Skip to main content
CPAG Welfare Rights Home

User account menu

  • Log in

Utility menu - Welfare Rights

  • CPAG Home
  • Benefit rates
  • Shop
  • Training & events

Main navigation

  • Support for advisers
    • Advice line for advisers
    • Support for advisers in England and Wales
    • Support for advisers in Scotland
    • Tell us about your case
  • Handbooks
    • Online handbooks
    • Print handbooks
  • Key topics
    • PIP appeals
    • Maximising income
    • Universal credit
    • Migration to universal credit
    • Survivors of domestic abuse
    • Benefits for migrants
    • Debt
    • Housing costs
    • Personal independence payment
    • Sanctions and work-related requirements
    • Work capability assessment
  • Tools & templates
    • About our tools and templates
    • Universal credit
    • Migration to universal credit
    • Benefits for migrants
    • Personal independence payment
    • Work capability assessment
    • Revision, supersession and appeal procedure
    • Judicial review
    • All tools and templates
  • Benefits in Scotland
    • Scottish benefits
    • More information about benefits in Scotland
    • Other CPAG resources on benefits in Scotland
  • Bulletins & articles
    • Welfare Rights Bulletin
    • Articles
    • eBulletins
  • Test cases
    • About legal test cases
    • Support with an Upper Tribunal case
    • Test case updates
    • Refer a test case
    • Support with the judicial review process
Menu
Search

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Welfare rights
  3. Benefits in Scotland
  4. More information about benefits in Scotland
  5. Benefits for students and young people factsheets

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Welfare rights
  3. Benefits in Scotland
  4. More information about benefits in Scotland
  5. Benefits for students and young people factsheets

Benefits for students

A general overview of the social security benefits that students may be able to get.
Relevant to
Scotland,
Last reviewed
Mon 17 Mar 2025

On this page

On this page

  • What benefits are there?
  • What benefits can students get?
  • Main groups of full-time students who can claim benefits
  • Effect of student funding on benefits
  • Further information

This information is very general, and aims to highlight which students may be eligible for benefits. Anyone on benefits considering studying should seek accurate, full advice about entitlement, for example from their local citizens advice bureau or other advice agency.

What benefits are there?

The main benefit for people of working age is:

  • Universal credit. It provides support for living costs, rent, children, childcare costs if you are working, and extra needs if you are disabled or a carer

You cannot usually make a new claim for the ‘old’ benefits UC is replacing, but if you are already on these benefits you can stay on them. 

The main 'old' benefit for basic living costs that remains is:

  • income-related employment and support allowance (ESA) (for people with a disability);  you can get this for yourself (or for you and a partner if you live with a partner), or

The 'old' benefit to help pay for rent is:

  • housing benefit

Income-related ESA and housing benefit are gradually being replaced by universal credit. You usually cannot make new claims for either of these benefits. One exception is that you can make a new claim for housing benefit if you live in certain types of temporary (eg, homeless accommodation) or supported accommodation. 

Other benefits for specific purposes can be paid alongside UC or the ‘old’ benefits – eg, child benefit, contributory ESA for ill or disabled people, carer support payment for people caring for disabled people, and adult disability payment for disability costs.

What benefits can students get?

Special rules restrict full-time students from claiming most benefits. Instead, students are expected to fund themselves through student funding - eg, loans and grants, rather than benefits. You need to start by working out who is a full-time and who is a part-time student (sometimes termed ‘receiving education’). See CPAG’s Benefits for Students in Scotland Handbook for more information.

Part-time students can usually continue to get their benefits as before, although this may include having to continue looking for and being available for work if you are claiming universal credit.

Full-time students usually cannot get benefits for living cost support or rent at all, but there are exceptions. These exceptions mainly apply to parents, disabled students, students living with a non-student partner, and young people with no parental support.

Some benefits are not affected by studying. The main ones unaffected are child benefit, and disability benefits such as adult disability payment.

Most full-time students are eligible for the new carer support payment. For more information see CPAG in Scotland’s factsheet Students and carer support payment 

Main groups of full-time students who can claim benefits

The following groups are usually eligible, but see the next section for how student funding might affect the amount of benefit paid.

Note: most new claims are for universal credit. Where the ‘old’ benefits which still remain (income-related ESA, housing benefit) are listed below, these are mainly for existing awards. New claims cannot usually be made for these benefits. There's an exception for people in certain types of supported or homeless accommodation, who can still make new claims for housing benefit.

Students who are eligible for universal credit

Parent students, some disabled students, students with a non-student partner and young people in further education who have no parental support in certain circumstances (eg, because they are estranged) may be able to get universal credit. For more information see CPAG in Scotland’s factsheet Universal credit and students  

Benefits for lone parent students

Lone parent students can get housing benefit and child benefit. If a lone parent student is only on these benefits, they should get advice about claiming universal credit for help with living costs for them and their children.

