Can full-time students claim Universal Credit?
If you are a student, you can only claim Universal Credit if:
- You are under 21, taking a course that leading to a qualification at the same level as or below A levels (such as Scottish Highers, NVQ up to level 3) and you do not and cannot live with your parents; or
- You are responsible for a child; or
- You get Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and you have limited capability for work. (This can be complicated – Use our Find an Adviser tool to find a local adviser); or
- You are over Pension Credit age; or
- You live with a partner who can claim Universal Credit; or
- You have taken time out from your course for illness or caring responsibilities, are now recovered/your caring responsibilities have ended, and you are waiting to go back to your course.
Claimant commitment
To be able to get Universal Credit, everyone has to agree to a claimant commitment.
If you are claiming Universal Credit as a student who has taken time out from your course, you may be expected to take some actions as part of your claimant commitment. You will have to talk with your work coach to find out.
If you are claiming Universal Credit as a student under 21 doing a course that leads to qualifications up to A level standard, you will not have to do anything under your claimant commitment.
If you are claiming Universal Credit as a student and you receive student income such as a grant or loan, you will not have to do anything under your claimant commitment.
Even if you don’t fall into either of these two groups, you might not have to do anything under the normal rules on claimant commitments.
Examples
Marta
Marta is a single mother to a 10 year old. Marta is doing a full time degree-level course, but could not get a maintenance loan because this is her second degree. Marta will be expected to agree to a full claimant commitment, and if her course means this is impossible to do, she won’t be able to get Universal Credit.
Alec
Alec is a single father to a six-month old. He is also doing a full time degree-level course and also didn’t qualify for a maintenance loan. However, because his son is under one Alec has no work related requirements, so he is able to claim Universal Credit.
Grants
There are lots of educational charities listed on our Grants Search that help students, depending on their background, circumstances and needs.
Updated: September 2020