Savanna Hoffman
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the financial situation of many people, with some relying on Universal Credit as a source of income. While students in full-time education are usually ineligible for Universal Credit, there are exceptions, and some students may be eligible for an advance payment. However, there is evidence that many students who were eligible for Universal Credit during the pandemic did not claim it due to confusion, stigma, or a belief that they were ineligible.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Students' eligibility for Universal Credit | Students are usually ineligible for Universal Credit if they are in full-time education. |
| Exceptions to the rule | Students can claim Universal Credit if they are aged 21 or under, in full-time non-advanced education (up to A-Level or equivalent) and do not have parental support. |
| Advance payment | Students claiming Universal Credit during the COVID-19 pandemic may be eligible for an advance payment to cover living costs while they wait for their first payment. |
| Maximum advance payment | The maximum amount a student can receive as an advance payment is the amount of their first estimated payment. |
| Advance payment repayment period | The advance payment must be paid back in instalments over 12 months, which was extended to 24 months from October 2021. |
| Advance payment deduction from Universal Credit | The advance payment will be deducted from the first Universal Credit payment, resulting in a lower first payment. |
| Maintenance loans considered as income | Maintenance loans for living costs and rent are considered income and are deducted from Universal Credit payments. |
| Tuition fee loans | Loans for tuition fees and other study costs are excluded from Universal Credit calculations. |
| Special Support Loans or Grants | Special Support Loans or Grants provided to help with study costs are not taken into account when calculating Universal Credit deductions. |
| Support services | Students seeking financial support during the COVID-19 pandemic can access support services and advice to navigate the process of claiming Universal Credit and accessing additional resources. |
| Eligibility confusion | Many people who were eligible for Universal Credit during the COVID-19 pandemic did not claim it due to confusion, stigma, and the perceived hassle of applying. |
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What You'll Learn
Eligibility criteria for students
Students are usually ineligible for Universal Credit if they are in full-time education. However, there are some exceptions to this rule.
You can make a claim for Universal Credit if you're in full-time education and any of the following apply:
- You are aged 21 or under, in full-time non-advanced education (up to A-Level or equivalent) and do not have parental support.
- You are studying full-time non-advanced education, do not receive a student loan or maintenance grant, and are available for work. This only applies if the course is more than 12 hours a week and starts after your 19th birthday, as parents can claim benefits for their children before that date.
- You have received a Migration Notice telling you to move to Universal Credit.
- You have a disability, were assessed as having limited capability for work before starting your course, and are getting Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Child Disability Payment (in Scotland), Attendance Allowance, or Armed Forces Independence Payment.
If you are a student with a disability or health condition, you can claim Universal Credit if you are in full-time education and have been assessed as having limited capability for work by a Work Capability Assessment before starting your course. You must also be entitled to one of the following benefits:
- You have a health condition or disability and have medical evidence for it, such as a fit note.
- You are caring for someone who receives a health or disability-related benefit.
- You are responsible for a child.
- You live with your partner, have responsibility for a child, and your partner is eligible for Universal Credit.
- You are pregnant and expecting your baby in the next 11 weeks.
- You have had a baby in the last 15 weeks.
- You do not have parental support, for example, you do not live with your parents and are not under local authority care.
If you are a student claiming Universal Credit during the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be eligible for an advance payment. This is an upfront payment of your benefit, which can be useful if you need money to cover living costs while you wait for your first payment. The maximum amount you can receive as an advance payment is the amount of your first estimated payment. This advance is paid back from your Universal Credit in instalments over 12 months, with that being extended to 24 months from October 2021. You can choose how many months you pay the advance back over, but the advance must be paid back within 12 months. It's important to note that you will have to start paying back the advance out of your first Universal Credit payment, which means your first payment will be lower than the estimated amount. To apply for an advance payment, you will need to tell the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) why you need the advance.
Before starting your claim, it's a good idea to seek independent advice to make informed decisions. You can use the 'help to claim' service provided by Citizens Advice in partnership with Jobcentre Plus. Although their offices are closed, you can access their services online or by calling their National Adviceline. Ensure that you're claiming the right benefit. If you've paid enough National Insurance Contributions, you may be eligible for New Style Jobseekers Allowance or New Style Employment and Support Allowance. These benefits might be more financially beneficial for you than Universal Credit.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people claiming Universal Credit in the UK doubled, with more than 6 million people receiving the benefit. However, it is estimated that between 430,000 and 560,000 people who were eligible for Universal Credit at the start of the pandemic did not claim it, often due to a lack of awareness or perceived stigma.
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Advance payments
If you are a student claiming Universal Credit during the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be eligible for an advance payment. This is an upfront payment of your benefit, which can be useful if you need money to cover living costs while you wait for your first payment. The maximum amount you can receive as an advance payment is the amount of your first estimated payment. This advance is paid back from your Universal Credit in instalments over 12 months, with that being extended to 24 months from October 2021. You can choose how many months you pay the advance back over, but the advance must be paid back within 12 months. It's important to note that you will have to start paying back the advance out of your first Universal Credit payment, which means your first payment will be lower than the estimated amount.
