Benefits overviewThe following chart summarises the benefits you may be able to get depending on your circumstances. In each case, there are other tests you must pass to be entitled. The page number in the last column takes you to the relevant chapter, where you will find more details about the rules of entitlement. Part 3 explains which benefits are affected by any grant or loan you get. Terms such as ‘full time’, ‘part time’ and ‘student’ are explained in each benefit chapter. Note: new claims cannot be made for income-related employment and support allowance and cannot usually be made for housing benefit. Your circumstancesBenefitAged 16–20 (or 21 if turn 21 on course) in full-time further educationLiving away from parents*housing benefitOrphaned, estranged or separated from parentsuniversal creditFull-time studentSingle parentuniversal credithousing benefit*child benefitScottish child paymentBest Start grantBest Start foodshealth benefitsCouple with child/renuniversal credithousing benefit* (both students, or non-student claims)child benefitScottish child paymentBest Start grantBest Start foodshealth benefitsSick or disableduniversal creditemployment and support allowancehousing benefit*adult disability paymenthealth benefitsRecovered from ill-health and waiting to return to studiesuniversal credithousing benefit*jobseeker’s allowanceLive with non-student partneruniversal credithousing benefit* (if non-student claims)Having a babyUnder 18Best Start grantBest Start foodsGetting certain benefitsBest Start grantBest Start foodsWorking or recently workingmaternity allowancestatutory maternity paystatutory shared parental payPartner having a babystatutory paternity paystatutory shared parental payAdopting a childstatutory adoption payCarerFull-time student in higher education or aged 20 or overcarer support paymentcarer’s allowance supplementFull-time student in further education aged 16–19 and eligible for universal creditcarer support paymentcarer’s allowance supplementAged 16–18 (and 19 from late 2025)young carer grantPart-time studentuniversal credit (and can meet work-related requirements)housing benefit*jobseeker’s allowanceemployment and support allowancecarer support paymentFull-time student and waiting to return to course after taking time out for caringuniversal creditjobseeker’s allowance* New claims for HB cannot normally be made – see here