This depends on the reason you need additional funding:
- extending your course
- mitigating circumstances
- disability
- maternity or adoption leave
- paternity or adoption leave
Extending your course
If you cannot complete the course in the time normally required, your payments may be extended for up to 12 months to allow you to complete your training.
You must continue to meet the general NHS LSF eligibility criteria to apply for this.
If you're extending your course without attendance, you're not eligible for additional funding.
Mitigating circumstances
Your university will consider if you have mitigating circumstances.
Mitigating circumstances include:
- ill health
- mental health
- bereavement
- maternity
- caring responsibilities which do not include your own children
Caring responsibilities will not be accepted on their own. Clarification of your responsibilities must be provided.
Cases of academic failure will not be accepted if there are no other mitigating circumstances.
Disability
The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) and Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) may agree to continue payments of the NHS LSF if you're absent because of your disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010.
They may agree to continue payments of the NHS LSF if you need more time to complete your course and if doing so amounts to a reasonable adjustment.
Maternity or adoption leave
You may be entitled to up to 12 months maternity or adoption leave where you continue to receive NHS LSF payments.
This must be authorised by your university who must also tell us.
Paternity or adoption leave
You may be entitled to up to 4 weeks paternity or adoption leave where you continue to receive NHS LSF payments.
This must be authorised by your university who must also tell us.
How to apply
Contact your university to discuss your circumstances.
They'll decide if they'll request additional funding for you.
Additional funding can only be requested by your university once you've returned to active study.
You'll not normally need to reapply for the NHS LSF. If you do need to reapply, you'll be told about this once the request from your university has been processed.
After you've applied
All additional funding requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis within 25 working days.
Your university will be contacted if any further information is needed.
Request approved
You'll be contacted with details of any payments you're entitled to.
If your request is:
- under 36 weeks, you'll be entitled to the exact number of weeks your request is for
- 36 weeks or more, you'll be entitled to a full academic year of funding
If your request is after your final year, you must reapply if the request is for more than 36 weeks. When applying, use the academic year the additional funding takes place in.
You can apply for Travel and Dual Accommodation Expenses (TDAE) and the Exceptional Support Fund (ESF) once your additional funding has been approved.
If an application for TDAE or ESF is submitted before the funding has been approved, it will be pended awaiting the outcome of the additional funding request.
You must contact your university to submit a new change request if you:
- disagree with the additional funding dates
- need to extend the original additional funding period
Request rejected
You'll be contacted with the reasons for this.