: swb@ppa.nhs.uk Fax: Web: About the line manager completing this declaration Manager s first name Manager s last name Manager s job title Title Mr Mrs Other Ms Miss Gender Male Female About the applicant s social care employer Name of social care employer Address Town/city Postcode Contact phone number ( ) Application form page 10 of 26

27 6 Employment details continued About the employee Employee s first name Employee s last name Employee s job title Give names to confirm that the applicant is the person employed by the organisation you represent. Type of employment Please tick the applicant s type of employment and give the information we ask for. Permanent Full-time/part-time Hours worked per week Contract Temporary Voluntary Declaration I declare that I am the line manager of the applicant named above and that the applicant is not receiving any support from the social care organisation named on page 10. I understand that if I give the NHS Business Services Authority false, misleading or incomplete information, the applicant named above may be refused financial support or any current financial support may be withdrawn resulting in an overpayment for the applicant and I may be prosecuted. I agree to be contacted by the NHS Business Services Authority so they can verify the employment status and any support arrangements of the applicant named above. Full name Signature Date DD / MM / YYYY Application form page 11 of 26

28 7 Your unearned income for the academic year Give details of the net unearned income (after Income Tax deductions and National Insurance contributions) you expect to receive during the academic year We will use this information to help us to work out the level of support you are eligible for. Complete every box. If a question does not apply to you, write None in the answer space. If you do not know the exact amount, make an estimate and write Estimated next to the amount. Please send evidence of unearned income of 1,000 or more. We may ask for evidence of any other amounts at a later date. Refer to the list, right, for details of evidence we will accept Amount during the academic Description of unearned income year Acceptable evidence for section 7 (all evidence submitted must be original): accountant s letter; tax self-assessment form; benefits letter/statement; bank or building society statements of interest earned; dividend statements; pension statements; NHSBSA confirmation of benefits; Child Support Agency letter; maintenance court order; confirmation of voluntary maintenance letter. Net profit from property, lettings or rent Income from trusts Income from taxable pensions due to incapacity or disability Income from other taxable pensions Income from taxable benefits (excluding Child Benefit) List the type of benefit and give the amount expected Total maintenance payments for you and your children, including voluntary maintenance Send the original court order or other original evidence Specify if maintenance is: Voluntary Court-ordered Other unearned income List the type of unearned income, such as building society interest, investments or sponsorship, and give the amount expected Total unearned income Add up all the unearned income you have listed Application form page 12 of 26