Lana Oconnell
Students in the UK may be entitled to Universal Credit if they receive a student loan or grant. Student income, including loans and grants, can affect how much Universal Credit they receive. Loans for maintenance, such as living costs and rent, are regarded as income and are taken into account when calculating Universal Credit. Postgraduate Master's Loans in England and Wales, for example, take 30% of the loan into account as student income, while the rest is ignored. For every £1 of maintenance loan a student is entitled to, their Universal Credit is reduced by £1. However, it's important to note that loans for tuition fees and other costs of study are typically excluded from Universal Credit calculations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Student loans counted as income for Universal Credit | Yes |
| Student grants counted as income for Universal Credit | Yes |
| Special Support Loans/Grants counted as income for Universal Credit | No |
| Postgraduate Master's Loans counted as income for Universal Credit | 30% of the loan is counted as income |
| Postgraduate Doctoral Loans counted as income for Universal Credit | 30% of the loan is counted as income |
| Full-time students eligible for Universal Credit | In some cases, yes |
| Non-repayable grants from the government for full-time students | Available in some cases |
| Work-related requirements for students claiming Universal Credit | Depends on age, type of course, parental support, etc. |
| Deduction for student income during academic year | £110 |
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What You'll Learn
Postgraduate loans
Special Support Loans or Grants, which are given to students who are lone parents or have certain disabilities, are not taken into account when calculating Universal Credit. These grants and loans are intended to cover the costs of study, such as books, equipment, and travel.
It is important to note that most full-time students are not eligible for Universal Credit, but there are exceptions. You may be able to claim Universal Credit if you are studying full-time and are under 21, in full-time non-advanced education without parental support, or if you have reached the qualifying age for Pension Credit and live with a partner who has not yet reached that age. You may also be eligible if you have received a Migration Notice, or if you are disabled and were assessed as having limited capability for work before starting your course.
Your student income, including loans and grants, can impact the amount of Universal Credit you receive. Loans for maintenance, such as living costs and rent, are considered income and are taken into account when calculating Universal Credit. On the other hand, loans for tuition fees and other costs of study are excluded. The maximum student maintenance loan you are eligible for will be considered when determining your Universal Credit award. For every £1 you are entitled to receive from a maintenance loan, your Universal Credit will be reduced by £1.
It is common for Universal Credit to be assessed incorrectly, so it is important to keep track of your award and notify any changes in your circumstances. If you believe your Universal Credit has been miscalculated, you can request a mandatory reconsideration and ask them to revise the student income.
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Full-time students
Generally, if you are a full-time student, you cannot claim Universal Credit. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. You may be able to claim Universal Credit as a full-time student if you 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 pregnant and expecting your baby in the next 11 weeks.
- 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.
- You are studying in full-time non-advanced education, you do not receive a student loan or maintenance grant, and you are available for work.
If you are eligible for Universal Credit as a full-time student, your student loan will typically be considered income and will affect how much Universal Credit you receive. Loans for maintenance, such as living costs, rent, and bills, are generally regarded as income. However, loans for tuition fees and other costs of study are usually excluded.
It is important to note that the rules and eligibility criteria for Universal Credit can be complex and may vary depending on your specific circumstances. Therefore, it is always advisable to check the official government guidance or seek advice from a student adviser or benefits office to determine your individual eligibility.
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Student grants
Generally, you cannot get Universal Credit if you are studying full-time. However, there are some exceptions. You may be able to claim Universal Credit if you are studying full-time and:
- You are aged 21 or under, in full-time non-advanced education, and do not have parental support.
- 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 and were assessed as having limited capability for work before starting your course, and are getting Personal Independence Payments (PIP) or Attendance Allowance.
- 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.
If you are eligible for Universal Credit, your student income, such as loans and grants, can affect how much Universal Credit you get. Loans for maintenance, such as living costs and rent, are regarded as income and are taken into account when calculating your Universal Credit. Loans for tuition fees and other costs of study are excluded. The maximum student maintenance loan you are eligible for will be taken into account when working out your Universal Credit. For every £1 you are entitled to get from a maintenance loan, your Universal Credit will be reduced by £1. For each assessment period, when calculating your income, the first £110 is ignored. No student income will be taken off your Universal Credit if the assessment period covers the first day of the summer holidays, or if you are on summer holiday for the whole of a subsequent assessment period.
