Education (Student Support) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999

Hardship loans

20.—(1) An eligible student who has—

(a)applied for the maximum amount of loan in respect of an academic year;

(b)been notified of the grant of that application; and

(c)has received at least one instalment of that loan,

may apply to the Department for a determination that he is eligible for an additional loan on grounds of hardship, which shall be known as a “hardship loan”.

(2) A hardship loan shall be not less than £100 and not more than £250, and shall be a multiple of £25.

(3) An eligible student shall demonstrate his eligibility for a hardship loan by providing such evidence of his requirements and resources as the Department may require.

(4) On being satisfied that, due to exceptional financial hardship, an eligible student may not be able to continue to attend a course to which a loan under this Part relates for the remaining part of the academic year in question, the Department shall determine the amount of hardship loan which it considers the student requires, and shall notify him of the fact whereupon the student shall be eligible for a hardship loan of that amount.

(5) An eligible student who is eligible for a hardship loan shall apply for a loan not greater than the maximum amount referred to in paragraph (4) by completing and submitting to the Department an application in such form as it may require not later than one month after the date he receives notice of the determination under paragraph (4) and one month before the end of the academic year.

(6) A student who makes an application under paragraph (5) shall sign a declaration on the application form in the terms set out in regulation 19(3).