Release 2.1Benefits for Students in Scotland Handbook 2025/26IndexAuthor and acknowledgementsAbbreviationsUniversal credit rates 2025/26Other means-tested benefit rates 2025/26Non-means-tested benefit rates 2025/26How to use this HandbookUp to dateFull-time studentsStructure of the HandbookFurther information, training and adviceBenefits overviewPart 1: BenefitsChapter 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 benefitsChapter 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 benefitsThe disabled person's benefitOverlapping benefitsGetting a carer premium or elementScottish carer supplementCarer additional person paymentYoung 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 benefitsChapter 4: Employment and support allowance1. What is employment and support allowance2. Who is eligible3. Limited capability for work4. Amount of benefit5. Claiming employment and support allowance6. Challenging a decision7. Other benefitsChapter 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 1 capitalStep 2: maximum rentStep 3: deductions for non-dependantsStep 4: getting a means-tested benefitStep 5: not getting a means-tested benefitStep 6: work out your applicable amountStep 7: work out your weekly incomeStep 8: calculate your housing benefit5. Claiming housing benefit6. Challenging a decision7. Other benefitsThe benefit capPassported benefitsChapter 7: New-style jobseeker's allowance1. What is new-style jobseeker's allowance2. Who is eligible3. Basic rules4. Amount of benefit5. Claiming jobseeker's allowance6. Challenging a decision7. Other benefitsChapter 8: 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 payStatutory neonatal care pay2. Who is eligibleStatutory maternity payMaternity allowanceStatutory paternity payStatutory adoption payStatutory shared parental payStatutory parental bereavement payStatutory neonatal care pay3. Amount of benefit4. Claiming maternity, paternity and other parental benefits5. Challenging a decision6. Other benefitsChapter 9: Universal credit1. What is universal credit2. Who is eligibleStudentsWho can claim universal credit3. Basic rules4. Amount of benefitStep 1: capitalStep 2: work out your maximum amountStep 3: work out your monthly incomeStep 4: deduct monthly income from maximum amountYour maximum amount5. Claiming universal credit6. Challenging a decision7. Other benefitsThe benefit capPassported benefitsChapter 10: Other payments1. Scottish child payment2. Best Start grants3. Best Start foods4. Funeral support payment5. Budgeting loans6. The Scottish Welfare Fund7. Care leaver payment7. Challenging a decisionPart 2: Student supportChapter 11: Student support1. Full-time higher educationPrevious studyTuition feesStudent loansCare-experienced students' bursaryYoung students' bursaryIndependent students' bursaryEstranged students' bursaryLone parents' grantSummer 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 allowance (ASNLA)Study 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 endowmentsPart 3: Treatment of incomeChapter 12: 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. Earnings5. Benefits6. Maintenance7. Savings and other capitalChapter 13: 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. Benefits7. Maintenance8. Savings and other capitalChapter 14: How income affects health benefits1. Working out your income2. Grants and loansGrantsStudent loan3. Discretionary funds and other paymentsDiscretionary fundsOther payments4. Earnings5. Benefits6. Maintenance7. Savings and other capitalPart 4: Other mattersChapter 15: 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 16: 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