Universal Credit: Students

(asked on 9th February 2022) - View Source

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason Student Finance Maintenance Loans are counted as income for universal credit calculations.


Answered by
David Rutley Portrait
David Rutley
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
This question was answered on 24th February 2022

Student loans and grants have a £110 disregard in each Universal Credit monthly assessment period. After this threshold is met, they are treated as income and Universal Credit is deducted accordingly. Special Support Elements or Grants are fully disregarded, as these specifically cover the cost of an educational course.

Financial support for students primarily comes from grants and the student loans system, which is specifically designed for their needs, unlike the wider benefits system. It is right that Universal Credit does not duplicate support already being given. In this respect, Universal Credit mirrors other benefits such as Employment and Support Allowance, Housing Benefit, and new-style Jobseekers Allowance.

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