Surrey Welfare Rights Unit

Your child is planning to move into  advanced education. Anything at or above HNC, HND, or degree level    

This information is about financial support that may be available when they start their studies. Your child will probably have a  Personal Independence Payment Seek advice if you think your child's PIP award is incorrect, or if you just want to check it is being paid at the right level  (PIP) award in place.  If your child is still on DLA you may be in the process of a transition to PIP and considering whether it is appropriate for you to become their appointee.   If you are receiving Carer’s Allowance or a Carer Premium/Element paid with a means-tested benefit then this can also continue as long as you continue to care for them and your child still receives the daily living component of PIP.   There is further information for Carers in our Carer’s booklet.

Once your child is no longer in non-advanced education, they are no longer part of your benefit household.  This means that any elements of welfare benefits you are still getting to help with the costs of your child, will end.  The exact date this happens will depend on a number of factors including their age, date of birth and when they leave education. It may be different for Child Benefit, Child Tax Credit, and any child element for this child in Universal Credit or Housing Benefit.  Follow the individual links for more information. It is your responsibility to make sure you tell everyone who is paying you a benefit of the change in your circumstances as soon as possible. If you are receiving Tax Credits you will also need to tell His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) of the change in circumstances. Your child ending non-advanced education is a relevant change that must be notified.

You may need to think about where your child will live while they complete their advanced level studies.  If they live most of the year away from the family home, this could also affect the benefits you are claiming.   

Your child will need their own source of income when they become a student.  This will normally be student finance which could include loans, grants, or student bursaries. Full-time advanced level students who have Limited Capability for Work or Limited Capability for Work-Related Activity (LCW/LCWRA) before the start of the first year of their course, provided they are also getting PIP, can claim Universal Credit (UC).  A part-time student can also claim UC. Please read the following information on claiming Universal Credit and from there follow the link relevant to full-time or part-time advanced education. 

A LCW/LCWRA assessment can be completed through a New-Style Employment and Support Allowance (NSESA) claim. If your child is planning to move into full-time advanced education it is useful, if possible, to make a NSESA claim at least a year in advance of the start of their course. If your child is in full-time advanced education and does not have a LCW/LCWRA assessment they will NOT be entitled to Universal Credit until their course has ended or they have finally abandoned or been dismissed from it. 

Some students take a year out before going on to advanced education. In a year out of education they can claim UC if the means testing rules are met. This will allow them to get a LCW/LCWRA assessment that may mean they can claim, or continue to claim UC when they start their course. If they do not meet the means testing rules a NSESA claim will allow them to get a LCW/LCWRA assessment that may be useful for any future UC claim.

The rules on benefit entitlement can be very complex so they may need advice and/or a benefit check well before they start their course. 

Once your child reaches 20 the information in this section will be relevant.