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Students and benefits

Full-time students

As a general rule if you are a single, full-time student with no disability or dependants you cannot claim benefits throughout your course, which includes the vacation period. You continue to be treated as a full-time student during industrial placements even if you have not been able to find a placement or your placement ends early.


Full-time students who can claim benefits
Some full-time students will continue to be entitled to benefits despite studying on a full-time course. To do so you must fall into one of these categories:

  • You are a student with dependants
    • A lone parent or foster parent
    • A lone parent who is no longer eligible for Income Support may be able to claim Jobseekers Allowance over the summer vacation and Housing Benefit/Local Housing Allowance throughout the year
    • One of a couple both in full-time study with dependants (you can claim Jobseekers Allowance in the summer vacations only) and Housing Benefit/Local Housing Allowance throughout the year
    • You have a partner who is not a student (the non-student should make the claim
  • You are a student with a disability
    • You are a disabled student and can satisfy certain qualifying conditions
    • If you are a disabled person and you are claiming Disability Living Allowance, you may be eligible for contributory Employment Support Allowance
    • You have been incapable of work for 28 weeks (Housing Benefit and Local Housing Allowance only)
    • You receive Disabled Students Allowance for deafness (Housing Benefit and Local Housing Allowance only)
  • You or your partner is aged over 60
  • You are a student from abroad able to claim an urgent cases payment because you are temporarily without funds.

Part-time students

Part-time students are eligible to claim Income Support, Jobseekers Allowance, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit subject to the normal rules relevant to these benefits.

However, part-time study could affect your availability for full-time work for Jobseekers Allowance purposes, therefore you should seek advice if you intend to study part-time and claim Jobseekers Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance

Am I on a full-time or a part-time course?

Whether your course is classified as full or part-time depends on many factors, including the university definition, the amount of modules taken, the number of hours of study, or whether you can choose to attend the course on a full or part-time basis.

To get a definitive answer about your status you will need to contact the Registry department.

 

Please contact us with any questions about eligibility and entitlement to welfare benefits