Can full-time students get Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)?
Contributory ESA
If you are not able to work due to illness or disability, you may be entitled to contributory Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) while you are a full-time student if you have previously worked and paid national insurance contributions.
Income-related ESA
It is no longer possible for most people to make new claims for income-related ESA. Income-related ESA has been replaced for new claimants by Universal Credit.
As a full-time student, you will only be able to claim income-related Employment and Support Allowance if you are also getting Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP). or Armed Forces Independence Payment
If you are a full time student who is getting DLA, you count as having limited capability for work without having to have a Work Capability Assessment.
If you receive student support in the form of a grant or a loan, this will probably reduce the amount of income-related ESA you can get.
Work Capability Assessment
You are only entitled to ESA if you satisfy the Work Capability Assessment. If activities you do as part of your course suggest that you do not meet this test, you could lose this benefit. For example, if you are getting ESA because you said you have problems with walking and your course involves a lot of physical activity, this could cause your ESA claim to be reviewed.
If you are claiming Universal Credit as a student who has limited capability for work, you will need to satisfy the Work Capability Assessment. If activities you do as part of your course suggest that you do not meet this test, you could lose this benefit.
Updated: April 2019