Part-time students are able to apply for all benefits, although in certain cases part-time study can impact on your entitlement. 

If you can apply, how much you are then entitled to may be affected by the student support you receive.

The rules around eligibility and entitlement can be very complex, and you should seek specialist advice if you are at all unsure. We have a list of sources of advice here.

This page gives some very basic information but you should either seek advice or access some of the further resources linked to below.

Full time students

Most full-time students are unable to claim benefits.  However, if you are a lone parent, part of a couple where both of you are full-time students and you have children, or a disabled student, you may be able to claim.

In addition, if you are a young student under the age of 19 and in further education, and living outside of the parental home, you may be able to claim.

Benefits such as housing benefit, income support, jobseeker's allowance and employment and support allowance are means-tested, and so any student support you receive may reduce your entitlement to these benefits.

Certain benefits, such as child benefit and disability living allowance, are unaffected by student status, and students must only meet the general criteria to be able to claim.

See below for links to further information.

Part-time students

Part-time student status does not usually affect your ability to claim benefits.  However, if you are claiming jobseeker's allowance and your course hours fall within your 'pattern of availability' for work, you may be required to give up your course to take up available employment.

Further information

There are several sources of further information for students. 

Click here for official information on higher education students and benefits for more information on individual benefits and the eligibility criteria for each.

The Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland produces a number of factsheets on student entitlement to benefits, which can be downloaded here.

A guide for students who are in, or who have left, care has been produced by the National Care Advisory Service and can be downloaded here.