Release 2.121Benefits for Students in Scotland Handbook 2023/24Author and acknowledgementsAbbreviationsUniversal credit rates 2024/25Other means-tested benefit rates 2024/25Non-means-tested benefit rates 2024/25Tax credit rates 2024/25How to use this HandbookUp to dateFull-time studentsStructure of the HandbookFurther information, training and adviceBenefits and tax credits: overviewPart 1: Benefits and tax creditsChapter 1: Adult disability payment1. What is adult disability payment2. Who is eligibleDaily living componentMobility componentStudents3. Amount of benefit4. Claiming adult disability payment5. Challenging a decision6. Other benefits and tax creditsChapter 2: Carer support payment1. What is carer support payment2. Who is eligibleFull-time non-advanced educationBasic rules3. Amount of benefit4. Claiming carer support payment5. Challenging a decision6. Other benefits and tax creditsThe disabled person's benefitOverlapping benefitsGetting a carer premium or elementWorking tax creditCarer's allowance supplementYoung carer grantChapter 3: Child benefit1. What is child benefit2. Who is eligibleWho counts as a childWho counts as a qualifying young personThe extension periodThe terminal date3. Amount of benefit4. Claiming child benefitGetting paid5. Challenging a decision6. Other benefits and tax creditsChapter 4: Employment and support allowance1. What is employment and support allowance2. Who is eligibleContributory employment and support allowanceIncome-related employment and support allowance3. Limited capability for work4. Amount of benefitContributory employment and support allowanceIncome-related employment and support allowance5. Claiming employment and support allowance6. Challenging a decision7. Other benefits and tax creditsChapter 5: Health benefits1. What are health benefits2. Who is eligibleUnder age 19Under age 26Age 26 or overQualifying benefitsExempt groupsLow income scheme3. Claiming health benefits4. Challenging a decisionChapter 6: Housing benefit1. What is housing benefit2. Who is eligibleFull-time studentsStudying part time3. Basic rulesLiable for rentYour normal homeEligible accommodation4. Amount of benefitStep one: capitalStep two: maximum rentStep three: deductions for non-dependantsStep four: getting a means-tested benefitStep five: not getting a means-tested benefitStep six: work out your applicable amountStep seven: work out your weekly incomeStep eight: calculate your housing benefit5. Claiming housing benefit6. Challenging a decision7. Other benefits and tax creditsThe benefit capPassported benefitsChapter 7: Income support1. What is income support2. Who is eligibleAdvanced or non-advanced educationFull-time studentsStudying part time3. Basic rules4. Amount of benefitStep one: capitalStep two: work out your applicable amountStep three: work out your weekly incomeStep four: deduct weekly income from applicable amountApplicable amount5. Claiming income supportGetting paid6. Challenging a decision7. Other benefits and tax creditsPassported benefitsChapter 8: Jobseeker's allowance1. What is jobseeker's allowance2. Who is eligibleContribution-based jobseeker's allowanceIncome-based jobseeker's allowanceStudying part time3. Basic rulesContribution-based jobseeker's allowanceIncome-based jobseeker's allowance4. Amount of benefitContribution-based jobseeker's allowanceIncome-based jobseeker's allowance5. Claiming jobseeker's allowanceCouples6. Challenging a decision7. Other benefits and tax creditsPassported benefitsChapter 9: Maternity, paternity and other parental benefits1. What are maternity, paternity and other parental benefitsStatutory maternity payMaternity allowanceStatutory paternity payStatutory adoption payStatutory shared parental payStatutory parental bereavement pay2. Who is eligibleStatutory maternity payMaternity allowanceStatutory paternity payStatutory adoption payStatutory shared parental payStatutory parental bereavement pay3. Amount of benefit4. Claiming maternity, paternity and other parental benefits5. Challenging a decision6. Other benefits and tax creditsChapter 10: Universal credit1. What is universal