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The Adult Learning Grant: are you eligible?
All sorts of people are doing all sorts of courses with ALG. If you're eligible, it could give you up to £30 a week - but there are some conditions you need to meet.
Who can get ALG?
To get ALG, you need to be 19 or over, and studying in England.
Whether you’re eligible also depends on the course you are taking, and your income.
Courses that qualify for ALG
To be eligible for ALG, the course you take must lead to your first full Level 2 or first full Level 3 qualification.
You must also be studying full time - at least 12 hours a week (equivalent to 450 hours of ‘guided learning’ a year, or 150 hours a term) - and attending college regularly.
Finally, you must be doing a course at a learning provider funded by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). Check with your college if you’re not sure.
Not sure whether your course is Level 2 or Level 3?
Level 2 qualifications are equivalent to five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C or NVQ level 2. Level 3 qualifications are equivalent to two A levels or NVQ level 3.
If you’re not sure about the level of your course, ask your learning provider or contact the Careers Advice Service on 0800 100 900.
Your income and benefits
To get ALG, you’ll need to have earned less than the income threshold during the previous financial year.
This threshold is currently:
- under £19,513 if you’re single
- a combined income under £30,810 if you’re living with a partner
The income threshold is based on your gross income – income before tax or other deductions.
Do you receive any benefits?
You won’t be able to get ALG if you claim getting ‘out of work’ benefits such as Jobseeker’s Allowance or Income Support.
However, most other types of financial help won’t make any difference to whether you can get ALG.
You can still apply if you’re working part-time – and if you’re claiming most ‘in work’ benefits, like Adult Education Bursaries, Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit.
But there are some exceptions – check ‘The Adult Learning Grant and your benefits’ for details.
Next step: find out how much you could get
If you're eligible for ALG, find out how much you could get.
