Part time students and benefits - Can part-time students claim disability benefits?

New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

If you are a part-time student who is not able to work due to illness or disability, you may be entitled to New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) if you have previously worked and paid national insurance contributions.

Work Capability Assessment

You are only entitled to New Style ESA if you satisfy the Work Capability Assessment. If activities you do as part of your course suggests that you do not meet this test, you could lose this benefit. For example, if you are getting New Style ESA because you said you have problems with walking and your course involves a lot of physical activity, this could cause your New Style ESA claim to be reviewed.

Main disability benefits

You can get Personal Independence Payment, Adult Disability Payment, Child Disability Payment, Pension Age Disability Payment or Attendance Allowance even if you are a part-time student. Which disability benefit you can get depends on your age and where you live. 

These disability benefits 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 disability benefit may stop. For example, if you are getting Personal Independence Payment 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

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

If you are still getting Disability Living Allowance, you will be reassessed at some point for Personal Independence Payment. 

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 Disability Living Allowance because you said you have problems with walking and your course involves a lot of physical activity, this could cause your Disability Living Allowance claim to be reviewed.