EEA Migrant Workers and Funding via Student Finance England

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1 EEA Migrant Workers and Funding via Student Finance England Contact us Phone: Website: www.

2 This guide contains information on the funding arrangements for EEA Migrant Workers and their families who are resident in England and so will be applying to Student Finance England. The rules are complex and you are advised to contact the Student Money Advice Service for more information. If eligible what can an EEA Migrant Worker receive in student funding? You should be eligible for: tuition fee loans, living cost support via Student Finance England and you should be eligible to apply to any University funds. If you are an EU national with a genuine link to the UK you may be eligible for full support without the need to work: EU students who have lived in the UK for 5 years before the start of their course (1 st September for September starters and 1 st January for January starters) may be entitled to the same full funding package as a Home student. Please see our funding leaflet for Home students. (Please note that the 5 year rule came into force from the 25 th March If you had already applied before this date you need only show 3 years residency). Which countries make up the EEA? Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the UK Switzerland is not in the EEA but Swiss students and their children have similar rights to EEA nationals. Who could be classed as an EEA Migrant Worker? If you are a national from one of the countries listed above and you have moved to another EEA state to WORK you are an EEA Migrant Worker. Most EEA nationals have no restriction on working in the UK but if you are from Croatia you should read the following: How does an EEA Migrant Worker qualify for the full package of support? You must be an EEA/ Swiss national who is resident in the UK as a worker You must be ordinarily resident in England on the 1st September (or 1st January if starting in January) in the year that you start your course* You must be ordinarily resident in the UK or EEA and/or Switzerland for three years prior to the 1st September (or 1st January) in the year you start your course * If you are an EEA Frontier worker/self-employed person, a Swiss frontier worker/self-employed person or the family member of such a person you do not need to satisfy this criteria. You must also show that you satisfy one of the following: Prior to starting your course you worked and you will continue to work either full or part time during your course. You have been working in the UK but stopped when you started the course but your previous employment is related to the course You get a job after you started your course and will continue to work during your course If working you will need to provide evidence that you are still working each term to continue to receive payments.

3 If you decide to go on a placement year you may experience problems retaining your EEA MW status and you should contact us. If you were previously working and are actively seeking work you may still be considered a worker if you had to stop work due to ill health or an accident and can provide medical evidence or if you were made redundant. How can the family member of an EEA Migrant/Frontier Worker or Swiss workers receive the same funding as an EEA MW? You must be the relevant family member (you yourself do not need to be an EEA national or working) of an EEA migrant/frontier worker i.e. you are the spouse, civil partner, or are under 21 and a direct descendant of the person, the person s spouse/civil partner, or dependent on the person/person s spouse or civil partner or a direct relative in the ascending line (parent or stepparent) of the spouse or civil partner or You must be the spouse/civil partner of a Swiss Worker or the child of one (this includes the child of the spouse/civil partner of a Swiss worker) The working family member normally needs to still be working in the UK unless you are the dependant of a former EEA Migrant Worker an you have remained in the country to finish your studies in which case you may be eligible to continue to receive funding. Plus You must be ordinarily resident in England on the 1 st September (or 1 st January if starting in January) in the year that you start your course* You must be ordinarily resident in the UK or EEA and/or Switzerland for three years prior to the 1 st September (or 1 st January) in the year you start your course * If you are an EEA Frontier worker/self-employed person, a Swiss frontier worker/self-employed person or the family member of such a person you do not need to satisfy this criteria. I think I satisfy the above, what do I do now? You should download a paper PN1 form from or call for a pack if you are applying for the first time (or a PR1 form if you are applying as a continuing student) You will need to supply the following evidence: National Insurance Number Passport/National ID card (originals or a certified copy*) for you If applying as the family member you will send to send their Passport/ National ID card (or certified copy*) Evidence you are working. This could be a letter from your employer confirming: the date you started work, the job title, whether it is permanent, how many hours your work and how much the salary is. You should supply 3 months payslips with your application. You will need to supply evidence of continued work in September, December & March in order to maintain migrant worker status. Evidence that your family member (if applying as a relevant family member) is working. This could be a letter from their employer etc. You may need to provide evidence that you were ordinarily resident in the UK from the 1 st September and where you have been living for the 3 years preceding the course. If you are a Croatian worker you will need to supply evidence of your yellow registration certification (or of the exemption if applicable There may be additional evidence that is required and SFE will contact you to request this. You are

4 advised to supply a covering letter explaining how you meet the eligibility requirements for student finance as an EEA/Swiss Migrant Worker (or family member) We would recommend that you post your application using a service that can track the delivery. Where should I send my application? EEA Migrant Worker Applications PO Box 89 Darlington DL1 9AZ Tel: EU_migrantworkers@slc.co.uk Other useful information: Child of a Turkish National If you are the child of a Turkish national who is ordinarily resident in the UK and islands and who is, or has been lawfully employed in the UK and has been ordinarily resident on the 1 st day of the academic year and been ordinarily resident in the EEA, Switzerland or Turkey for the 3 years preceding you may be eligible for funding Migrant worker from Gibraltar If this 3 year period was just for education then you must show that you were ordinarily resident in the EEA/Switzerland immediately before that period. About us The Student Money Advice Service forms part of Anglia Ruskin University s Student Services. We offer a free and confidential advice service dealing with funding, benefits entitlement, managing your money, dealing with debt, tuition fees and a variety of other student money related issues. We can offer personalised advice and liaise with relevant bodies if required. We can be contacted: by moneyadvice@anglia.ac.uk, by telephone in person during our daily drop in (10am 12 the i-centre in Chelmsford and 3 rd floor Helmore in Cambridge) or a longer appointment can be booked. Our website which contains a lot of useful information can be found here: www. As the worker must be from an EEA country that is not the UK and Gibraltar is only a member by virtue of its connection with the UK, migrant workers from Gibraltar are not eligible for funding as a migrant worker. Persons with settled status in the UK and who have exercised a right of residence elsewhere (including their family) This is complex but you may be eligible for support. You also need to satisfy the following: Be ordinarily resident un the UK on the 1st September (or 1st January) Have been ordinarily resident in the EEA/Switzerland for the preceding 3 years Please note that information contained on this leaflet has been carefully checked and is given in good faith. Anglia Ruskin University cannot accept legal responsibility for any alterations, omissions or inaccuracies contained within it. The information covers legislation which is subject to change and students are strongly advised to check their own situation with the relevant agency before any decisions are made

5 Last updated: June 2016 Review date: Sept 2016