EC Default Banner

Funding Evidence

When applying for funding, eligibility can be based on a number of factors. You may be required to provide certain evidence to prove your eligibility. This evidence may also need to be provided as a specific document and sent clearly in order to be verified.

This page will provide you with information on what documents are best to provide and how they should be sent to our funding team.

Funding Evidence Guide

Interact with each titled section to see examples of evidence that we can accept and also those we do not accept.

Accepted

1. Letter from the Council
Letter from the council providing proof that you have been or you are still in care.

2. Care Unit Letter
Letter from a care unit or similar organisation providing proof that you have been or you are still in care.

3. Other

  • Documents detailing a legal decision placing you
    in foster care
  • Documents detailing a legal decision placing you
    under a supervision order.
Common Errors

Not Accepted

Letter from a Family Member or Friend
Letters from your family members or friends cannot be accepted.

Accepted

A Written Agreement
This only applies if you would like to pay your funding (except EMA) into another person’s account for example your parent or partner.

You must provide a written agreement from them. The college can only pay EMA into the student’s own account. EMA cannot be paid to a third party.

Not Accepted

EMA paid to parent/partner
The college can only pay EMA into the student’s own account. EMA cannot be paid to a third party unless there are exceptional circumstances such as additional support needs.

Accepted

1. Tax Credits
Your most recent Tax Credits Awards Notice
(If not available your previous year's award notice may be accepted meanwhile).


2. Universal Credit
Please provide clear screenshots from your online account showing your details and how your Universal Credit award is broken down, i.e. Standard Allowance, Housing, Children etc.

3. Income Support
Income Support and ESA
(Most recent award letter from the benefits office showing rate being paid and breakdown of award - as applicable).

Common Errors

1. Out of Date Universal Credit Form

2. An Inaccurate Screenshot
We need a screenshot displaying all the information on the relevant forms. For example a Universal Credit screenshot ONLY displaying total monthly payment will NOT be accepted.

3. Partial Scans of Documents
This can include only providing the first page of a multi-page document such as the Tax Credit Award Notice or benefit letter.

Accepted

If you are employed:
1. P60s

If you are self-employed:
2. Tax Calculation
Your most recent Inland Revenue (HMRC) tax calculation, or if not yet available the certified accounts.

For self-employed earnings, your evidence must show total income received by HMRC. We cannot accept evidence only showing the amount of tax due.

Common Errors

Partial Scans of Documents
This can include only providing the first page of a multi-page document (We need clear full copies of all pages).

Accepted

1. Birth Certificate
Please provide a full scan of the front of your birth certificate.

2. Passport
Please provide a full scan of the front and back of the photo page of the passport.

3. Driver's License
Please provide a full scan of the front and back of the card.

4. National ID Card
Please provide a full scan of the front and back of the card.

5. Young Scot Card
Please provide a full scan of the front and back of the card.

Common Errors

1. Selfies/Photos

2. Student ID Cards

3. Gym and Club Memberships

4. Partial Scans of Documents
This can include only providing the first page of a multi-page document (We need clear full copies of all pages).

Accepted

1. Bank Statements
Bank statements/annual interest statements showing interest gained over £50 from the current tax year.

2. Rental Income
Tax calculation from HMRC showing rental income from the current tax year or the latest available calculation.

3. Pension P60
Pension 2021 P60 stating income from the current tax year.

4. Other
Includes proof of income from dividends, for the
most recent tax year.

This means collecting documents such as:

  • End-of-year certificates
  • Annual interest certificates
  • Dividend statements
  • Self-assessment certificates
Common Errors

Partial Scans of Documents
This can include only providing the first page of a multi-page document (We need clear full copies of all pages).

Accepted

1. Council Tax Notice
Your most recent Council Tax Notice showing single person’s discount has been awarded.

2. Tax Credits
Your latest award notice may also be acceptable meanwhile if a more recent one is not yet available.

3. DWP Benefits
A DWP Benefits letter showing your parent is claiming as an individual. If claiming Universal Credit, the relevant scan of the claim should indicate if a parent is single beside the standard allowance element showing the amount being paid.

