Savanna Hoffman
Universal Credit is a monthly payment to help people on low incomes or out of work with their living costs. Full-time students are usually ineligible for Universal Credit. However, there are exceptions to this rule. Students may be able to claim Universal Credit if they are a single parent, live with a non-student partner, have children, or are disabled. Students under 21 on a non-advanced course without parental support may also be eligible for Universal Credit. Additionally, students who have taken time out from their course due to illness or caring responsibilities may be eligible. Students in full-time non-advanced education who do not receive a student loan or maintenance grant and are available for work may be eligible for Universal Credit.
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What You'll Learn
- Full-time students are usually excluded from claiming Universal Credit
- Exceptions: if you are under 21, in non-advanced education, and without parental support
- Other exceptions: if you are disabled, foster a child, or have received a Migration Notice
- Student income, e.g. loans and grants, will affect how much Universal Credit you get
- If you are a full-time student, you may be able to get a non-repayable grant from the government
Full-time students are usually excluded from claiming Universal Credit
There are, however, some exceptions to this rule. For instance, if you are a full-time student with a partner who is eligible for Universal Credit, you may be able to claim it as well. Additionally, if you are a single parent or responsible for a child, you may also be eligible, regardless of whether you are studying full-time or part-time. This is also the case if you are aged 21 or under, studying at a non-advanced level, and do not have parental support.
Full-time students who have taken time out of their course due to illness or caring responsibilities may also be eligible for Universal Credit. To be eligible, they must have recovered or had their responsibilities end and be waiting to return to their course. Students who have received a Migration Notice telling them to move to Universal Credit may also be able to claim it.
It is important to note that even if a full-time student meets the criteria for an exception, their student income, such as loans and grants, will be taken into account when calculating their Universal Credit payment. This can significantly impact the amount they receive.
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Exceptions: if you are under 21, in non-advanced education, and without parental support
Students in full-time education are usually unable to claim Universal Credit. However, there are exceptions to this rule. If you are under 21, in non-advanced education, and without parental support, you may be eligible to claim Universal Credit.
Non-advanced education includes any course up to A-Level or its equivalent, such as Scottish Highers or National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ) up to Level 3. If you are studying for a qualification above this level, you are in advanced education and will not be eligible for Universal Credit under this exception.
You may be considered to be without parental support if you have no parents or if your parents are unable to support you due to disability, imprisonment, or refusal of entry to the UK. If you have left care provided by the local council, you may also be considered to be without parental support.
To be eligible for Universal Credit, you must also be available for work. If your course is more than 12 hours a week, you must be over 19 years old. This is because your parents can claim benefits for you before that date. You may be asked to provide evidence of your course, such as proof that you are studying more than 12 hours a week or that you have left local council care.
If you are a full-time student and meet the above criteria, you may be able to claim Universal Credit to help with your living costs. Universal Credit is a monthly payment for those who are out of work or on a low income. Your eligibility will depend on your income and savings, as well as those of your partner if you have one.
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Other exceptions: if you are disabled, foster a child, or have received a Migration Notice
Other exceptions
If you are disabled
If you are disabled, you may be able to claim Universal Credit as a full-time student if you meet certain conditions. You must be assessed as having a limited capability for work before starting your course and be receiving one of the following benefits: Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA), or Attendance Allowance.
If you foster a child
If you are a foster carer, you may be able to claim Universal Credit as a full-time student, but you will still need to declare all fostering payments you receive on your claim form. The fostering payments should be fully disregarded when calculating the amount of Universal Credit you will receive. Single foster carers with a child aged over one but under 16 are only required to attend 'work-focused interviews' and do not have any other work-related requirements until the child reaches 16. Foster carer couples must nominate a 'lead carer', who is generally not required to look for work as a condition of getting benefits.
If you have received a Migration Notice
If you have received a Migration Notice letter, you may be able to claim Universal Credit as a full-time student, even if you have money, savings, and investments of more than £16,000. You must claim by the deadline date in your letter, which is usually within three months of receiving the notice. If you miss the deadline, your benefit entitlement will end.
