Know Your Rights | Citizenship
Benefits Universal credit / PIP
Becoming a student does not stop your PIP. In technical language, it’s not a “relevant change of circumstances”. PIP is not means-tested, so student funding doesn’t affect it either. However, you might find that the things you do in order to study or while studying are taken into account at any review or medical re-assessment that happens while you’re studying. For example, if you’re walking across campus twice a day, that says something about your walking ability if the Mobility part of PIP is reviewed.
Means-tested state benefits are complicated. Most full-time students aren’t eligible. However, if you get PIP and/or have children you might be eligible. If you have a partner who is not a full-time student, you being a full-time student does not stop your partner from being eligible. Student income is taken into account for benefit means tests.
Students who intermit (take a break in studies) are usually treated as if they are still full-time students, but there are a few special rules if the intermission was on health grounds or because of caring responsibilities.
Full-time students cannot claim; or continue to claim; Carers Allowance.
If you need to claim a new state means-tested benefit, this will usually be Universal Credit. However, if already you get any old-system state benefits (for example Income Support or ESA or Housing Benefit) and/or get PIP, Do not claim Universal Credit without getting specialist advice first…
Who can help
If you want to know what state benefits you can claim or keep while you are a Staffordshire University student, contact the Student Advice Centre (01782 294629). We can also calculate what state benefits you’ll be entitled to if you leave your course.
Parents / single parent
Being a student does not affect your Child Benefit at all, and usually would not change your eligibility for Tax Credits.
No new claims for Tax Credits can be made because of the introduction of Universal Credit, but ongoing Tax Credit claims can be modified for changes of circumstances (e.g. if a person getting Child Tax Credit already starts working enough hours to qualify, s/he can add Working Tax Credit into the claim).
The situation is complicated so get individual advice (see “Who can help”).
Graduation changes
When you leave the course, either because you’re graduating or because you’ve withdrawn, you’re no longer seen as a student for the benefit rules. You don’t need to wait for graduation day to make a claim after your final year – your student status ends on the last day of your final term. Remember: you might need to claim Council Tax Benefit as well as other benefits for living costs at the end of your course – your student “status exemption” also ends on the last day of your final term.
Usually, any new benefit claim will be Universal Credit, but if already you get any old-system state benefits (for example Income Support or ESA or Housing Benefit) and/or get PIP, do not claim Universal Credit without getting specialist advice first.
Savings and income
If you can save money while you’re a student, do so. After your studies, you’ll either be working (most graduate jobs are paid monthly in arrears) or claiming state benefits (Universal Credit is paid monthly in arrears and although there’s an “Advance Payment” system that leaves you paying the advance back from ongoing benefits) – having a month’s financial cushion can be really important.
Crime reporting
If it’s not urgent, then while you’re a student you can always get in touch with our Friendly Camus Copper, Simon Stone.
- Generally, call 999 for incidents threatening your safety, call 101 to report other crimes.
Don’t waste police time: if you call 999 because your pizza arrives cold, you could be charged with wasting police time, and might even cost someone their life if your call delays police response to an incident.