PURPOSE
To identify the allowable costs assessed by StudentAid BC when calculating a student’s total educational costs.
POLICY
A basic principle of the Canada Student Loan Program and StudentAid BC is that the government, where needed, will supplement a student’s resources to help the student meet the costs of post-secondary education. For the purpose of the need assessment, the costs of post-secondary study include both education and living costs based on a moderate standard of living. See Chapter 14.
For some costs, ceilings and standard allowances have been established. These ceilings and allowances are set out in Chapter 14.
Overview of allowable costs
Chapter 7: Financial Need Assessment Process 2015-2016
StudentAid BC Policy Manual Effective date: August 1, 2015 92
2. Books and supplies (includes computer and computer-related costs)
The actual amount for mandatory books and supplies (includes computer and computer-related costs) as per the approved Institutional Appendix or Appendix 3, subject to the limits identified in Table 2 in Chapter 14.
3. Exceptional education costs
The actual amount for field trips, practicums and clinical placements (provided they are an essential element of the program) as per the approved Institutional Appendix or Appendix 3.
For students who are required to travel to a different location as a mandatory part of their program, the Institutional Appendix or Appendix 3 may allow travel expenses. See Chapter 2.
4. Student living allowance
A. Standard allowance for living costs
Standard allowances for living costs have been established by federal officials for each category of student. These allowances depend on the student’s living situation and the province in which the student is studying. The standard monthly allowances are intended to cover the costs incurred for shelter, food, local transportation and miscellaneous expenses based on a moderate standard of living found in Table 3 in Chapter 14.
Living costs for students who are studying outside Canada are assessed based on the B.C. rate. The living costs for students studying in another province will be based on costs for that province and may differ from the B.C. rate.
See Table 3 in Chapter 14.
B. Students living in self-contained suites
A student may be assessed as ‘living away from home’ if:
they are living in a self-contained suite in their parent(s), step-parent(s), sponsor’s or legal guardian’s home,
the suite has a separate entrance, kitchen, bathroom and living area/bedroom and
the student is paying fair market rent and is responsible for his/her share of the utilities (hydro, telephone, cable, etc. if not included in rent).
The appropriate living allowances would be considered in the assessment. This may be done on the original application. In such instances, the student should mark the “No” box for Question 48 on the application.
C. Married and common-law students
If the student’s spouse will also be a full-time student for at least 12 weeks during the applicant’s study period, the sum of the student living allowance and dependent allowance should be cut in half.
If a married or common-law student and spouse are maintaining separate residences during the student’s study period, the calculated moderate standard of living will be the B.C. rate in recognition of the high cost of living in B.C. compared to other provinces. Additionally, the student is eligible to receive a separate residence allowance during the study period.
Note: If the student is a permanent resident of Canada and the spouse and children are not, the student is assessed as a single student. Students may submit a Request for Appeal form asking that they be assessed as married or common law. In such instances, it would be expected that Canada Revenue Agency would
Chapter 7: Financial Need Assessment Process 2015-2016
recognize the family for taxation purposes, and appropriate documentation must be included with the appeal.
D. Common-law students
Considered common law
Students who have cohabited with a person in a marriage-like relationship for a period of at least one year (12 months) as of the first day of classes are deemed to be in a common-law relationship. These students are considered to be married for the purposes of StudentAid BC. The student and spouse will be assessed as per the StudentAid BC married assessment.
Not considered common law
If the student has cohabited with a person in a marriage-like relationship for a period of less than one year (12 months) as of the first day of classes, the student is not considered to be in a common-law relationship. These students are considered single students for the purposes of StudentAid BC. The student will be assessed as per the StudentAid BC single student assessment.
If the student has cohabited with a person in a marriage-like relationship for a period of less than one year (12 months) as of the first day of classes and there is a child of the union, the student is not considered to be in a common-law relationship. These students are considered single-parent students for the purposes of StudentAid BC. The student will be assessed as per the StudentAid BC single-parent student assessment.
If both the student and common-law partner are full-time students and there is a child of the union, they are both considered to be single parents for the purposes of StudentAid BC and will be assessed as per the StudentAid BC single-parent assessment policies.
E. Students with dependant(s)
For students with dependant(s), a dependant(s) allowance from Table 3 in Chapter 14 is added to the student living allowance described above.
The age of the dependent child or children is calculated as of the study period start date in the year in which the study period begins. Dependent children, age 18 or under, are eligible for the dependant allowance consideration.
F. Students with dependants attending post-secondary studies
If a student also has dependent children in post-secondary study, the student’s children will be considered in the need assessment up to the age of 22.
If the dependent children are over the age of 22, the student must submit a Request for Appeal form.
