I don't know whether the latest update on Welsh Assembly Learning
Grants has been disseminated to all HEIs but here's a resume just in
case.

After high level discussions with the DWP, it has now been agreed
that the ALG regulations should be amended (in fact, they already
have been, very swiftly) to state that the intention of the ALG is
that it should be for course-related expenses, such as travel, books,
equipment, childcare.  The ALG will then be disregarded in full for
benefit purposes.  Whether the intention marries with the actual
spending by the student will not be policed but the student must be
aware of the intention of the grant.  There has been a general delay
with the issuing of ALGs, partly caused by LEA software difficulties.
For those students who received their first instalment before 15
November 2002 (the date of change of ALG regs), unfortunately the DWP
can regard this instalment as assessable income (this would be a
maximum of £500).
Generally, the take-up of ALGs has been lower than anticipated.
There have been concerns that the FE application form is too
complicated.  However, the HE form (downloadable from
www.learning.wales.gov.uk) is very simple as the financial assessment
done by the LEA for fees and Student Loan will contain all the
relevant information.  The LEAs identified students who fell within
the income band (less than £15000 taxable income) and automatically
issued ALG application forms.  However, a high number have not been
returned!  This could be for a variety of reasons - forms sent to
home addresses and not forwarded, confusion because of the DWP
situation, or just general lack of knowledge about the new scheme.
This is a pathfinder year and the National Assembly for Wales would
welcome feedback.
To recap on eligibility, the student must have been ordinarily
resident (for other than education purposes) in the UK for 3 years
before the start of the course and must have been resident in Wales
for other than education purposes at the beginning of the course.
Continuing students are eligible if they satisfy the above criteria
as are students doing second first degrees.  The student can study
anywhere in the UK.
For us, when we assess Access applications, a Welsh LEA is the usual
indicator that the student may be eligible for an ALG but there are
the odd cases where the student has applied to an LEA outside Wales,
being domiciled in that area in the June before the start of the
course, but e.g. the family has moved to Wales before the start of
the course thus becoming eligible for an ALG.
There is a flowchart re eligibility on the website.

Sybil  ------------------------------------


Sybil Green
Head of Student Advisory Service
Cardiff University
+44(0)29 2087 4179
[log in to unmask]