Benefits for disabled students

Disabled students can get (or continue to get) disability benefits such as adult disability payment, personal independence payment or disability living allowance. They can also continue to get housing benefit and ESA, although to continue to get income-related ESA they must also get a disability benefit. If a disabled student is not already on income-related ESA and / or housing benefit, they should get advice about claiming universal credit.

For more information see CPAG in Scotland’s factsheet Benefits for disabled students 

Benefits for student couples

Student couples (ie, where both are full-time students) who have a child can continue to get housing benefit and child benefit. If a student couple is only on these benefits, they should get advice about claiming universal credit for help with living costs for them and their children.

Students who can claim housing benefit

Lone parent students, some disabled students, students living with a non-student partner and young people in further education may be able to make a new claim for housing benefit. Other full-time students cannot get housing benefit, although if a student has a non-student partner, the partner can claim. In either case a new claim for housing benefit is only possible if someone lives in certain types of temporary or supported accommodation – eg, homeless accommodation. 

Effect of student funding on benefits

Universal credit, income-related ESA and housing benefit are affected by most student funding that someone has. Student loans for maintenance, grants and bursaries count as income. Education maintenance allowance (EMA) does not count as income. 

Note:

Examples

Leona is a lone parent with a two-year-old child in further education. She gets universal credit and child benefit. She gets a small bursary, and her universal credit is reduced by a small amount each month.
Leona moves onto a course of higher education and gets a student loan. Her monthly amount of universal credit reduces substantially during the academic year.

Jeff is 17 and is estranged from his parents and living in his own council flat. He gets universal credit. He is on a full-time course of further education and gets an EMA. The EMA doesn't affect his universal credit.
 

Further information

  • CPAG in Scotland advice line for frontline advisers and support workers
  • CPAG in Scotland's Benefits for Students work, with information on other resources, including training courses on students and benefits
  • free online Benefits for Students in Scotland Handbook
  • More information about benefits for students on our website
  • CPAG's Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook (subscribers only)
  • a free students and benefits elearning course
  • Follow us on Twitter @CPAGScotland
  • more information about the student funding available in Scotland (loans, grants etc) from the Scottish government
  • more information from the Students Awards Agency for Scotland
  • You can also get advice from student services or advice staff in colleges and universities.

Benefits for students and young people factsheets

  • Benefits for students
  • Benefits for care-experienced students
  • Benefits for disabled students
  • Benefits for young people in further education or training
  • Universal credit and students
  • Parents claiming for young people in further education or training
  • Benefits for lone parent students
  • Care-experienced young people and benefits
  • Students and carer support payment

On this page

    Advice for advisers

    Free, expert advice on benefit and tax credit issues if you’re a frontline adviser or support worker.

    Contact the advice line.

    • [email protected]
    • [email protected]

    WR Footer

    • Become a subscriber
    • Advice line for advisers
    • Training and events
    • eLearning
    • CPAG shop

    CPAG's Advice and Rights Team

    • Follow us on Twitter

    © 2025 CPAG | Child Poverty Action Group is a charity registered in England and Wales (registration number 294841) and in Scotland (registration number SC039339)

    Company limited by guarantee registered in England (registration number 1993854)

    Housekeeping (footer)

