Eligibility
1. Is ILA Scotland available to everyone resident in Scotland?
ILA Scotland is available to people who have an income of £18,000 a year or less and are age 16 or over.
To apply you must be:
- a British citizen;
or
- a national of a member state of the European Economic Area who has utilised their ‘right of residence’;
or
- settled within the United Kingdom within the meaning of section 33(2A) of the Immigration Act 1971;
and
- you must be ordinarily resident* in Scotland.
Asylum Seekers
If you have any restrictions on taking up employment or seeking benefits in the UK, then you may not be eligible to make an application. If you are not sure, please supply a photocopy of your most recent Home Office documentation (or stamp on your passport), confirming your status to remain in the UK, along with your application.
*Ordinarily resident means that you live in Scotland year after year by choice, apart from temporary or occasional absences such as holidays or business trips. Living here totally or mainly for the purpose of receiving full-time education may not count as being ordinarily resident. If you are not a UK national, you must be settled in Scotland (as set out in the Immigration Act 1971) immediately before the date on which you made your application.
2. Can someone resident outside of Scotland get funding from ILA Scotland?
No. You must be ordinarily resident in Scotland as described above to receive funding from ILA Scotland.
3. Are Forces Personnel eligible?
Yes. Under the temporary non-resident arrangements, forces personnel are treated as being resident at the establishment where they are based. If they are ordinarily resident in Scotland but are serving overseas, they would be eligible.
4. Who will handle residency questions?
Basic eligibility questions will be asked when you contact the ILA Scotland helpline.