Surrey Welfare Rights Unit

Full-time students in advanced education

If your child has a Limited Capability for Work or Limited Capability for Work-Related Activity (LCW/LCWRA) assessment that pre-dates the  start of the course The first day of term of the first year of the course , provided they have a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) award in place, they may be able to receive Universal Credit (UC) as long as income or capital does not take them out of entitlement. Student maintenance loan income is taken into account in the Universal Credit calculation, whether or not the loan is taken out, although additional amounts for disabled students are usually ignored.  This may mean there is no, or reduced, entitlement to UC except for during the long vacation when students are treated as not having student income. If there is only entitlement during the long vacation a claim can be made in the month before the long vacation starts. The timing of the claim can be complicated and it would be useful to get advice. Click here for further information on claiming UC in these circumstances.

If your child is a student in full-time advanced education and does not have an assessment that they have LCW/LCWRA that pre-dates the  start of the course The first day of term of the first year of the course , they will NOT be able to claim Universal Credit unless they have a child or children or a non-student partner. They can still make a claim for New-Style Employment and Support Allowance (NSESA) to get National Insurance (NI) credits towards their state pension while in advanced education.  This will make it easier for them to meet their claimant commitment if they make a claim for UC in the future, when they are no longer studying.

If your child is in FT advanced education and does have a decision that they have LCW/LCWRA that pre-dates the  start of the course The first day of term of the first year of the course  they should be able to get UC and can apply online in the usual way.