Benefits for Students in Scotland Handbook 2024/25Part 1: Benefits and tax creditsChapter 7: Income support 1. What is income support
Back to previous
Chapter illustrations ()
Loading image navigation...
No image index could be found for this publication.
Close this Panel
1. What is income support
Income support (IS) provides basic financial support for people under pension age (see here) who are not expected to ‘sign on’ as available for work. Students who are lone parents with a child under five or single foster parents may be eligible for IS. Most other full-time students are not eligible. See here for which students can get IS.
Note: you cannot make a new claim for IS as it is in the process of being replaced by universal credit (UC). If you already get IS, the government plans to transfer you to UC by the end of 2024.
The amount you get is based on your circumstances - eg, whether you have a partner or whether you (or your partner) have a disability or care for someone with a disability. The amount you get is usually affected by any grant, loan or other income you have.