Can students get universal credit to help with rent?

Most full time university students cannot get universal credit. This is because you can usually get a student loan instead.

Part time students might get universal credit if you have a low income.

If you already get universal credit

Your universal credit usually stops if you become a full time student.

Even if you can still get universal credit, it will probably go down. This is because your student loan counts as income.

Your student loan might not cover the full amount of things like rent and bills.

Speak to an adviser at your university or student union if you are worried about living costs.

Find out about:

• emergency grants, loans and money help

• university budgeting tips on the Money Helper website

If you are at university

Full time students in any of these situations might get universal credit.

You still need to have a low income and meet immigration conditions.

You get disability benefits

You can get universal credit if both of these things apply:

• you get personal independence payment (PIP)

• the DWP decides you have 'limited capability for work'

You live with a partner who is not a student

You can get universal credit if your partner is not a student.

You need to claim universal credit as a couple.

Your children live with you

You can get universal credit if you are a parent or foster parent with either:

• a dependent child under 16 years old

• a 16 to 19 year old in full time education at school or college

You can only claim UC if your child normally lives with you. They need to be part of your universal credit claim.

You are state pension age

You can get universal credit if you live with a partner who is under state pension age.

Check your state pension age on GOV.UK.

You could get housing benefit instead if either:

• you do not have a partner

• you and your partner are both state pension age

Check if you can get housing benefit if you are pension age.