Lana Oconnell
Universal Credit is a monthly payment to help with living costs in the UK. It was introduced in 2013 to replace six previous 'legacy' benefits, including working tax credit, housing benefit, and child tax credit. Students are usually ineligible for Universal Credit, except in specific circumstances. These include having children, living with a non-student partner, being disabled, or being a young student in non-advanced education with no parental support. Students with refugee status in the UK may also be eligible. International students, on the other hand, are generally exempt from claiming Universal Credit.
Eligibility for Universal Credit as a Student
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full-time student | Generally not eligible for Universal Credit. |
| Full-time student with no student income | May be eligible for Universal Credit if the course is compatible with work-related requirements. |
| Full-time student with student income | Student income, including loans and grants, is considered when calculating Universal Credit. |
| Full-time student with no parental support | May be eligible for Universal Credit if under 21 years old and studying up to A-level or equivalent. |
| Full-time student with parental support | Generally not eligible for Universal Credit. |
| Full-time student with a partner | May be eligible for Universal Credit if the partner is eligible for Universal Credit or they are jointly responsible for a child. |
| Full-time student with a disability | May be eligible for Universal Credit if assessed as having limited capability for work before starting the course and receiving specific disability benefits. |
| Full-time student with a Migration Notice | May be eligible for Universal Credit, even if not meeting standard student criteria. |
| Part-time student | May be eligible for Universal Credit if available for work. |
| Student income during holidays | Student income is not deducted from Universal Credit during the summer holidays. |
| Student grants and loans | Loans for tuition fees are excluded, while maintenance loans and grants are considered income. |
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What You'll Learn
Full-time students and eligibility
Generally, full-time students are not eligible for Universal Credit. However, there are exceptions to this rule.
If you are a full-time student, you may be able to claim Universal Credit if you are:
- Responsible for a child, either as a single person or as part of a couple.
- Pregnant and expecting your baby in the next 11 weeks.
- Aged 21 or under, studying any qualification up to A-Level or equivalent, and do not have parental support.
- In full-time non-advanced education, do not get a student loan or maintenance grant, and are available for work.
- In receipt of a Migration Notice telling you to move to Universal Credit.
- Disabled, were assessed as having limited capability for work before starting your course, and are receiving Attendance Allowance, Pension Age Disability Payment, Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, Adult Disability Payment, or Child Disability Payment.
- In receipt of a Special Support Loan or Grant, which does not count as income for Universal Credit.
It is important to note that your student income, such as loans and grants, can affect the amount of Universal Credit you receive. Loans for maintenance, such as living costs and rent, are considered income, while loans for tuition fees and other costs of study are excluded.
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Part-time students and eligibility
Universal Credit is a monthly payment to help with living costs for people on low incomes or out of work. If you are a student, your eligibility for Universal Credit depends on whether you are studying full-time or part-time, your income, and your personal circumstances.
If you are a part-time student, you may be eligible for Universal Credit if you are available for work. If your course is more than 12 hours a week (from 1 September following your 19th birthday), you may be asked to provide evidence of your course. Your attendance may be agreed upon with your work coach as part of your claimant commitment, as it could increase your chances of finding or staying in work.
Your student income, such as maintenance loans and grants, will affect how much Universal Credit you receive. Loans for tuition fees are excluded. The maximum student maintenance loan you are eligible for will be taken into account when calculating your Universal Credit payments. This applies even if you have received a reduced loan due to contributions from a parent, guardian, or partner, or if you receive a grant.
Universal Credit is typically paid once or twice a month, depending on your circumstances. This is called your 'assessment period'. During each assessment period, any maintenance income you receive will be considered when calculating your Universal Credit payments. However, no student income will be deducted from your Universal Credit if the assessment period covers the first day of the summer holidays or if you are on holiday for the entire assessment period.
If you receive a Special Support Loan or Grant, this will not be deducted from your Universal Credit. A Special Support Loan or Grant provides assistance with study-related costs such as books, equipment, and travel. You may be eligible for this if you are a lone parent or have certain disabilities.
It is important to note that if you have a health condition that affects your ability to work, you may be entitled to extra money through Universal Credit. Additionally, if you are in the armed forces and stationed abroad, you can still apply for Universal Credit, but you must use a specific address.
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Student income and Universal Credit
Universal Credit is a monthly payment to help with living costs for people who are on a low income or out of work. Generally, you cannot get Universal Credit if you are studying full-time, but there are exceptions.
