Can students get Universal Credit?

Full-time students who can claim

Most full-time students cannot get Universal Credit. You can claim if any of these apply to you:

• you live with your partner and they can get Universal Credit
• you are responsible for a child, as a single person or a couple
• you are 21 or under, studying up to A level or equivalent, and do not have parental support
• you are disabled and meet the conditions below
• you have been sent a Migration Notice letter telling you to move to Universal Credit

Disabled students

You can claim while in full-time education if both of these apply:

• you were assessed as having limited capability for work by a Work Capability Assessment before your course started
• you are entitled to Personal Independence Payment, Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, or a Scottish equivalent such as Adult Disability Payment

Part-time students

You may be able to claim if you study part time and are available for work. If your course is more than 12 hours a week of non-advanced education (up to A level or equivalent), this only applies from 1 September after your 19th birthday.

Who cannot claim

If you are a full-time student and none of the situations above apply to you, you cannot usually get Universal Credit, even if you have a low income.

How student income is counted

If you can claim, your student income reduces your Universal Credit. It is spread across the monthly assessment periods of your course.

The maximum maintenance loan you could get is counted, even if you choose to take less.

Summer holidays

No student income is taken off if your assessment period includes the first day of the summer holidays. The same applies if you are on holiday for a whole assessment period after that.

Young people aged 16 or 17

You can claim at 16 or 17 in some cases. These include having a health condition with medical evidence, caring for someone who gets a disability benefit, being responsible for a child, being due to have a baby within 11 weeks (or having had one in the last 15 weeks), or having no parental support.

If you live in Northern Ireland

Universal Credit is run separately, but nidirect sets out similar rules for students, including the summer holiday rule.

How to check

Use a benefits calculator on GOV.UK before you claim, then apply online.

Related guides

• How much student finance can I get?
• Am I eligible for Universal Credit?
• Do students pay Council Tax?
• Can students get help with childcare costs?
• How much Universal Credit will I get?

Where this comes from

• Universal Credit: eligibility
• Universal Credit and students (DWP)
• Claiming Universal Credit if you're a student (nidirect)