If you receive a Special Support Loan or Grant, this will not be taken off your Universal Credit. A Special Support Loan or Grant provides help towards the costs of study, such as books, equipment, and travel. You may get a Special Support Loan or Grant if you are a lone parent or have certain disabilities.
If you are a full-time higher education student, you may be able to get a non-repayable grant from the government to help with accommodation and other living costs. In the US, the federal government offers grants through Grants.gov. California also has the Cal Grant, a California-specific financial aid allocation that does not need to be paid back. Grants are for students attending Universities of California, California State Universities, California Community Colleges, or qualifying independent and career colleges or technical schools in California. There are three kinds of Cal Grants—A, B, and C—and your eligibility will be based on your FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application responses, your verified Cal Grant GPA, the type of California colleges you list on your application, and whether you are a recent high school graduate. Cal Grants are for students pursuing an undergraduate degree or vocational or career training and do not have to be repaid.
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Special support element
Universal Credit is a means-tested benefit for working-age people. While you can usually not get Universal Credit if you are a full-time student, there are some exceptions. For example, you may be able to get Universal Credit if you are a full-time student and are aged 21 or under, in non-advanced education, and do not have parental support.
Student loans for maintenance count as income, and for every £1 you are entitled to get from a maintenance loan, your Universal Credit will be reduced by £1. However, if you receive a Special Support Loan or Grant, this will not be taken off your Universal Credit. The Special Support Grant was replaced by the Special Support Loan from the beginning of the 2016-2017 academic year for students in England. The Special Support Element/Grant is awarded to students who are lone parents or are in receipt of a disability benefit. It increases the overall maintenance loan and should be disregarded as student income in the calculation of Universal Credit.
If you are a lone parent or have certain disabilities, you may get the Special Support Loan or Grant. If you receive a Special Support Loan or Grant, this will not be taken off your Universal Credit. It is important to keep track of your award and notify any changes in your circumstances that could affect your entitlement. Failure to do so could cause overpayments and even prosecution. It is common for Universal Credit to incorrectly assess student income, and this is often due to not disregarding the special support element. If you think your Universal Credit has been incorrectly assessed, you can make a request for a mandatory reconsideration.
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Work-related requirements
Universal Credit is a means-tested benefit for people of working age with low incomes. When you claim Universal Credit, you will need to accept your claimant commitment, which will be based on your personal circumstances and will be reviewed and updated regularly. If you fail to meet your claimant commitment, your payments may be reduced, or you may be sanctioned.
Your work-related requirements will depend on your circumstances, such as your health, caring responsibilities, and whether you are working. If you are able and available for work, you will need to do everything you reasonably can to give yourself the best chance of finding work. If you are claiming Universal Credit as a couple, you will each have your own claimant commitment based on your circumstances.
If you are providing 35 or more hours per week of care for someone receiving certain benefits, you will be placed in the ''no work-related requirements' group. You will not be expected to do any activities through the job centre, and you will not have a work coach. This applies even if you are working too much to claim Carer's Allowance or Carer Support Payment. If you are providing less than 35 hours of care, you should inform your work coach about your responsibilities and ask that your claimant commitment is adapted.
If your child is under 1 year old, you will also be placed in the 'no work-related requirements' group. If your child is 1 year old, you will be placed in the 'work-focused interviews' group, where you may be asked to have interviews with a work coach about future employment. If your child is 2 years old, you will be placed in the 'work preparation' group, where you might be expected to take part in activities to improve your chances of getting a job in the future. If your child is between 3 and 12 years old, you will be placed in the 'all work-related requirements' group, where you will be expected to look for work and be available to take up a job.
If you are self-employed and have the minimum income floor applied, you will be treated as having monthly earnings equal to your individual threshold, and no work-related requirements will be placed on you. If you earn between the administrative earnings threshold (AET) and the conditionality earnings threshold (CET), you will be placed in the light-touch regime, where you can receive support from a work coach to help you increase your earnings.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, student loans are classified as 'income' for Universal Credit.
Your Universal Credit payments will be reduced by £1 for every £1 you are entitled to get from a maintenance loan.
Yes, if you receive a Special Support Loan or Grant, this will not be taken off your Universal Credit. A Special Support Loan or Grant provides help towards the costs of study, such as books, equipment and travel.
You may get a Special Support Loan or Grant if you are a lone parent or have certain disabilities.
Most full-time students are not eligible for Universal Credit, but there are some exceptions. You may be able to get Universal Credit if you're a full-time student and you're aged 21 or under, in full-time non-advanced education and do not have parental support.
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