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Student income, e.g. loans and grants, will affect how much Universal Credit you get
Generally, full-time students are not eligible for Universal Credit. However, there are exceptions. You may be able to claim Universal Credit if you're a full-time student and any of the following apply:
- You're aged 21 or under, in full-time non-advanced education (up to A-level or equivalent), and do not have parental support.
- You've reached the qualifying age for Pension Credit and live with a partner who is under that age.
- You've received a Migration Notice telling you to move to Universal Credit.
- You're disabled, were assessed as having limited capability for work before starting your course, and are getting Attendance Allowance, Pension Age Disability Payment, Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, Adult Disability Payment, or Child Disability Payment.
- You're a single parent with a child under one and have no work-related requirements.
- You're claiming Universal Credit as a student who has taken time out from your course due to illness or caring responsibilities.
If you're eligible for Universal Credit as a student, your student income, such as loans and grants, will affect how much Universal Credit you receive. Loans for maintenance, such as living costs and rent, are considered income and are taken into account when calculating your Universal Credit. For every £1 you're entitled to receive from a maintenance loan, your Universal Credit will be reduced by £1. The maximum student maintenance loan you're eligible for will be considered. However, loans for tuition fees and other costs of study are excluded.
Special Support Loans or Grants, introduced from the 2024/25 academic year, do not count as income for Universal Credit. These loans or grants are intended to cover travel, childcare, and study costs. One-off payments from discretionary funds also do not count as income; instead, they are considered capital. If household capital/savings are less than £6,000, they do not affect Universal Credit. If they are between £6,000 and £16,000, Universal Credit is reduced, and if they exceed £16,000, no Universal Credit can be awarded.
Postgraduate Master's Loans in England and Wales include maintenance and tuition fees in a single payment. When calculating Universal Credit, 30% of the loan is considered student income, while the remaining 70% is ignored. A similar rule applies to Postgraduate Doctoral Loans.
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If you are a full-time student, you may be able to get a non-repayable grant from the government
Generally, full-time students are not eligible for Universal Credit as it is a benefit for those who are out of work or on a low income. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. You may be able to claim Universal Credit as a full-time student if any of the following apply:
- You are aged 21 or under, studying any qualification up to A-level or equivalent, and do not have parental support.
- You are in full-time non-advanced education, do not get a student loan or maintenance grant, and are available for work. This only applies from 1 September following your 19th birthday as parents can claim benefits for you before that date.
- You are responsible for a child, either as a single person or as a couple.
- You have reached the qualifying age for Pension Credit and live with a partner who is under that age.
- You have received a Migration Notice telling you to move to Universal Credit.
- You are disabled, were assessed as having limited capability for work before starting your course, and are receiving certain benefits.
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Frequently asked questions
Universal Credit is a monthly payment to help with living costs for those on a low income or out of work. Full-time students are usually excluded from claiming means-tested benefits. However, there are some exceptions where full-time students can claim Universal Credit:
- If you are 21 or under, studying any qualification up to A-level or equivalent, and do not have parental support.
- If you are a single foster parent or a couple where one of you is a foster parent and the other is a student.
- If you have been assessed as having limited capability for work before starting your course, and are getting certain benefits such as Attendance Allowance, Adult Disability Payment, or Personal Independence Payment.
- If you are a full-time student with a partner who is not a student, they may be able to claim means-tested benefits for both of you.
- If you are on a full-time course of non-advanced education, do not get a student loan or maintenance grant, and are available for work.
Full-time education is usually defined as a course that is more than 12 hours a week, and this only applies from 1 September following your 19th birthday. The education or training provider usually decides whether a course is full-time.
Student income, such as loans and grants, is usually counted as income for Universal Credit and can affect how much you get. Loans for maintenance, such as living costs and rent, are considered income, while loans for tuition fees and other study costs are excluded.
If you are a full-time student, you may be eligible for a non-repayable government grant to help with accommodation and living costs. There are also grants for childcare, tuition fees, and examination fees. You may also be able to claim 'new-style' ESA or JSA in certain circumstances, such as if you have taken time out from your course due to illness or caring responsibilities.
You can check your eligibility and claim Universal Credit on the official government website. You may be asked to provide evidence of your course. If you need help claiming Universal Credit, you can contact the Universal Credit helpline.
