University Students: Claiming Housing Benefits And Support

Most full-time university students cannot claim Housing Benefit. This is because the government expects them to use other sources of money, such as grants, student loans, or access funds, to pay their rent. However, there are some exceptions. For example, if you are already claiming Housing Benefit and start studying full-time, you may be able to continue receiving it.

Exceptions to the rule

Generally, full-time university students cannot claim Housing Benefit or Universal Credit. However, there are exceptions to this rule.

• Non-advanced education: If you are under 21 and taking a non-advanced course (e.g. A Levels), you can usually claim Universal Credit. This age limit can sometimes be extended to 22.
• Parental support: If you are under 21, in full-time non-advanced education, and do not have parental support (e.g. if you've been asked to leave home), you may be able to claim Universal Credit.
• Responsibility for a child: If you are a full-time student and a parent or foster parent responsible for a child under 16 or a 16-19-year-old in full-time non-advanced education, you could claim Universal Credit.
• Living with a partner: If you live with a partner who is not a student and you have a low income, you could claim Universal Credit. You will need to make a joint claim.
• Disability benefits: If you receive certain disability benefits, such as Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), or Attendance Allowance, you may be able to claim Universal Credit or continue claiming Housing Benefit.
• Pension age: If you are of pension age, you could claim Housing Benefit instead of Universal Credit.
• Continuing a claim: If you already receive Housing Benefit, you may be able to continue claiming it while studying, provided you meet certain conditions.
• Income Support: If you are a full-time student and receive Income Support, you may be able to continue claiming Housing Benefit or receive your maximum entitlement of Housing Benefit.
• Foster carer: If you are a lone foster carer with a child formally placed with you, you may be able to claim Universal Credit or continue claiming Housing Benefit.
• Blindness: If you or your partner are registered blind, you may be eligible for Universal Credit or be able to continue claiming Housing Benefit.
• Long-term sickness or disability: If you have been unable to work due to sickness or disability for at least 28 weeks, you may be able to claim Universal Credit or continue claiming Housing Benefit.
• Deafness: If you qualify for a Disabled Student's Allowance because you are deaf, you may be eligible for Universal Credit or be able to continue claiming Housing Benefit.
• Time out from study: If you take time out from your course due to illness or caring responsibilities, you may be able to claim Universal Credit or continue claiming Housing Benefit.
• Over 66: If you are over 66 and neither you nor your partner are receiving certain benefits (Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, or income-related Employment and Support Allowance), you may be eligible for Housing Benefit.

Part-time students

If you are a part-time student, you can no longer make new claims for Housing Benefit unless you are over 66 or live in temporary or supported accommodation. If you are already receiving Housing Benefit, you may be able to continue receiving it if you start studying part-time. However, if you are under 66 and receive student support in the form of a grant or loan, the amount of Housing Benefit you can get will usually be reduced.

If you don't already receive Housing Benefit and need help with your rent, you will need to claim Universal Credit. You can usually claim Universal Credit as long as you meet your claimant commitment conditions, such as looking for jobs. Speak to your job centre work coach about your part-time course when you apply.

If you are under 21 and cannot live with your parents, you can usually claim Universal Credit as a part-time student if your course is classed as non-advanced education (up to A-level or equivalent). This means that you must be in a situation where your parents do not help you financially. For example, if you've been asked to leave home or would be at risk there.

You can also claim Universal Credit if you are a part-time student and:

• You live with a partner who is not a student, and you have a low income (you need to make a joint claim).
• You are a parent or foster carer with a dependent child under 16 or a 16-19-year-old in full-time non-advanced education.
• You get certain disability benefits, such as Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment.
• You are pension age.

Students with children

If you are a full-time university student and a parent, you may be able to claim benefits to help with your rent. However, most students cannot claim Universal Credit.

If you are a lone parent or a couple with children, and you are both full-time students, you may be able to claim Housing Benefit or Universal Credit. If you are already claiming Housing Benefit, you may be able to continue receiving it while you study. If you are under 21 and cannot live with your parents, you can usually claim Universal Credit as a full-time student if your course is non-advanced (school or college level, not university-level). You will need to demonstrate that you do not have parental support.

If you are a full-time student and a parent or foster parent with a dependent child under 16, or a 16-19-year-old in full-time non-advanced education, you could claim Universal Credit. If you share custody of a child, you can only claim Universal Credit if your child normally lives with you.

If you are a lone foster carer with a child formally placed with you by a local authority or voluntary agency, you may be able to claim Housing Benefit.

Your student loan will be viewed as income and will adjust the level of living and housing cost support you receive.

Students with disabilities

If you are a full-time student with a disability, you may be able to claim Universal Credit, depending on your circumstances. If you are getting certain disability benefits, you can claim Universal Credit as a full-time student if the DWP says you have a limited capability for work. This includes if you are getting:

• Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Attendance Allowance
• Armed Forces Independence Payment

You may also be able to get Universal Credit if you are disabled, have been assessed as having limited capability for work before starting your course, and are studying full-time non-advanced education. In this case, you must also be available for work and not receive a student loan or maintenance grant.

If you are already claiming Housing Benefit and have a disability, you may be able to continue receiving it while studying full-time if you meet certain conditions. These include:

• Receiving Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), or Attendance Allowance
• Qualifying for a Disabled Student's Allowance because you are deaf
• Being unable to work due to sickness or disability for at least 28 weeks

Additionally, if you are under 21 and on a non-advanced course, you may be able to claim Universal Credit. This can be extended to age 22 in certain circumstances.

Students without parental support

If you are a full-time student without parental support, you may be able to claim Universal Credit (UC) if you meet certain conditions. You can usually claim UC as long as you meet your claimant commitment conditions, such as looking for jobs. You need to be in a situation where your parents do not help you, for example, if you've been asked to leave home or would be at risk there.

You can usually claim UC as a full-time student if your course is classed as non-advanced education, meaning a course that is school or college level, such as A-levels. It does not include university study or courses for a degree-level qualification. You may be eligible for UC if:

• You are on a full-time course of non-advanced education or training that started before you turned 21, and you will reach the age of 21 while on the course.
• You can continue to get UC until the end of the academic year in which you turn 21 or the end of the course, if it ends before you turn 21.
• You are responsible for a child, which may include an adopted or foster child.

If you are under 21 and on a non-advanced course, the age can sometimes be extended to 22. If you are over 66 and neither you nor your partner are getting Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, or income-related Employment and Support Allowance, you may qualify for guaranteed Pension Credit and receive maximum entitlement to Housing Benefit.

Your student income, such as loans and grants, can affect how much UC you get. Loans for maintenance, such as living costs and rent, are regarded as income and are taken into account when calculating your UC. Loans for tuition fees and other study costs are excluded.

Frequently asked questions