ILA Scotland

If you receive £200 funding we will send you a form towards the end of your learner year to confirm your income.  You should complete this and return it to us with proof of your income.  If you don’t return this form to us no further funding will be added to your account and you won’t be able to use your account until we have confirmed your income.

Can I carry over any funds to next year?

No.  The funds in your account are available for 12 months only.  If you do not use the full amount you won’t be able to carry it over to the next year.  However, if you return your income assessment form and your income is still £18,000 a year or less, your account will start again with fresh funds added.

Can I do more than one course per year?

Yes, if you do not use all of your available ILA Scotland funds on one course.  After every course you book we will write to tell you how much you have left to spend.

What happens if I lose my learning token?

If you lose your learning token, call the helpline on 0808 100 1090 and let our advisers know.  They will arrange for a replacement token to be issued.

If I choose a course and decide not to go ahead with it, what do I do?

If you change your mind, you have to let the learning provider know that you want to cancel your course booking.  If you change your mind about a course after you have started attending classes, and have already paid for the course, funds will only be paid back to your account at the discretion of the learning provider.

What happens if the course I choose is cancelled?

If a course is cancelled before it starts, the money will be refunded back into your account.  We will write to tell you this has happened so you will know that the funds have been paid back into your account and are available for you to use again.

Do I always have to make a contribution?

Yes, you will always have to make a contribution to the cost of your course.  The minimum amount you have to pay is £10 but this may be more depending on the total cost of the course and the amount of funds you have in your account.  There are no exceptions to this, so any learning provider who offers you your training free is breaking the rules of the scheme.  It is also against the rules for learning providers to refund your personal contribution, unless you decide not to do your course with them.  (In that case, it will be between you and your learning provider to agree any refund.)

Do I have to pay VAT on my contribution?

Some learning providers may have to charge VAT.  If so, you will have to pay VAT on any part of the course price not covered by your ILA Scotland funds.  You should always check with your learning provider about this and understand what the total amount you will have to pay will be, before you make your final choice.

The learning provider I wish to use says they are unable to give me the total cost of my course, including VAT, until they know how much my personal contribution to the course will be.  Is this correct?

Yes.  The price shown on the ILA Scotland website excludes VAT and for the majority of learning providers, the price you see will be the price that you will pay.  However some private training providers have to charge VAT on the services they provide.  Fortunately they do not have to charge VAT on the money provided by ILA Scotland, only on the balance of the course price which is your personal contribution.

This means the final price you pay for the course will change depending on the amount of VAT due on your personal contribution.  This is shown on the table of VAT examples.

Can I close my account at any time? 

Yes, you can close your account whenever you wish.  However, if you decide to open another account within 12 months of closing your first one, you will be given the same account number and will be credited with the unused balance of funds that were in your first account when you closed it.

What if my circumstances change?

It is important that you keep us up-to-date with any changes in your personal details, for example if you move house, or change your name.

If we don’t have your up-to-date details, we can’t send your booking confirmation and learning token to you. This would mean you would be unable to use your ILA Scotland funds to pay for any courses you book.

If you previously earned more than £18,000 per year and your income drops below £18,000 per year or you start claiming benefits you may be eligible for another £100 funding from ILA Scotland. If you think this applies to you, call the helpline and we’ll send you a form to complete so that we can assess your funding entitlement.

All you have to do to update your details is call the helpline free on 0808 100 1090.

   For £500 account holders

Can I get £500 every year that I am studying?

Yes, you can re-apply for funding every year that you are at college or university (as long as your circumstances haven’t changed). 

Do I have to open a new account every year?

A £500 account runs for an academic year and like full-time higher education students, you will need to re-apply for every year of your course.  You can re-apply online or by calling the ILA Scotland helpline on 0808 100 1090.

What happens if I leave my course?

If you decide to leave your course before ILA Scotland has made a payment to your college or university, you may be required to pay the course fees in full.  You should ask your college or university for more information about their course withdrawal arrangements.

What if my circumstances change and I can’t continue to study at 50% or more?

If your circumstances change please contact your learning provider to discuss the options available to you.  Alternatively call the ILA Scotland helpline free on 0808 100 1090.

Can I also open a £200 account?

No, you can only have one account open at a time.  If you have a £500 account then, at the end of your academic year, you could apply for a £200 account.  However, you would then not be able to re-apply for a further £500 funding until the end of the learner year for your £200 account.

What if my circumstances change?

It is important that you keep us up-to-date with any changes in your personal details, for example if you move house, or change your name.  All you have to do to update your details is call the helpline free on 0808 100 1090.