Full time students and benefits - Can full-time students claim disability benefits?

Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Adult Disability Payment Scotland, Child Disability Payment Scotland and Attendance Allowance

You can get PIP, Adult Disability Payment Scotland, Child Disability Payment Scotland or Attendance Allowance even if you are a full-time student.

If you are disabled, are aged under Pension age and need help with your personal care or mobility needs, you can get Personal Independence Payment (PIP) if you live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, or Adult Disability Payment if you live in Scotland. If you need help with personal care and are Pension age or over, you can get Attendance Allowance.

PIP and Attendance Allowance are not means-tested. This means any income (including student grants or loans) or savings you have are ignored.

If activities you do as part of your course suggest that your health has improved, your PIP, Adult Disability Payment or Attendance Allowance may stop. For example, if you are getting PIP because you said you have problems with walking and your course involves a lot of physical activity, this could cause your award to be reviewed.

Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

You cannot make a new claim for DLA but if you are already claiming it, you can continue to get it when you become a full-time student, as long as you still meet the criteria.

If you are still getting DLA, you will be reassessed for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) at some point.

See When will I move from Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

If activities you do as part of your course suggest that your health has improved, you could lose your benefit. For example, if you are getting DLA because you said you have problems with walking and your course involves a lot of physical activity, this could cause your claim to be reviewed.

Reviewed: January 2023