Full-time students
If you are a full-time student, you may be able to claim Universal Credit if any of the following apply:
- You are 21 or under, studying any qualification up to A-level or equivalent, and do not have parental support.
- You are responsible for a child, either as a single person or as a couple.
- 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 getting Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, Adult Disability Payment, or Child Disability Payment.
- You are studying in full-time non-advanced education, you do not get a student loan or maintenance grant, and you are available for work.
- You are claiming Universal Credit as a student who has taken time out from your course due to illness or caring responsibilities.
Part-time students
If you are studying part-time, you may be able to get Universal Credit if you are available for work. Your student income, such as loans and grants, can affect how much Universal Credit you receive. Loans for maintenance, such as living costs and rent, are considered income and will be taken into account when calculating your Universal Credit payments. However, loans for tuition fees and other costs of study are excluded.
It is important to note that the eligibility criteria for Universal Credit can be complex, and individual circumstances may vary. For specific advice, it is recommended to seek guidance from a benefits advisor or a relevant government website.
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Special Support Loans and Universal Credit
Generally, you cannot get Universal Credit if you are a full-time student. However, there are exceptions to this rule. You may be able to claim Universal Credit if you are a full-time student and meet the following criteria:
- You are aged 21 or under, studying any qualification up to A-level or equivalent, and do not have parental support.
- You are responsible for a child, either as a single person or as a couple.
- You have received a Migration Notice letter telling you to move to Universal Credit.
- You have reached State Pension age and live with a partner who is below that age.
- You have been assessed as having a limited capability for work before starting your course.
If you are a part-time student, you may be able to claim Universal Credit if you are available for work.
When calculating Universal Credit, your student income, such as maintenance loans and grants, is taken into account and can affect how much Universal Credit you receive. However, if you receive a Special Support Loan or Grant, this will not be deducted from your Universal Credit payment. Special Support Loans or Grants provide help towards the costs of study, such as books, equipment, and travel. You may be eligible for a Special Support Loan or Grant if you are a lone parent or have certain disabilities.
It is important to note that the eligibility criteria for Universal Credit can be complex, and your specific circumstances will determine whether you are eligible for support. You can check your eligibility using a benefits calculator or by seeking advice from the government, local councils, or other organisations.
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Migration to Universal Credit
Universal Credit is a monthly payment to help with living costs if you're on a low income or out of work. It is usually not available to those studying full-time, though there are exceptions. For instance, you may be eligible for Universal Credit if you're 21 or under, studying full-time, and do not have parental support.
The transition from tax credits to Universal Credit is now complete. The DWP sent migration notices to individuals receiving legacy benefits, including tax credits, informing them of the deadline to apply for Universal Credit. Those who missed the deadline should contact the DWP to explore potential options. While the deadline for transitional protection has passed, there may still be ways to receive support depending on individual circumstances.
The DWP continues to send migration notices to recipients of other legacy benefits, such as income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Housing Benefit. These individuals must apply for Universal Credit by their specified deadlines to avoid losing their benefits.
Transitional protection was designed to ensure that individuals moving from legacy benefits to Universal Credit would not receive less financial support than they did previously. The managed migration process involves the DWP sending out migration notices to individuals receiving legacy benefits, informing them that their current benefits will end and instructing them to apply for Universal Credit by a specified deadline.
Individuals who did not apply for Universal Credit by the deadline may lose entitlement to transitional protection, which could result in a reduction of benefits.
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Frequently asked questions
Usually, you cannot get Universal Credit if you are a full-time student. However, there are exceptions. You may be eligible if you are a single parent, ill/disabled, without parental support, or in non-advanced education. You may also be eligible if you are over the qualifying age for Pension Credit, or if you have received a Migration Notice telling you to move to Universal Credit.
A Migration Notice is a letter telling you to claim Universal Credit. Special rules allow students who receive a Migration Notice to get Universal Credit even if they are not usually eligible. You are expected to claim Universal Credit within three months of receiving the notice.
Student income, such as maintenance loans and grants, is usually taken into account when calculating your Universal Credit payments. However, loans for tuition fees and other study costs are excluded. No student income will be taken off your Universal Credit during the summer holidays.
You may be able to get Universal Credit if you are studying part-time and are available for work.
If you are claiming Universal Credit as a student who has taken time out from your course, you will need to talk to your work coach to find out if you are eligible.
