Benefits and tax credits

If you are a UK student with a dependant child, you may be eligible for the following:

Child Benefit

If you are a UK student with a dependent child you will usually be eligible for Child Benefit while you are studying, providing no one else receives this benefit in respect of your child.

• See more information on Child Benefit (gov.uk)

Child Tax Credit

If you are already in receipt of Child Tax Credit or you are not required to make a new claim for Universal Credit, you may be eligible to claim this while studying full time.

Most student income is disregarded when working out your entitlement, but earnings are always taken into account.

If you have a partner, their income will also be taken into account.

• See more information on Child Tax Credit (gov.uk)

Housing Benefit

If you have a dependent child and already receive Housing Benefit you may continue to be eligible while studying.

If you are moving area, or if you are claiming for the first time, you will usually be required to make a claim Universal Credit instead.

• Check whether you are eligible to claim Housing Benefit (gov.uk)

Universal Credit

If you are a part-time student you can claim Universal Credit if you meet the general eligibility requirements (gov.uk).

Unless you have limited capability for work and work related activity, you will have some work related requirements.

If you pay rent or have a mortgage you may be eligible for help towards housing costs as well as money for living costs.

If you are a full time student you can only claim if:

• you have responsibility for a child who lives with you, or
• you receive PIP (or DLA) and you have limited capability for work.

You cannot claim the childcare element of Universal Credit in addition to any other grant towards childcare costs.

Working Tax Credit

You may be able to make a claim or continue to claim Working Tax Credit if you are not required to make a new claim for Universal Credit and you are:

• a lone parent and work more than 16 hours per week, or
• you are part of a couple with children working at least 24 hours per week between you (one person must work at least 16 hours per week).

If you are eligible for Working Tax Credit you may also be eligible for help with childcare costs.

You cannot claim the childcare element of Working Tax Credit in addition to any other grant towards childcare costs.

If you have difficulty or need help with mobility or daily living tasks because of disability or a long-term health condition, you may be eligible for the following:

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a non means-tested benefit, so any student income you receive will not affect the amount of PIP you receive.

• Read more about PIP (gov.uk).

Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

If you are already in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) you will usually be able to continue to claiming this while you are studying.

DLA is being phased out, so existing DLA claimants between the ages 16 and 64 are gradually being asked to claim PIP instead. 

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

You can claim New Style Employment and Support Allowance even if you are a full time student, as long as you have limited capability for work.

You can only make a new ESA claim (gov.uk) if you have made the required National Insurance contributions.

If you're already getting PIP (or DLA) as well as Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) you may be able to continue to claim while studying full time. However, if you are moving to the York area to study, you may need to make a new claim for Universal Credit instead. It is very important to seek specialist advice, for example from the Citizens' Advice Bureau, before making changes to this benefit. 

Part-time students do not have to be in receipt of PIP (or DLA) in order to remain eligible for this benefit while studying. You cannot make a new claim for Income-related ESA it if you live in a Universal Credit area, unless you’ve been eligible for the Severe Disability Premium within the past month.

Housing Benefit

If you already receive Housing Benefit you may continue to be eligible while studying. If you are studying full time, please check your eligibility before applying.

If you are moving to the York area you would need to apply for Universal Credit instead. 

Universal Credit

If you were getting PIP (or DLA) and you have been assessed to have limited capability for work or limited capability for a work-related activity, before you start your studies you may be able to continue to claim Universal Credit as a full-time student.

It is very important to seek specialist benefits advice, for example from the Citizens' Advice Bureau, before making a claim.

Do you look after someone else?

If you study less than 21 hours per week, you can claim Carer's Allowance but, if not, you should still make sure the person you look after claims the benefits they are entitled to.

If you are studying full-time, you cannot claim Carer’s Allowance.

• See more information on Carer's Allowance (carersuk.org).

If you live with a partner who is also a full-time student or unemployed you may be eligible to claim Universal Credit (gov.uk).

If you are not entitled to it during semester time your entitlement may change in the summer vacation.