To apply for an advance payment, you will need to tell the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) why you need the advance. Before starting your claim, it's a good idea to seek independent advice to make informed decisions. You can use the 'help to claim' service provided by Citizens Advice in partnership with Jobcentre Plus. Although their offices are closed, you can access their services online or by calling their National Adviceline on 0344 4111 444. Ensure that you're claiming the right benefit. If you've paid enough National Insurance Contributions, you may be eligible for New Style Jobseekers Allowance or New Style Employment and Support Allowance. These benefits might be more financially beneficial for you than Universal Credit.
Students are usually ineligible for Universal Credit if they are in full-time education. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. You can make a claim for Universal Credit if you're in full-time education and any of the following apply: you are aged 21 or under, in full-time non-advanced education (up to A-Level or equivalent) and do not have parental support. Maintenance loans for living costs and rent are considered income and are taken into account when calculating Universal Credit. For every £1 a claimant is entitled to receive from a maintenance loan, their Universal Credit is reduced by £1. However, loans for tuition fees and other study costs are excluded from this calculation.
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Deductions and repayments
Generally, students cannot claim Universal Credit if they are in full-time education. However, there are exceptions to this rule. Students in full-time education can claim Universal Credit if they meet any of the following criteria:
- They are aged 21 or under, in full-time non-advanced education (up to A-Level or equivalent), and do not have parental support.
- They have reached the qualifying age for Pension Credit and live with a partner who is under that age.
- They have received a Migration Notice telling them to move to Universal Credit.
- They are disabled, were assessed as having limited capability for work before starting their course, and are receiving specific benefits.
- They are studying in full-time non-advanced education, do not receive a student loan or maintenance grant, and are available for work.
Now, moving on to deductions and repayments, if a student receives a maintenance loan for living costs and rent, this is considered income and will be taken into account when calculating Universal Credit. For every £1 received from a maintenance loan, the Universal Credit payment is reduced by £1. However, loans for tuition fees and other study costs are excluded from this calculation. Student income, such as loans and grants, can affect the amount of Universal Credit received.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, students claiming Universal Credit may have been eligible for an advance payment, which is an upfront payment of their benefit. This advance payment had to be paid back in instalments over 12 months, with the option to extend to 24 months from October 2021. This repayment period starts from the first Universal Credit payment, resulting in a lower initial payment.
It is important to note that there was a perceived stigma associated with claiming Universal Credit during the pandemic, which may have prevented some eligible students from applying. Additionally, deductions and advance loan repayments further reduced the income of those who claimed Universal Credit during this period.
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Seeking advice
Students are usually ineligible for Universal Credit if they are in full-time education. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. For instance, you can make a claim if you are aged 21 or under, in full-time non-advanced education (up to A-Level or equivalent) and do not have parental support.
If you are a student seeking financial support during the COVID-19 pandemic, there are several support services and advice available to help you navigate the process of claiming Universal Credit and accessing additional resources.
Before starting your claim, it is recommended that you seek independent advice to make informed decisions. You can use the 'help to claim' service provided by Citizens Advice in partnership with Jobcentre Plus. Although their offices are closed, you can access their services online or by calling their National Adviceline on 0344 4111 444.
It is also important to ensure that you are claiming the right benefit. If you have paid enough National Insurance Contributions, you may be eligible for New Style Jobseekers Allowance or New Style Employment and Support Allowance, which might be more financially beneficial for you than Universal Credit.
Additionally, be aware of scammers who have been targeting students, applying for Universal Credit on their behalf and getting an advance payment, which victims will have to pay back.
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Alternative benefits
Students are usually ineligible for Universal Credit if they are in full-time education. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. For instance, you can make a claim if you are aged 21 or under, in full-time non-advanced education (up to A-Level or equivalent) and do not have parental support.
If you are a student seeking financial support during the COVID-19 pandemic, there are several alternative benefits and support services available. Firstly, you can check with your university or college's student services or student association, as they often have discretionary funds or hardship funds to support students facing financial difficulties.
Additionally, if you have paid enough National Insurance Contributions, you may be eligible for New Style Jobseeker's Allowance or New Style Employment and Support Allowance. These benefits might be more financially beneficial for you than Universal Credit.
Furthermore, if you are claiming Universal Credit, you may be eligible for an advance payment to cover living costs while you wait for your first payment. It is important to note that this advance must be paid back, usually within 12 months, and it will reduce the amount of your first Universal Credit payment.
Finally, during the COVID-19 pandemic, there were reports of students petitioning for reimbursements of tuition fees due to the impact of the outbreak on their education. This included the closure of university facilities and the shift to online learning, which disrupted the delivery of courses, particularly those with practical elements. While these petitions may not have resulted in direct financial benefits for students, they highlight the recognition of the financial strain experienced by students during the pandemic.
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Frequently asked questions
Students are usually ineligible for Universal Credit if they are in full-time education. However, there are some exceptions. You can make a claim if you are aged 21 or under, in full-time non-advanced education (up to A-Level or equivalent) and do not have parental support.
It is recommended that you seek independent advice before starting your claim. You can use the 'help to claim' service provided by Citizens Advice in partnership with Jobcentre Plus.
Maintenance loans for living costs and rent are considered income and are taken into account when calculating Universal Credit. For every £1 a claimant is entitled to receive from a maintenance loan, their Universal Credit is reduced by £1.
Yes, there are several support services and advice available to help students navigate the process of claiming Universal Credit and accessing additional resources. Students can also apply for a tuition fee loan to cover the full cost of their undergraduate course at a publicly-funded institution in England.
