ALG Eligibility Overview

• Learners must be aged 19 or over.

• The course of study must either start or continue in the academic year 2009/10.

• The learner must be studying full time. This means at least 450 hours of guided learning per academic year.

• Learners must be studying for their first full Level 2 or full Level 3 qualification. By full Level 2 qualification we mean 5 GCSEs at grades A* to C, or an NVQ2, or equivalent. By full Level 3 qualification we mean
2 A levels, or an NVQ3, or equivalent.

• The learner must be studying at an LSC-funded learning provider in England.

• Learners must meet the residency criteria set out in the application pack. In summary, they must be ‘settled’ in the UK and have been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least the three years prior to the start
of their learning programme. Note: ‘Settled’ means having either indefinite leave to enter or remain (ILE/R) or having the right of abode in the UK.

• To be eligible, learners must be earning less than £19,513 if they are single, or have a joint income of £30,810 if they are married or live with a partner as if they are married (see Tables overleaf).

• Learners must not be in receipt of the following benefits: Jobseekers Allowance (JSA); Incapacity Benefit (IB); Income Support (IS) or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). From 27 October 2008 ESA replaced Incapacity Benefit and Income Support paid on incapacity grounds for new customers.