Surrey Welfare Rights Unit

 Non-advanced education Anything below degree level 

The rules are complicated.  If you are thinking about your child making a claim for Universal Credit (UC) it would be a good time to get benefit advice.

If your child is in continuous full-time non-advanced education the first opportunity to claim Universal Credit is usually 1 September following their 19th birthday. If there is a  breaka time when they are not attending or enrolled, or accepted on a non-advanced full-time course in their continuous education there may be an opportunity for them to claim Universal Credit at this time.  The window of time for making the claim may may be very short, but if a claim is made at an appropriate time it should be able to continue.

If a claim can be made the process is simpler if they have already been assessed to have Limited Capability for Work or Limited Capability for Work-Related Activity (LCW/LCWRA).  This could be through a New-Style Employment and Support Allowance (NSESA) claim. If you child is in this situation the following information should be helpful. Your child can continue to be paid UC if any non-advanced course they are on is compatible with their claimant commitment.

If your child claims UC without a LCW/LCWRA assessment, the following information should be helpful. Once they have a claim in place and a claimant commitment has been agreed they can be paid UC if their course is compatible with their claimant commitment.