G. Students with foster children
Foster children may also be included as dependants provided all foster parent income is declared on either the application form or Appendix 2 (Spouse/Common-Law Partner Information). In the case of parents of a Dependent (Group A) student, foster parent income is declared on line 7 of Appendix 1 (Parent(s)/Step-Parent/Sponsor/Legal Guardian Information). This includes income received for the children and any income received by the foster parent(s) for themselves.
Chapter 7: Financial Need Assessment Process 2015-2016
StudentAid BC Policy Manual Effective date: August 1, 2015 94
5. Return transportation
The following students are eligible for a return transportation allowance, provided they are not taking studies by distance education, blended learning or an online program:
Dependent (Group A) students who must leave their home community to attend post-secondary studies,
married or common-law students who must live separately in another community from their spouse and
Independent (Group B) single or single parent students whose permanent place of residence is normally their parent’s home and they are living away from home in another community solely for purposes of full-time study during the study period indicated on line 41 and 42 of the application.
If the student falls into one of the three situations above, the student’s indication of the cost of return
transportation from line 52 of the application is assessed subject to the limits indicated in Table 12 in Chapter 14.
6. Child care
Child care costs are available to married, common-law and single parent students with dependent children aged 11 years and under as of the class start date. These costs are assessed using the amount indicated in the application on line 50 plus line 16C of Appendix 2 (Spouse/Common-Law Partner Information), subject to a maximum of $268 per week per child for each week of the study period as per Table 4 in Chapter 14.
A married or common-law student may not claim any child care costs for children aged 11 years or under if the student’s spouse is exempt from making a contribution during the study period due to being at home caring for the children.
If the student’s spouse will also be a full-time student for at least 12 weeks during the applicant’s study period, cut the calculated child care costs in half.
7. Other allowable costs
In addition to the standard assessment items described above, StudentAid BC may assess other allowable costs that include:
separate residence allowance for married or common-law applicants,
regular student loan payments for the spouse of a married or common-law applicant,
tuition and books not covered by student financial assistance and
child support/spousal support payments.
These costs are totaled in line 8 of the summary chart. See Chapter 13.
Note: An additional transportation allowance will be considered on a Request for Appeal basis only.
Separate residence allowance for married and common-law students
In addition to the married/common-law student living allowance, married or common-law students who need to live away from the usual family home (in a different city) to pursue their studies may be assessed an additional allowance of $122 per week of the study period to assist with the costs of maintaining a separate residence.
To determine whether an applicant will be maintaining a separate residence while attending post-secondary studies, check line 10C of Appendix 2.
Chapter 7: Financial Need Assessment Process 2015-2016
Do not cut the separate residence allowance in half if the spouse will also be a full-time student for at least 12 weeks during the applicant’s study period.
Regular student loan payments for spouse
If the spouse of a married or common-law applicant is making regular student loan payments during the study period, these costs can be included. Refer to line 16 of Appendix 2 (Spouse/Common-Law Partner Information).
Do not cut the repayment cost in half if the spouse will also be a full-time student for at least 12 weeks during the applicant’s study period.
Tuition and books not covered by student financial assistance
If the spouse of a married student indicates that they have tuition and book costs during the study period that are not covered by student financial assistance, these costs up to a maximum of $1,000 may be included. Refer to line 12B of Appendix 2 (Spouse/Common-Law Partner Information).
Do not cut the costs outlined in Chapter 7, section 3(c) in half.
Child support/spousal support payments
Child support and spousal support payments may be included as a cost to the student. These costs are assessed as the amount indicated in the application on line 51 and in Appendix 2 (Spouse/Common-Law Partner Information) on line 12B, subject to a maximum of $130 per week for each week of the study period. The maximum allowable is equal to the total one child dependent allowance for the study period from Table 3 in Chapter 14.
The maximum is set at the ‘one child only’ allowance as the number of children for whom child support/spousal support is being paid will be unknown.
For married or common-law students, if the spouse will also be a full-time student for at least 12 weeks during the applicant’s study period, cut this amount in half.
8. Discretionary costs
In addition to the standard assessment items and the other allowable costs described above, Case Review Unit staff have the discretion to include other costs and/or to adjust resource assessments to reflect individual situations.
These adjustments would be in response to documented emergency or extraordinary circumstances, or situations that would prevent a student from continuing their studies. The adjustments to student financial assistance are subject to the standard calculation process with respect to assessed need and the weekly maximums set out in Chapter 8. These adjustments are considered on an appeal basis only. See Chapter 13.
Chapter 7: Financial Need Assessment Process 2015-2016
StudentAid BC Policy Manual Effective date: August 1, 2015 96