Special support payment

Most full-time students cannot receive universal credit (UC), or other means-tested social security benefits. Some students, however, can claim – eg, if you are a lone parent, or if you and your partner are both full-time students and have a child, or if you get the housing element in UC, or you receive disability living allowance (DLA) or personal independence payment (PIP). See the relevant benefits chapter for details of which students can claim UC or means-tested benefits.

If you are entitled to UC or means-tested benefits, you should claim the special support payment as part of your maintenance grant. The special support payment comprises the £1,000 base grant and up to £4,161 of any maintenance grant (£5,161 in total) which is then disregarded as income when calculating your entitlement to UC or means-tested benefits. Claiming the special support payment also entitles you to a higher minimum rate of loan for your living costs (see here), which means that your overall cash support is usually higher than students who claim the standard maintenance grant.2Regs 50-52 and 56 E(SS)(W) Regs Note: Student Finance Wales may not make clear the grant’s different elements. If this causes problems, contact an adviser.