Benefits & Support

This is money for people who spend at least 35 hours a week providing regular care to someone who has a disability and is in receipt of a qualifying benefit.

You are only eligible if you are a part-time student  and your course involves studying for less than 21 hours per week.

Full-time students are not eligible or if someone else is already claiming Carer’s Allowance for looking after the same person.

You can apply:

• Online by submitting a Carer's Allowance claim

• By downloading a Carer's Allowance Form

If you want more information on what a Carer's Allowance is and how it works,  take a look at  Carer's Allowance Information - Turn2us

This is for students who are parents or responsible for bringing up a child. There are no age restrictions and you can apply if you are a full-time or part-time student.

You should claim Child Benefit as soon as you have registered the birth of your child or if a child comes to live with you.

You can apply:

• Online by submitting a Make a Claim

• By downloading and posting a claim form Download a Form

If you want more information on what Child Benefit is and how it works, take a look at: Child Benefit Information- Turn2us

Full-Time Students

You may be eligible for Universal Credit if:

• You are under 21, taking a course that leading to a qualification at the same or lower level as A levels (e.g., Scottish Highers, National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ) up to level 3) where, you do not, and cannot live with your parents; or

• You are responsible for a child; or

• You get Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Adult Disability Payment or Child Disability Payment  and have limited capability for work.

or

• You are over Pension Credit age; or

• You live with a partner who can claim Universal Credit; or

• You have taken time out from your course for illness or caring responsibilities, are now recovered/your caring responsibilities have ended, and you are waiting to go back to your course.

Part-Time Students

You can only claim Universal Credit if your course does not stop you from doing your work related activities which depends on your circumstances.

If you are expected to look for work and be available for work, you will have to show that your course won’t stop you from doing this, and you might have to agree to give up your course if you get a job offer.

You might be able to argue that your course will help you to get a job or a better paid job, and so that it should mean you need to spend less hours looking for work. You will need to agree this with your work coach.

If you are a mature student who is over the eligible age and have low income, you may be eligible to receive Pension Credit.

To see if you are eligible, read more here: Pension Credit - Turn2us