    • Disclaimer
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies
    • Terms and conditions
    • Feedback and complaints
    Site built by Agile Collective
    End Child Poverty Fundraising Regulator badge with validation link
    • Child poverty in the UK
      • Poverty: facts and figures
      • What is poverty?
      • Causes of poverty
      • Effects of poverty
      • Ending child poverty
    • What we do
      • Our impact
      • Our objectives
      • Our campaigns
        • Imagine
        • End child poverty
        • End child poverty in Scotland
        • Scottish Campaign on Rights to Social Security
        • Past campaigns
      • Project work
        • Cost of the School Day
          • Resources for tackling poverty in schools
            • All Cost of the School Day resources
              • Talking about costs and money at school - advice from parents and carers
              • Create poverty aware school communities
              • Show leadership and take action
              • Communicate about costs and money
              • Offer confidential and supportive conversations
            • Toolkits
            • Calendar
            • eLearning
            • Ideas Bank
              • Awareness, values and ethos
                • Understanding poverty in your area
                • Cost of the School Day Information Booklet for Families
                • Nurturing approaches
                • Rebranding support to boost uptake
              • Entitlements and financial support
                • Boosting free school meal uptake
                • Family support staff
                • Offering support and referrals
                • Promoting support
              • School uniform
                • Simple, affordable and inclusive uniform policies
                • School and cluster run uniform banks
                • Providing new uniform and clothing
                • Parent-led uniform stall
              • Eating at school
                • Breakfast clubs
                • Breakfast, breaktimes and lunch
                • Boosting free school meal uptake
              • Consulting and planning
                • Listening to families
                • Parents leading consultation
                • Children consulting their school community
                • Whole school approaches
                • Creating a Cost of the School Day policy with learners
                • Cost of the School Day calendar, created by learners
              • Events, celebrations and fundraising
                • Pre-loved prom initiative
                • Supporting attendance and easing pressure
                • World Book Week in Dundee
                • Stress-free Halloween celebrations at school
                • Non-stigmatising online fundraising
              • Learners in the lead
                • Cost of the School Day pupil groups
                • Pupils asking parents and carers about costs
                • Young people sharing their views about uniform at the Scottish Parliament
                • Learners take universal free school meal call to the Scottish Parliament
                • Talking directly to politicians about cost barriers at school
                • Cost of the School Day pupil group interview their Headteacher
              • Communicating with families
                • Building relationships and keeping in touch
                • Open and clear written communication about support
                • Communicating commitment to equity
                • Letting everyone know
                • Engaging with partners in the community to share information with families
                • Improved attendance through support and communication
              • Trips, clubs and experiences
                • Funding trips
                • Offering support for trips
              • Learning and resources
                • Digital devices, connectivity and curriculum costs
                • Preparation station
                • After school study cafes
              • Local authority approaches
                • Equity in South Lanarkshire
                • Kit for all, Dundee
                • Financial inclusion support officers in Glasgow
                • Dundee City Council's Cost of the School Day
                • Involving young people in financial inclusion in East Ayrshire schools
              • Parental involvement
                • Parents in partnership
                • Parent equality groups
                • Working with parent groups on costs
            • Big Question report and film
          • Voice network and Youth Voice
            • Voice network in Scotland
            • Voice network news and opportunities - Scotland
            • Voice network activities - Scotland
              • Voice network activities - raising awareness
              • Voice network activities - asking everyone about costs
              • Voice network activities - taking action
            • Youth Voice in Wales
            • Youth Voice in England
          • Contact the Cost of the School Day team
          • The Cost of the School Day reports, blogs and briefings
        • Early Warning System
          • About the Early Warning System
          • Contact the Early Warning System team
          • Early Warning System findings
        • Managed migration
        • Projects in England and Wales
          • Cost of the School Day
          • Early Warning System
          • Secure Futures for Children and Families
          • Managed migration
          • Universal credit, digitalisation and the rule of law
          • Your Work Your Way
        • Projects in Scotland
          • Strengthening Social Security: research into the five family payments
      • CPAG in Scotland
      • The CPAG team
        • CPAG staff
        • CPAG trustees
        • CPAG's patron and ambassadors
        • CPAG trainers
    • Policy and research
      • Findings from our projects
        • The Cost of a Child reports
        • Cost of the School Day reports, blogs and briefings
        • Early Warning System findings
        • Managed migration research project findings
        • Your Work Your Way - findings from the project
        • Secure Futures for Children and Families
        • Universal credit, digitalisation and the rule of law
      • Our position
        • The two-child limit: our position
        • The benefit cap: our position
      • Policy briefings and reports
        • David Webster briefings on benefit sanctions
      • CPAG's Poverty journal
      • Policy books from CPAG
    • Welfare rights
      • Support for advisers
        • Advice line for advisers
        • Support for advisers in England and Wales
          • Support with the judicial review process
            • What judicial review is and how it can help
            • Judicial review template letters
              • Guide to using CPAG's judicial review pre-action letter templates
              • Universal credit and migration to universal credit
              • Other benefits and payments
              • Benefits for people in particular circumstances
              • Decisions, delays and challenging decisions
            • Pursuing to court and finding a solicitor
          • Support with an Upper Tribunal case
        • Support for advisers in Scotland
          • Advising low-income families in Scotland
          • Advising disabled people and carers in Scotland
