New Universal Credit rules could force disabled students to quit education

The Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) are warning that planned rule changes may leave disabled students forced to choose between continuing to access Universal Credit or continuing with their education.

Under current rules, young people still finishing basic education at 19 or 20 are no longer entitled to child benefits and make their own claims. To start a Universal Credit claim, students must prove that they have Limited Capability to Work (LCW) status – which, according to CPAG, is paradoxically often only attained by starting a Universal Credit application.

To get around this, many students use Employment and Support Allowance to access Universal Credit. CPAG claims that incoming rule changes which require assessments to take place before a claimant’s studies begin will effectively end this
option.

Disabled people are 28 per cent less likely to be in employment than non-disabled people

– David Huges, Chief executive of the Association of Colleges

Prospective disabled university students wishing to supplement their student loans may be forced to defer their studies for a year, as the assessment for LCW status can take four months.

Chief executive of the Association of Colleges, David Hughes, said that the changes represent a “major issue for disabled students trying to access disability benefits and education.

“Disabled people are 28 per cent less likely to be in employment than non-disabled people. To tackle this, all benefit rules need to encourage, not prohibit, education”.

Alison Garnham, CPAG’s Chief Executive, said, “Many disabled young learners will face Hobson’s choice under the new rules – pursue the studying they love without enough money to live on, or relinquish it to avoid penury”.

A government spokesperson responded to concerns, saying, “Our student support system includes the student loan and the Disabled Students Allowance, as well as discretionary bursaries, grants, and Hardship Funds. Universal Credit isn’t intended to duplicate this.

“Personal Independence Payments and Disability Living Allowance are also available to help disabled students with the extra costs of living with a disability or health condition”.