Claiming benefits as a part-time student in the UK

Overview of part-time study and benefits

Most part-time students in the UK can apply for income-related benefits. These include Universal Credit. To be eligible for part-time student benefits, you’ll need to meet benefit eligibility rules and be 'available for and actively seeking work'.

Whether you are classified as a ‘part-time’ student, rather than a full-time student, depends on your age and the level of the course. For example, someone studying GCSEs or A Levels is considered full-time if they started before they were 19 but part-time if they are older.

Financial support for part-time students is also available from the Student Loans Company. If you are studying as a full-time student, read this article about benefits for full-time students.

Types of benefit available to part-time students

Read the UK student benefits guide and information below. It will tell you about benefits available to part-time students.

Universal Credit

Universal Credit is a benefit for those on a low income or out of work. It’s designed to help with living costs. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is replacing a number of ‘legacy benefits’ with Universal Credit.

If you claim Universal Credit while studying part-time, you will be expected to look for work and be available for work. You might even have to agree to give up your course if you get a job offer. You should discuss this with your work coach as you might be able to argue that your course would eventually help you get a better paid job.

How much Universal Credit you get could be affected if your study hours restrict your availability for work or attending work-related activities.

Housing Benefit

Housing Benefit is a legacy benefit. It's gradually being replaced by Universal Credit. Housing Benefit can help pay your rent if you're unemployed, on a low income or claiming benefits.

If you are already getting Housing Benefit you might be able to carry on getting it if you start studying part time. However, if you receive support from the Student Loans Company, this might reduce the amount of Housing Benefit you get.

You can no longer make a new claim for Housing Benefit unless one of the following applies:

• You are aged over 66 or have had Pension Credits since before 15 May 2019
• You live in temporary or supported accommodation

Council Tax Reduction

Council Tax is the local tax that helps councils pay for the services they provide. Part-time students are liable for Council Tax; full-time students are not. You might be able to get Council Tax support in the form of a Council Tax Reduction. This is a type of benefit.

To do so, you’ll need to meet eligibility criteria, such as:

• Being sole occupier of your home
• Being on a low income
• Receiving certain benefits (including Universal Credit)
• Living with another adult (who is not your partner) who is not liable for Council Tax and has a low income

Income Support

Income Support is extra money to help people on a low income or not earning at all. It is no longer possible to make a new claim for Income Support. You need to make a Universal Credit claim instead.

If you are a part-time student and you’re already getting Income Support, you might be able to continue claiming it. To do so, you’ll need to be one of the following:

• A lone parent with a child under five
• A lone foster parent of a child under 16
• A single person looking after a child under 16 before they’re adopted
• Receiving Carer's Allowance

If you get student finance from the Student Loans Company, this will probably reduce the amount of Income Support you can get.

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Jobseeker's Allowance is a benefit for people who are not in full-time employment. It is for people who work less than 16 hours per week but are capable of work and are looking for work.

You can no longer make a new claim for income-related JSA. You need to make a Universal Credit claim instead.

If you are already getting JSA you might be able to carry on getting it if you start studying part time. However, to get JSA as a part-time student you will need to show that you are still available for work. You might be expected to give up your course if suitable full-time work becomes available.

If you receive student support in the form of a grant or loan, this will probably reduce the amount of income-based JSA you can get.

Employment and Support Allowance

You might be able to get Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) if you have a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work.

It is no longer possible to make new claims for income-related Employment and Support Allowance. But the rules about ESA and student status mean if you are already receiving ESA, you might be able to carry on getting it as a part-time student. This applies if you are studying 16 hours or less a week.

Alternatively, you might be able to claim contributory ESA if you have previously worked and paid National Insurance contributions.

We have a full guide to ESA.

Carer’s Allowance for student carers

Carer’s Allowance is a benefit for people who give regular care to a person with a mental or physical disability. The person they are caring for needs to be claiming certain benefits.

If you are a part-time student studying for less than 21 hours a week, you may be able to claim Carer's Allowance if you care for someone for at least 35 hours a week.

Eligibility criteria for part-time students claiming benefits

Studying part-time doesn’t exclude you from claiming benefits. However, you will need to meet the usual benefit eligibility rules to qualify and be ‘available for and actively seeking work’. Your claim for part-time student benefits could be affected if your study commitments affect your availability for work.

