The rules regarding benefits entitlement when you are a full-time or part-time student are complicated.

• Many benefits have special rules which apply to students
• Some benefits have rules which exclude most full-time students
• Student income from grants, loans or bursaries may be taken into account for means-tested benefits.

This section provides more information.

Part-Time Students

You are a part-time student if you are studying but you:

• - Are not in relevant education and
• - Are not attending a full-time course

NB: If you started a full-time course and reduced your hours of attendance, you might still be treated as a full-time student rather than a part-time one.

You count as a student from the first day until the last day of the course or if you do not complete the course, until the day you are dismissed from or abandon it. This means that you count as a student even during summer vacations and when taking time out from studying, unless certain circumstances apply.

You can still be entitled to most benefits while you are doing a part-time course.

The benefits which may be affected by being a part-time student are:

- Jobseekers Allowance
- Carer's Allowance
- Incapacity Benefit
- Employment and Support Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance
- Attendance Allowance

Advice: We recommend that you seek advice from an expert benefits adviser about your particular circumstances