1.0 Income Assessment
All applicants will have their income assessed to check if they are eligible for ILA Scotland funding.
1.1 How will ILA Scotland be checking income levels?
There are a number of ways that learners can provide evidence of their income. If the learner is employed, they will be expected to provide their last three pay slips. This can be monthly or weekly pay / salary slips as appropriate. If the learner is on specific Benefits / Tax Credits, they will be asked to provide their latest Benefit entitlement statement. If any of these documents are not available, there are specific ILA Scotland forms available for their employer or for the local Jobcentre Plus office to complete.
1.2 How frequently will income details be checked?
ILA Scotland will write out to learners on an annual basis to review their income levels. A form will be sent out around 4 weeks before the end of the learner year and learners will be asked to complete and return this form, with relevant evidence of income, prior to the end of their learner year. If this income assessment form is not returned, no further funding will be added to the account until we have been able to confirm income details..
1.3 Who will conduct learner eligibility?
Income assessment will be undertaken by SAAS as part of the learner application process.
1.4 Why is the income threshold set at £18,000? Will this not exclude a number of people who have low skills but earn more than the threshold?
The income threshold relates to the individual income, not the household income. Thus, it is a considerably more generous, and inclusive, threshold than that which applies to most other broadly comparable funding mechanisms.
1.5 Does the £18,000 income level apply to both full time and part time work?
There is no distinction between employed learners who are working full or part-time. The £18,000 income level is based on individual income and is assessed using all earned income over the required period.
1.6 Does the £18,000 income limit include overtime and one-off payments?
Yes, the £18,000 per annum income limit is determined by using a snapshot of income at the time the learner makes their application. This will be based on an average of the 3 pay slips and multiplied up accordingly to create an annualised figure. However, where, on this basis, the learner’s initial income level is above the £18,000 limit and subsequently drops below £18,000 per annum, the learner can ask for a re-assessment of their ILA Scotland account.
1.7 Are self-employed people eligible? What arrangements are in place to assess income for the self-employed?
Yes. Where a learner is self-employed, they will be asked to complete a specific ILA Scotland form. This requests similar information to the Inland Revenue for the self-assessment process.
1.8 Are women returners with no income eligible and how is this assessed?
Women returners (including carers / housewives) who have earned no income are eligible, subject to them providing verifying documentation. Acceptable means of verification include award notification of National Insurance Credits (principally relevant to prospective returners to the labour market) or a confirmation from the Department of Work and Pensions of the individual’s National Insurance contribution record. In some circumstances, where no evidence is available, we will allow individuals to self certify but this will be determined on a case by case basis.
1.9 What happens if a learner’s income changes during the year?
If a learner’s income increases during the learner year, ILA Scotland does not need to know. Any changes in income will be handled during the account renewal process.
1.10 Are the income levels net or gross?
Income levels are ‘gross’ and should include bonuses, overtime, etc.