Benefits and tax credits: overview

Newer version available

There is a newer version of this publication available:
Benefits for Students in Scotland Handbook | 2022/23 | 20th edn

The following chart summarises the benefits and tax credits 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 support, income-based jobseeker’s allowance, income-related employment and support allowance, and tax credits, and cannot usually be made for housing benefit.

Your circumstances	Benefit or tax credit	Page
Aged 16–18 (and some 19 year olds) in full-time further education
Have a child	Universal credit Income support Housing benefit Child benefit Child tax credit	here here here here here
Aged 16–20 (and some 21 year olds) in full-time further education
Orphan, estranged or separated from parents	Universal credit Income support Housing benefit	here here here
Living away from parents	Univeral credit Housing benefit	here here
Full-time student
Single	Health benefits	here
Lone parent of child under five	Universal credit Income support Housing benefit Child tax credit Child benefit	here here here here here
Student couple with a child, or lone parent	Universal credit Housing benefit Child tax credit Child benefit	here here here here
Couple, one student	Universal credit Income support Jobseeker’s allowance Employment and support allowance Housing benefit Child tax credit Child benefit	here here here here here here here
Part-time student	Universal credit Income support Jobseeker’s allowance Employment and support allowance Housing benefit	here here here here here
Working Under 16 hours
Part-time student	Income support Jobseeker’s allowance	here here
Full-time student	Income support (if eligible)	here
At least 16 hours a week (24 for most couples) and have a child	Working tax credit	here
At least 16 hours a week and have a disability	Working tax credit	here
At least 30 hours a week and aged 25 or over	Working tax credit	here
At least 16 hours a week and aged 60 or over	Working tax credit	here
Any number of hours	Universal credit (if eligible)	here
Sick or disabled
	Universal credit Employment and support allowance Housing benefit Personal independence payment Health benefits	here here here here here
Recovered and waiting to return to studies	Universal credit	here
Having a baby
Under 18	Best Start foods Best Start grant Scottish child payment	here here here
Getting certain benefits/tax credits	Best Start foods Best Start grant Scottish child payment	here here here
Working or recently working	Universal credit Maternity allowance Statutory maternity pay Statutory shared parental pay Working tax credit	here here here here here
When the child is born	Universal credit Child tax credit Child benefit Best start grant Scottish child payment	here here here here here
Studying part time	Universal credit Income support	here here
Partner having a baby	Statutory paternity pay Statutory shared parental pay	here here
Adopting a child	Statutory adoption pay	here
Caring for someone sick or disabled
Studying part time	Carer’s allowance Universal credit Income support	here here here
Waiting to return to studies after taking time out to care
Studying part time	Universal credit	here
Need dental treatment or glasses	Health benefits	here
Reached pension age	Pension credit Housing benefit	here here