Common Errors

1. Partial Scans of Documents
This can include only providing the first page of a multi-page document (we need clear full copies of all pages).

2. Outdated documents
Documents that are not current and/or outdated.

Accepted

1. Council Tax Notice

2. DWP Benefit Letters

3. Tax Credit Awards Letter

4. P60s
If this shows your address.

5. Other

  • Tenancy Agreements are also acceptable
  • If you are not from the UK we may also need your Home Office papers
  • If none of these apply to you, contact Student Funding
Common Errors

Partial Scans of Documents
This can include only providing the first page of a multi-page document (We need clear full copies of all pages).

Accepted

1. Wedding/Civil Partnership Certificate
Please provide a full scan of your wedding/civil partnership certificate.

2. Legal documents
Documents detailing that you have no living parents. This can include: full scans of a death certificate, legal documents or letter from a professional source confirming the situation.

3. Your Child’s/Children’s Birth Certificate
To prove you have a child dependent on you please provide:

  • Full birth certificate
  • Current Child Tax
  • Credits notice
  • Child Benefit award - naming your child

4. Rental/Tenancy Agreement
To prove you have had an established home of your own for at least three years please provide:

  • Rental/tenancy agreement
  • Letter from housing association/housing office
  • Housing benefit award letter
  • Council Tax Notice showing liability for Council Tax.

All should cover at least a three year period.

5. Legal Documents
Legal documents proving you are estranged from
your parents. This can be a letter from a professional source stating that the student is irretrievably/irrevocably separated, e.g. social work, council, care worker, housing officer, GP.

6. Other Formal Documents
Formal documentation showing that you have supported yourself outside of full-time education for a cumulative period of three years (does not have to be consecutive) from a
combination of:

  • Earnings, benefits
  • Being a primary carer
  • Being supported by a spouse or partner
  • Being in care.

This can include:

  • P60s
  • P45s
  • A letter from HMRC detailing employment and earnings history
    benefit award letters
  • A letter or proforma from the DWP detailing claim history
    government training programme contract
  • Carers Allowance paperwork
  • A letter from an official source confirming the student’s carer status

7. This Can Also Be Proven
You have supported yourself for a cumulative period of three years from a combination of earnings, benefits, being a primary carer, being supported by a spouse or partner, being in care – need formal documentation adding up to three years (does not have to be consecutive).

For example:

  • P60s
  • P45s
  • A letter from HMRC detailing employment and earnings history
    benefit award letters
  • A letter or proforma from the DWP detailing claim history
    government training programme contract
  • Carers Allowance paperwork
  • A letter from an official source confirming the student’s carer status
Common Errors

1. A Letter From a Family Member or Friend
Letters from family members or friends cannot be accepted.

2. Documents That Do Not Cover a Full Three Years of Self-Support and/or Cover Periods When in Full-time Education.
If you only provide a recent document where evidence covering three years is required.

3. AT5 Form

4. Rental/Tenancy Agreement
Rental/Tenancy Agreement you are not named on.

5. You Are Not Considered Self-Supporting if:
Your income has not been significant, i.e. has been below income support levels (i.e having a part-time job of five hours per week for three years does not count as self-supporting).

Accepted

1. SAAS Award Letter
Full scan of your current SAAS Award letter. (Please include lone parent grant if this applies).

2. Student Loan letter
Full scan of your current Student Loan letter.

3. Other
The college can accept evidence of having applied for funding. Once you have received your SAAS Award notice and loan letter you must provide these to the college in order to finalise your childcare funding.

Common Errors

Partial Scans of Documents
This can include only providing the first page of a multi-page document (We need clear full copies of all pages).

Student smiling while they speak to a member of staff in the library.

Contact us

If you need any help completing your funding application please contact us:

0131 669 4400
studentfunding@edinburghcollege.ac.uk