Most full-time students are not eligible to claim welfare benefits, such as Jobseekers Allowance, Housing Benefit or Income Support. However, if you are a parent or have a disability you may be entitled to claim whilst studying. If you think that you might be eligible, we strongly advise you to contact the Student Support Office who can advise you as to what you may be entitled to claim.
For information about benefits that you may be able to claim if you are a parent, please see Funding for Students with Children.
If you have a disability, you may be entitled to claim one of the following:
- Disability Living Allowance – this is paid to adults who require help with their personal care or have mobility problems. You do not have to be receiving care to be eligible, but must show that you reasonably require care or supervision to undertake certain tasks. Full-time students are entitled to claim DLA, and it is paid in different rates according to the severity of your disability.
- Incapacity Benefit – this benefit is paid if you are judged to be incapable of work and have paid sufficient National Insurance contributions. Full-time students can receive this benefit. It has now been replaced by ESA (see below) for new claimants.
- Employment Support Allowance – students may be eligible if they receive DLA, or have made sufficient National Insurance contributions and have 'limited capability for work' (contact Student Support for more details).
- Housing Benefit – some disabled students can claim Housing Benefit (contact Student Support for advice).
The Jobcentre Plus Office may consider that you are no longer ‘incapable of work’ because you are studying and may review your claim. The fact that you are studying cannot, by itself, be used to decide that you are now capable of work. You should contact the Student Support Office for advice about this.