Benefits & Exemptions

Navigating the benefits system and sorting out worries about affording things like medication and childcare can be really tricky and just plain exhausting.

We've put down some of the advice we have from our own lived experiences, as well as where is best to go to access the best advice - since what we know won't cover everything that you could be entitled to. 

Citizens Advice

We would recommend going to Citizens Advice first for all benefits advice.  

It's important to make sure that you get all the help that you're entitled to. Their pages give you information on benefits and tax credits if you are working or unemployed, sick or disabled, a parent, a young person, an older person or a veteran. There is also information about council tax and housing costs, national insurance, payment of benefits and problems with benefits. 

Support can be accessed over the phone, via email, online and face-to-face.

Their website is here: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/ 

Help with Healthcare Costs

Although most NHS treatment is free, there are still some costs you might need to pay, for example, to get your prescriptions or to travel to your hospital appointment.

Find out how you could get help to pay for these health costs.

Website: https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/nhs-help-health-costs 

Students with children

You may be eligible for help with your learning costs if you’re a full-time student with children. This is called Parents’ Learning Allowance. How much you get depends on your household income.

The allowance:

Website: https://www.gov.uk/parents-learning-allowance/what-youll-get 

DSAs

You can apply for Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs) to cover some of the extra costs you have because of a mental health problem, long term illness or any other disability.

You can get the allowances on top of your other student finance. You will not need to repay DSAs.

If you’re a part-time student your ‘course intensity’ can affect how much you get.

How much you get depends on your individual needs - not your household income.

See our page: Students with Disabilities

You have an adult who depends on you

If you’re a full-time student in higher education and an adult depends on you financially, you can apply for an Adult Dependants’ Grant of up to:

The grant:

You cannot get an Adult Dependants’ Grant if you’re getting a Postgraduate Loan.

Website: https://www.gov.uk/adult-dependants-grant?step-by-step-nav=18045f76-ac04-41b7-b147-5687d8fbb64a 

Non-Student Benefits Calculator