Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason a student maintenance loan is classed as income in respect of applications for universal credit.

Universal Credit does not duplicate the support provided by the student support system. An award of Universal Credit takes into account the elements of student loans or grants which provide for basic maintenance and disregards elements paid for specific additional costs, such as tuition or books. A flat rate monthly disregard of £110 is applied against the amount taken into account as student income.