credit2. Who is eligibleStudentsWho can claim universal credit3. Basic rules4. Amount of benefitStep one: capitalStep two: work out your maximum amountStep three: work out your monthly incomeStep four: deduct monthly income from maximum amountYour maximum amount5. Claiming universal credit6. Challenging a decision7. Other benefits and tax creditsThe benefit capPassported benefitsChapter 11: Child tax credit1. What is child tax credit2. Who is eligibleYour parent gets child tax credit for you3. Amount of child tax creditStep one: work out your maximum child tax creditStep two: getting a means-tested benefitStep three: not getting a means-tested benefitStep four: work out your incomeStep five: calculate your child tax credit4. Awards of child tax credit5. Challenging a decision6. Tax credits and benefitsMeans-tested benefitsChild benefitPassported benefitsChapter 12: Working tax credit1. What is working tax credit2. Who is eligibleQualifying hours3. Amount of working tax credit4. Awards of working tax credit5. Challenging a decision6. Tax credits and benefitsChapter 13: Other payments1. Scottish child payment2. Best Start grants3. Best Start foods4. Funeral support payments5. Budgeting loans6. The Scottish Welfare Fund7. Challenging a decisionPart 2: Student supportChapter 14: Student support1. Full-time higher educationPrevious studyTuition feesStudent loanCare-experienced students' bursaryYoung students' bursaryIndependent students' bursaryEstranged students' bursaryDependants' grantLone parents' grantCare-experienced accommodation grantDisabled students' allowanceChildcare fundHigher education discretionary fund2. Full-time further educationEducation maintenance allowanceBursary maintenance allowanceCare-experienced bursary maintenance allowanceDependants' allowanceAdditional support needs for learning allowanceStudy expenses allowanceTravel expenses allowanceFurther education discretionary fundChildcare fund3. Part-time studentsHigher education coursesFurther education courses4. Postgraduates5. Paramedic, nursing and midwifery studentsBursaryGrants for living costs6. Other support for studentsSponsorship and scholarshipsEducational trusts and endowmentsSDS Individual Training AccountsPart 3: Treatment of incomeChapter 15: How income affects universal credit1. Working out your income2. Grants and loansIf you get a student loan for maintenanceIf you do not get a student loan for maintenance3. Dividing income throughout the year4. Other paymentsProfessional and career development loansSDS Individual Training Account payments5. Earnings6. Benefits7. Maintenance8. Savings and other capitalChapter 16: How income affects means-tested benefits1. Working out your income2. Grants and loansGrantsStudent loans for maintenance3. Dividing student income throughout the yearStudent loans for maintenanceGrants4. Discretionary funds and other paymentsDiscretionary fundsOther payments5. Earnings6. Benefits and tax credits7. Maintenance8. Savings and other capitalChapter 17: How income affects tax credits1. Working out your income2. Grants and loans3. Earnings4. Benefits5. Other incomeIncome from self-employmentSavings and investmentsPropertyMaintenanceChapter 18: How income affects health benefits1. Working out your income2. Grants and loansGrantsStudent loan3. Discretionary funds and other paymentsDiscretionary fundsOther payments4. Earnings5. Benefits and tax credits6. Maintenance7. Savings and other capitalPart 4: Other mattersChapter 19: Council tax1. What is council tax2. Who pays council taxWho counts as a studentExempt dwellingsWho is liable for council taxDiscountsDisability reduction3. Council tax reductionStudents eligible for council tax reduction4. Second adult rebateChapter 20: Time out from studies1. Ill healthFull-time studentsPart-time students2. Pregnancy and childrenLone parentsFathers and partnersCouples3. Carers4. Re-sits5. Time out for other reasonsAppendicesAppendix 1: Information and advicePublicationsOfficial guidanceLegislationAdviceAppendix 2: Useful addressesAppendix 3: Abbreviations used in the notesActs of ParliamentRegulationsOther informationIndex