Thousands can claim cost of living cash worth up to £2,000 to help pay bills

14 November 2023 , 07:03

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Thousands of students at the University of Manchester can claim the support (Image: Getty Images)

Thousands of people are able to claim a grant worth up to £2,000 to help with the cost of living.

The money is being paid by the University of Manchester through their Cost of Living Support Fund which is providing grants from £250 up to £2,000. The scheme exists through donations from alumni and other external groups and the money is being paid to students who are "unexpectedly suffering financial hardship".

The fund is open all year round and all students - regardless of level of study, nationality, or social background - can apply for cash to help with food insecurity, utility bills such as energy, council tax, or water, and address any other issues arising from financial hardship.

The amount of money you will receive is decided on a case by case basis after your personal situation has been assessed. Manchester University listed several examples of where students could be granted cost of living support funds, these examples include:

• You may be relying on part-time work, or struggling to find sufficient part time work, to supplement your living expenses
• You may be a student whose sponsors have withdrawn funding, or where payments are delayed
• You may be an international student experiencing difficulties in transferring funds from overseas.

To be paid the money, you will need to make an application through the University of Manchester's website here. As part of the application, you will need to provide the following - wherever applicable:

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• Proof of funding - Student Finance Entitlement Letter, NHS Bursary Notification of Award, etc
• A copy of your tenancy agreement which shows your rent amount and schedule of payments or evidence of monthly mortgage payments
• Evidence of Council Tax
• Evidence of Priority Debts
• Evidence of any other income
• Evidence of medical costs
• Birth Certificates of Relevant Children
• Evidence of childcare costs/copy of offer letter from Nursery
• Evidence of state support (Working Tax Credits, Child Tax Credits, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit)
• Evidence of partner’s income

As part of your application, will also need to provide your bank details.

The University website says assessment periods will vary depending on the "complexity" of the case and that at the moment it will take three working weeks to process the application. If successful, you will be notified over email and you should expect to receive payment within ten working days.

If you are unsure whether to make an application, the university's website says: "Even if you believe that your situation isn't as serious as some of your peers, if you're struggling with financial hardship we can support you. There is no shame in asking for help."

Ruby Flanagan