          • Advising migrant groups in Scotland
          • Advising students in Scotland
          • Advising kinship carers in Scotland
          • Advising care-experienced young people in Scotland
          • Advising families with a child in the care system in Scotland
        • Tell us about your case
      • Handbooks
        • Online handbooks
        • Print handbooks
      • Key topics
        • PIP appeals
          • Introduction
          • Before you appeal
          • Submitting your appeal
          • Checking the law, facts and evidence
          • Writing the submission for your appeal
          • Your appeal hearing
          • What to do when you get the tribunal's decision
        • Maximising income
        • Universal credit
          • Universal credit - the basics
          • Universal credit and sanctions
        • Migration to universal credit
        • Survivors of domestic abuse
          • Financial help for families fleeing domestic abuse
          • Unwanted payments of abuser’s benefit into your account
          • Exceptions to the two-child limit
          • Work-related requirements if you have recently experienced domestic abuse
          • Separated but living in the same property
          • Value of property and its effect on means-tested benefits
        • Benefits for migrants
        • Debt
        • Housing costs
        • Personal independence payment
        • Sanctions and work-related requirements
        • Work capability assessment
      • Tools & templates
        • About our tools and templates
        • Universal credit
        • Migration to universal credit
        • Benefits for migrants
        • Personal independence payment
        • Work capability assessment
        • Revision, supersession and appeal procedure
        • Judicial review
        • All tools and templates
      • Benefits in Scotland
        • Scottish benefits
          • Children and young people
            • Pregnancy and baby payment
            • Early learning payment
            • School age payment
            • Best start foods
            • Scottish child payment
            • Residence rules for best start grant
            • Getting a best start grant if you are not getting a qualifying benefit
            • How to challenge a Social Security Scotland decision
          • Disability benefits
            • Child disability payment
            • Supporting information for child disability payment claims: suggestions for education staff
            • Child winter heating payment
            • Adult disability payment
            • Adult disability payment assessment
            • Scottish adult disability living allowance
            • Pension age disability payment
            • How to challenge a disability benefit decision
          • Help with council tax
            • Council tax reduction
            • Council tax reduction if you live with an adult who is not your partner
            • Council tax reduction if you live in a band E to H property
            • Calculating the new Scottish council tax reduction
            • Challenging a council tax reduction decision
            • When your council tax reduction starts
            • If you get council tax reduction and your circumstances change
            • Other ways to reduce your council tax bill
          • Benefits for carers
            • Carer support payment
            • Carer's allowance supplement
            • Young carer grant
            • How to challenge a Social Security Scotland decision
          • Help with heating costs
            • Child winter heating payment
            • Winter heating payment
            • Pension age winter heating payment
          • Scottish welfare fund
          • Other Scottish benefits
            • Universal credit Scottish choices
            • Funeral support payment
            • Discretionary housing payments in Scotland
            • Job start payment
        • More information about benefits in Scotland
          • Universal credit factsheets
            • Universal credit - the basics
            • Universal credit and students
            • Benefits for lone parent students
            • Kinship carers and universal credit
          • Families factsheets
            • Financial help in the early years
            • Financial help in the school years
            • Financial help for young parents
            • Parents claiming for young people in further education or training
            • Childcare costs: getting support
            • Children looked after by the local authority - impact on family benefits
            • Financial help for families fleeing domestic abuse
            • Universal credit for lone parent students
            • Financial help for families affected by imprisonment
          • Disability benefits factsheets
            • Benefits for disabled children and their families - a checklist
            • Benefits for disabled students
          • Benefits for migrants and refugees factsheets
            • Rights to benefits and tax credits for European nationals
            • EU citizen guide to claiming benefits in the UK
            • Benefits for new refugees
            • Benefits for resettled Afghans
            • Benefits for resettled Ukrainians
            • No recourse to public funds, person subject to immigration control and benefit entitlement
          • Kinship care factsheets
            • Kinship care and benefits – the essentials
            • Scottish child payment and kinship carers
            • Kinship carers and universal credit
          • Benefits for students and young people factsheets
            • Benefits for students
            • Benefits for care-experienced students
            • Benefits for disabled students
            • Benefits for young people in further education or training
            • Universal credit and students
            • Parents claiming for young people in further education or training
            • Benefits for lone parent students
            • Care-experienced young people and benefits
            • Students and carer support payment
          • Prison and benefits factsheets
            • Financial help for families affected by imprisonment
            • Prison and benefits
          • Veterans and benefits
        • Other CPAG resources on benefits in Scotland
      • Bulletins & articles
        • Welfare Rights Bulletin
        • Articles
        • eBulletins
      • Test cases
        • About legal test cases
        • Support with an Upper Tribunal case
        • Test case updates
        • Refer a test case
        • Support with the judicial review process
    • Get involved
      • Donate
        • Our supporter promise
      • Fundraise
        • Hold a fundraising event
        • Our fundraising heroes
        • Contact the fundraising team
      • A gift in your will
        • How to leave a gift in your will
        • The impact of your legacy
        • Supporter stories
          • Mike's story
          • Ruth's story
          • Gaynor's story
      • In memory
      • Membership
      • Our campaigns
      • Help our work
        • Share your experience of the benefits system
        • Advisers - tell us about your case
        • Voice network and Youth Voice
        • Tell us about your experience of Scottish child payment and other Scottish payments for families
    • Benefit rates
    • Shop
    • Training & events
    • Log in
    • CPAG Home