Welfare benefits you may get while studying in higher education

You could get Child Benefit if you are responsible for a child or young person. A child is someone who is under 16 years of age. A young person is someone who remains in full-time non-advanced education up until the age of 20.

Non-advanced education is typically anything below HNC level in Scotland, such as high school.

If your income is over £50,000 you can still get Child Benefit but it will affect the amount of tax you pay.

Child Benefit weekly rates:

First child: £26.05 

Second and subsequent children: £17.25

You can apply for Child Benefit on form CH2 from HM Revenue & Customs.

Call the Child Benefit Helpline or visit the GOV.UK website for more information:

Child Benefit Helpline:

0300 200 3100 Mon – Fri, 8am -6pm

The Scottish Child Payment is a weekly payment of £27.15 for each child in an eligible family, up until their 16th birthday.

The payments do not affect any other benefits you are receiving.

For more information see Scottish Child Payment and Bridging Payments.

Universal Credit has replaced 6 other income related benefits. If you are not receiving any benefits when you start your course you can claim Universal Credit to top up the money you get from SAAS. If you are getting tax credits and/or Housing Benefit when you start your course you may have to claim Universal Credit instead.

Universal Credit is paid monthly. Each month is called an assessment period.

In order to be paid Universal Credit there are usually certain tasks you need to do to find work. If you get the loan and grants from SAAS you will not have to complete these tasks.

The student loan and Lone Parent Grant affect the amount of Universal Credit you receive but the Independent Student Bursary, all money to help to pay for childcare and fees is ignored.

These benefits have been replaced by Universal Credit and no new claims can be made for them. If you are receiving any of them when you start your course you may continue to do so, however the change in your circumstances may mean you will no longer get them or will have to claim Universal Credit instead.

See ‘Benefits have changed’ for more details or contact the Lone Parent Helpline:

0808 801 0323 Mon – Fri, 9.30 am – 4pm

Full-time students cannot receive income-based or new style (contribution-based) Jobseeker’s Allowance as studying limits the time they are able to look for and take up work.

No new claims can be made for income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance. This has been replaced by Universal Credit.

If you study part-time you can continue to get new style Jobseeker’s Allowance but may also have to look for work, attend interviews and take a job if offered one.

Students in receipt of new style (contribution-based) Employment and Support Allowance can continue to get it while studying.

No new claims can be made for income-related Employment and Support Allowance.

You can get Carer Support Payment if you’re over 19 and study on a course where you spend less than 21 hours a week in class or doing coursework.

You will also be eligible as a student if you’re aged 16 to 19 and study at University or on a College course for example, a Higher National Certificate (HNC) or Higher National Diploma (HND).

Full time students do not pay Council Tax unless they have other non-student adults living with them. Part-time students need to pay Council Tax but may get a Council Tax Reduction or discount depending on their income.

See Help to pay Council Tax for more information.