Receiving a Maintenance Loan from the Student Loans Company may reduce the amount of benefits that you receive.

If you have a child, you may be eligible for tax credits for studying parents. You don’t have to be working to get Child Tax Credit, but you need to work at least 16 hours a week to get Working Tax Credit.

You can no longer make a new claim for tax credits. You need to apply for Universal Credit instead.

How to apply for benefits

Claiming benefits as a student can be done on the government website. First check your eligibility for benefits. You can also get guidance from Turn2us or Citizens Advice. You need a bank account to receive benefits. You can get them paid into a student bank account.

Necessary documentation

You are likely to need the following information and documents to apply to claim benefits.

1. Proof of your identity.
2. Your National Insurance number.
3. Details about your housing, such as how much rent you pay.
4. Proof of your earnings, such as payslips.
5. Your bank or building society details.
6. Email address and phone number.
7. Proof of any disability or health condition that affects your work.
8. Details of how much you pay for childcare.
9. Details of savings and investments.
10. Information about any property you let out.
11. Evidence of the course you’re doing.

How to claim Universal Credit

The most common benefit part-time students can apply for is Universal Credit. To be eligible for Universal Credit, you must:

1. Be on a low income or be out of work or unable to work.
2. Have less than £16,000 in savings.
3. Be aged between 18 and State Pension age.

Here’s how to apply:

1. Check if you are eligible.
2. Visit the Government website.
3. Create a Universal Credit account.
4. Submit your claim within 28 days of creating your account.
5. Attend an interview with JobCentre Plus.
6. If your claim is approved, receive your first payment five weeks after your claim.
7. Make an appeal if your claim is rejected.
8. Update your account if your circumstances change.

How to claim other benefits

Addressing common misconceptions

Frequently Asked Questions

What counts as a part-time course?

Whether a course is full-time or part-time is usually determined by the education or training provider. If you attend a full-time course on a part-time basis, you’ll be treated as studying full-time.

Can part-time students claim Universal Credit?

Some part-time students in the UK can apply for income-related benefits, such as Universal Credit. To be eligible, you need to be 'available for and actively seeking work' when you are not studying.

Am I eligible for Housing Benefit?

Most students can’t make new claims for Housing Benefit. But if you already get it, you may be able to continue claiming it as a part-time student.

How do disability allowances work for part-time students?

There are a variety of disability allowances that you can claim as a part-time student. You might be able to get the following:

• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Adult Disability Payment Scotland
• Attendance Allowance
• Disabled Students’ Allowance (England)

The Disabled Students’ Allowance is a non-means tested grant to help cover study-related costs because of one of the following:

• A mental health issue
• A long-term illness
• Disability

The maximum award for 2024/25 is £26,948. The exact amount you get depends on your needs.

Will claiming benefits affect my student loan?

Claiming benefits will not affect how much student loan you can get. But student loans, grants, scholarships and bursaries can affect means-tested benefits for part-time students.

Specific conditions for students

The main conditions relating to part-time students claiming benefits are that you must be:

• Available for work.
• Looking for work in your non-studying hours as agreed with your work coach.
• Willing to give up your course if you find full-time suitable employment (you might be able to negotiate this with your work coach).

Tips for managing finances as a part-time student

It’s important to work out a budget as a part-time student. This means analysing:

1. Your income from loans, grants, part-time work and benefits.
2. Your outgoings such as rent, household bills, food, travel and books.

Colleges and universities often offer financial advice to help students manage money and get benefits. You should also ask your college or university about financial support for part-time students.

Have a look at our articles on:

• Budgeting
• How to save money

MoneyHelper and Citizens Advice also have useful information for students.

Summary: Enhancing financial resilience for part-time students

Claiming benefits as a part-time student can increase your income. But you’ll need to be available for work when you are not studying. Even if you have a part-time job alongside your studies, it may be possible to claim certain benefits.

Part-time students can also apply for:

1. Tuition Fee Loans.
2. Maintenance Loans for living costs.

Keep an eye out for student perks that could save you money or boost your income. These include the TOTUM card, which has replaced the NUS discount card. It offers discounts on eating out, shopping and travel.