This handbook is free but you'll need to log in to view it. Why do I need to log in? Log in Create account Go to Expand all + Prelims The author Acknowledgements Abbreviations Universal credit rates 2026/27 Other means-tested benefit rates 2026/27 Non-means-tested benefit rates 2026/27 How to use this Handbook Up to date Full-time students Structure of the Handbook Further information, training and advice Benefits overview Part 1: Benefits Chapter 1: Adult disability payment Basic facts 1. What is adult disability payment 2. Who is eligible Daily living component Mobility component Students New section added as test 3. Amount of benefit 4. Claiming adult disability payment 5. Challenging a decision 6. Other benefits Chapter 2: Carer support payment Basic facts 1. What is carer support payment 2. Who is eligible Full-time non-advanced education Basic rules 3. Amount of benefit 4. Claiming carer support payment 5. Challenging a decision 6. Other benefits The disabled person’s benefit Overlapping benefits Getting a carer premium or element Scottish carer supplement Carer additional person payment Young carer grant Chapter 3: Child benefit Basic facts 1. What is child benefit 2. Who is eligible Who counts as a child Who counts as a qualifying young person The extension period The terminal date 3. Amount of benefit 4. Claiming child benefit Getting paid 5. Challenging a decision 6. Other benefits Chapter 4: New-style employment and support allowance Basic facts 1. What is new-style employment and support allowance 2. Who is eligible Limited capability for work 3. Amount of benefit 4. Claiming new-style employment and support allowance 5. Challenging a decision 6. Other benefits Chapter 5: Health benefits Basic facts 1. What are health benefits 2. Who is eligible Under age 19 Under age 26 Age 26 or over Qualifying benefits Exempt groups Dental treatment Vouchers for glasses or contact lenses Fares to hospital Low income scheme Step 1: capital Step 2: work out your requirements Step 3: work out your weekly income Step 4: deduct weekly income from requirements 3. Claiming health benefits 4. Challenging a decision Chapter 6: Housing benefit Basic facts 1. What is housing benefit 2. Who is eligible Full-time students Who counts as a full-time student Who can get housing benefit Studying part time 3. Basic rules 4. Amount of benefit Step 1: capital Step 2: maximum rent Discretionary housing payments Step 3: deductions for non-dependants Step 4: getting a means-tested benefit Step 5: not getting a means-tested benefit Step 6: work out your applicable amount Personal allowances Premiums Components Step 7: work out your weekly income Step 8: calculate your housing benefit 5. Claiming housing benefit 6. Challenging a decision 7. Other benefits The benefit cap Passported benefits Chapter 7: New-style jobseeker’s allowance Basic facts 1. What is new-style jobseeker’s allowance 2. Who is eligible 3. Basic rules 4. Amount of benefit 5. Claiming jobseeker’s allowance 6. Challenging a decision 7. Other benefits Chapter 8: Maternity, paternity and other parental benefits Basic facts 1. What are maternity, paternity and other parental benefits Statutory maternity pay Maternity allowance Statutory paternity pay Statutory adoption pay Statutory shared parental pay Statutory parental bereavement pay Statutory neonatal care pay 2. Who is eligible Statutory maternity pay Maternity allowance Statutory paternity pay Statutory adoption pay Statutory shared parental pay Statutory parental bereavement pay Statutory neonatal care pay 3. Amount of benefit 4. Claiming maternity, paternity and other parental benefits 5. Challenging a decision 6. Other benefits Chapter 9: Universal credit Basic facts 1. What is universal credit 2. Who is eligible Students Modular courses Who can claim universal credit Work-related requirements 3. Basic rules 4. Amount of benefit Step 1: capital Step 2: work out your maximum amount Step 3: work out your monthly income Step 4: deduct monthly income from maximum amount Your maximum amount Standard allowance Child element Elements for illness Carer element Housing costs element Help with your rent Childcare element 5. Claiming universal credit 6. Challenging a decision 7. Other benefits The benefit cap Passported benefits Chapter 10: Other payments Basic facts 1. Scottish child payment 2. Best Start grants 3. Best Start foods 4. Funeral support payment 5. Budgeting loans 6. The Scottish Welfare Fund 7. Care leaver payment 8. Challenging a decision Part 2: Student support Chapter 11: Student support Basic facts 1. Full-time higher education Previous study Tuition fees Student loans Care-experienced students’ bursary Young students’ bursary Independent students’ bursary Estranged students’ bursary Lone parents’ grant Summer accommodation grant Disabled students’ allowance Childcare fund Higher education discretionary fund 2. Full-time further education Education maintenance allowance Bursary maintenance allowance Care-experienced bursary maintenance allowance Dependants’ allowance Additional support needs for learning allowance (ASNLA) Study expenses allowance Travel expenses allowance Further education discretionary fund Childcare fund 3. Part-time students Higher education courses Further education courses 4. Postgraduates 5. Paramedic, nursing and midwifery students Bursary Grants for living costs 6. Other support for students Sponsorship and scholarships Educational trusts and endowments Part 3: Treatment of income Chapter 12: How income affects universal credit Basic facts 1. Working out your income 2. Grants and loans If you get a student loan for maintenance If you do not get a student loan for maintenance 3. Dividing income throughout the year 4. Earnings 5. Benefits 6. Maintenance 7. Savings and other capital Chapter 13: How income affects housing benefit Basic facts 1. Working out your income 2. Grants and loans Grants Undergraduate grants Paramedic, nursing and midwifery students’ grants Postgraduate grants Grants in further education Student loans for maintenance 3. Dividing student income throughout the year Student loans for maintenance Courses starting in the autumn term lasting more than a year Courses not starting in the autumn term Courses lasting one year or less If you leave your course early Grants The standard rule for grants Higher education grants Paramedic, nursing and midwifery bursaries Further education grants Postgraduate funding If you leave your course early 4. Discretionary funds and other payments Discretionary funds Lump-sum payments Regular payments Payments before a course starts or before a loan is paid Other payments Voluntary or charitable payments 5. Earnings 6. Benefits 7. Maintenance 8. Savings and other capital Chapter 14: How income affects health benefits Basic facts 1. Working out your income 2. Grants and loans Grants Student loan 3. Discretionary funds and other payments Discretionary funds Lump-sum payments Regular payments Other payments Voluntary or charitable payments 4. Earnings 5. Benefits 6. Maintenance 7. Savings and other capital Part 4: Other matters Chapter 15: Council tax Basic facts 1. What is council tax 2. Who pays council tax Who counts as a student Under 20 in further education Under 20 in higher education 20 or over in further or higher education Articulating or direct entry students Exempt dwellings Who is liable for council tax Couples Discounts Disability reduction 3. Council tax reduction Students eligible for council tax reduction 4. Second adult rebate Chapter 16: Time out from studies Basic facts 1. Ill health Full-time students From the start of your ill health From three months From 28 weeks Once you have recovered Student support Part-time students From the start of your ill health From three months Once you have recovered 2. Pregnancy and children Lone parents Fathers and partners Couples 3. Carers 4. Re-sits 5. Time out for other reasons Appendices Appendix 1: Information and advice Publications Official guidance Legislation Advice Appendix 2: Useful addresses CPAG in Scotland Student Information Scotland Lead Scotland National Union of Students Scotland Scottish Funding Council Scottish Social Services Council Student Awards Agency Scotland Student Loans Company UKCISA: UK Council for International Student Affairs Appendix 3: Abbreviations used in the notes Acts of Parliament Regulations Other information
