Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes in Universal Credit eligibility rules for students in receipt of extra-costs disability benefits brought about by The Universal Credit (Exceptions to the Requirement not to be receiving Education) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 on those students.

The new regulations do not reduce the existing support which is correctly available to disabled students. They ensure this support comes from the appropriate source of funding: the student support system of loans and grants.

These new regulations do not remove entitlement to UC from any existing disabled student who is currently receiving it. They do not remove it from any future claim to UC from a person who is entitled to a qualifying disability benefit, such as Personal Independence Payment, who is subsequently determined to have a limited capability for work and who wishes to start a course of education.

Furthermore, any adult who has reached the 1st September following their 19th birthday, who is undertaking a full-time non-advanced course (i.e. up to Level 3) for which a maintenance grant is not payable, or a part-time course at any level, is entitled to Universal Credit provided their course is compatible with work-related requirements agreed with their work coach. Where the course is work-related and will give the person the best chance of securing work, the work coach may consider it a suitable work preparation activity. In such cases, time spent on the course will be deducted from the amount of time the person needs to spend looking for work.