Income Support

Income Support is a benefit intended for people who cannot normally work (or who work fewer than 16 hours a week), and who are on a low income and fall into one of the categories below. Part-time students are eligible to claim Income support but most full-time Undergraduate and Postgraduate students are not eligible to claim even if they meet one of the categories below unless they meet one of the other specific qualifying conditions for full-time students who are eligible to claim Income Support

Some of the main categories for people who can claim Income Support are:

• Lone Parents: You a lone parent of a child under 7. There are exceptions for lone parent full-time students who are eligible to claim Income Support;   
• Pregnant: You are within 11 weeks of birth (or earlier if incapable of work because of pregnancy) OR you have had your baby not more than 15 weeks ago;
• Carers: You are a receiving carer's allowance
• You are entitled to Satutory Sick Pay
  
• Disabled/incapable of work: You are incapable of work or disabled BUT you are only eligible for Income Support if you are already in receipt of Incapacity Benefit otherwise you must make a claim to Employment Support Allowance  
• Single foster carers: You are fostering a child under 16 through a local authority or a voluntary organization, and you do not live with a partner.

This is not an exhaustive list of qualifying criteria. For further information and advice for people on low incomes see the Citizen's Advice Bureau website.

More information

There is more information on Income Support, including eligibility and how to claim, on the Direct Gov website

To discuss your specific details with a Student Finance Adviser in the Student Welfare Service at the Univerity please contact us - you can request information that you be contacted by telephone or email or you can ask for an appointment to meet an adviser.