If you have a long-term disability or health condition, or if you are a carer to a relative or friend, there may be additional financial support you are eligible for. Here is a list of the main welfare benefits you might be able to claim :
Personal Independence Payment
Personal Independence Payment (PIP), or the Adult Disability Payment if you normally live in Scotland, can be paid to people who have daily care needs and/or mobility needs because of their disability. Your income, such as student funding, and any savings, are not considered when making a claim. You do not need to have paid National Insurance contributions and it is usually paid every four weeks.
Note, if you receive PIP, and any activities you do as part of your studies suggest that your daily living/care needs or mobility needs have lessened, your PIP award may be reviewed and could be reduced or ended.
Employment and Support Allowance
Contributory Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) (sometimes called “new style ESA”) is a benefit for people who are limited in their ability to work because of an illness or disability. You must have paid National Insurance contributions in recent years to qualify.
After making a claim you will be subject to an assessment to determine if you have:
- ‘Limited capability for work-related activity’, and therefore will not have to take part in any work-related activities; or
- ‘Limited capability for work’ only, and therefore you must take part in certain work-related activities.
If you are making a new claim for ESA, you can no longer also get income-related ESA, but you may claim Universal Credit as well.
Universal Credit
If you are a full-time student, you may be eligible to claim Universal Credit but only in specific circumstances. These include if:
- Due to a disability/long-term health condition you are assessed as having ‘limited capability for work' and you get PIP or Disability Living Allowance. N.B It must have been decided that you have limited capability for work before you start your studies;
- You are waiting to return to your course after taking time out because of illness or caring responsibilities.
If you are part time student you can claim Universal Credit, but only if you are able to study and meet the conditions in your claimant commitment. If you are claiming it as a disabled student and have limited capability for work, you will not have to find a job. Either no conditions will apply, or the conditions will include participating only in work-related activities (e.g. training) that make it more likely you will be able to obtain work in future. However, if it is decided that you must look for and be available for work, you will have to argue this is possible while also studying.
Note that Universal Credit is a means-tested benefits, so your income and any savings are considered. Most student funding for maintenance costs is counted as income.
Disabled Student’s Allowance
The Disabled Student’s Allowance (DSA) is financial support to help cover the extra costs you might incur if you have a long-term health condition, mental health condition, physical disability, or learning difficulty. It can help with extra costs including specialist equipment, non-medical helpers eg a British Sign Language interpreter, or extra travel costs required to attend your course/placement. The DSA can be paid regardless of your student funding, or other income or savings.
Below are the maximum amounts of the DSA (excluding travel costs). N.B the funding body for your DSA will be based in the country where you usually live.
England, Wales and Northern Ireland: up to £26,948 available to undergraduate and postgraduate students studying on a full-time or part-time course.
Scotland: consumable items allowance £1,725; equipment allowance £5,160; and a non-medical personal helper allowance £20,520. For part-time students the allowance is pro-rata.
Carer’s Allowance
If you care for an adult or child with a disability or long-term illness, and are in part-time education, you may be able to claim Carer’s Allowance. So, if you are on a course that UCL describes as full-time, you cannot claim Carer’s Allowance. You must be caring for the disabled person for at least 35 hours a week, and they must be getting a disability benefit (i.e. PIP, Attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance). You do not have to be related to, or live with, the person you care for. If you do any paid work, your earnings must be £151 or less a week after certain deductions, including income tax and National Insurance. Any other income is completely ignored, however, the benefit cannot be paid at all if the earnings limit is exceeded.
For more information, help and support:
Disability Rights UK provides specialist, detailed information on a range of welfare benefits and other financial support e.g. Disabled Student's Allowance
Entitled to provides advice, information and a benefits calculator to check your eligibility for welfare benefits
For free and confidential money advice and support or the chance to speak to someone about improving your financial situation, contact the advice service for an appointment at [email protected]
The above information is for general information purposes and does not constitute financial advice. For tailored advice, students are advised to seek independent benefits advice.