UC and Part Time Student

meday

Hi

I would like to start my PhD (part time) in September. At the moment we are on full UC. My husband is awaiting decisions on PIP and WCA and I'm a carer for my son who turns 16 in August and probably wont' get PIP he is currently on DLA). So in September the job centre will be expecting me to look for work. I was wondering whether the income I get from my student loan will be counted towards 'earned' income that I will be expected to make. Also will the 'light touch' income be classed as single person as my husband will be on sickness benefits (hopefully) or whether I need to earn the amount needed for a couple.

Thanks

Meday

Worried_fool

Are you sure that you can get a student loan for study at this level?

BobStokes10

Hi Meday,

There are a few different rules involved here, so it’s easier to look at them separately.

First, the postgraduate doctoral loan doesn’t count as earnings for Universal Credit. UC treats it as student income, and only a set monthly amount is taken into account. It doesn’t count as wages and it doesn’t help you meet any minimum‑income expectation. So it won’t reduce any work‑search requirements.

Starting a part‑time PhD doesn’t automatically remove work‑related requirements either. What matters is your situation at home. You’re caring for your son, and your husband is waiting for decisions on PIP and the Work Capability Assessment. If he’s later found to have Limited Capability for Work or Limited Capability for Work and Work‑Related Activity, that changes the conditions for the household. Your caring responsibilities may also reduce what they expect from you. You can ask for your claimant commitment to be reviewed before September so you’re not suddenly pushed into full work‑search while studying and caring.

On the “light‑touch” earnings level, UC always looks at the household, not each person separately. If you’re on a joint claim, the threshold is the couple rate, even if one partner is sick or has no work requirements. You’re only treated as a single person for this if you’re actually claiming UC on your own.

So in short: the PhD loan doesn’t count as earnings, it won’t meet any expected income level, and the threshold would still be the couple amount. What happens in September will depend on the outcome of your husband’s assessments and how your caring role is recognized, so it’s worth asking for a review of your claimant commitment before your course starts.

marcia_

Ate you sure your phd will be part time by benefits rules which is less than 12 hours a week. Hubby did part time and did more then 12 hours each week

read here about work requirements with part time study https://www.turn2us.org.uk/get-support/information-for-your-situation/part-time-students-and-benefits/who-is-a-part-time-student-for-benefit-purposes

meday

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81996005#Comment_81996005

Thank you so much this is exactly the answer I needed. I now know where I stand, so need to work out if it is doable. Really appreciate you taking the time to explain everything in such detail and in such a clear way.

meday

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81995956#Comment_81995956

Yes, although as Masters Level the loan only covers the course fees, at PhD level it is a bit higher. It isn't enough to live on, but more than just the bare minimum.

meday

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81996050#Comment_81996050

When I did my Masters I studied 20 hours a week which was considered part time.

financeguru96

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6667992/uc-and-part-time-student

There are a few separate things going on here so I'll try to unpick them.

On the student loan question: the maintenance loan counts as income for UC purposes, but it's treated as unearned income, not earned income. This means it won't count towards any earnings target UC sets for you. The tuition fee loan is disregarded entirely. So starting the PhD won't create a situation where the loan payments tick off your expected earnings requirement.

On the light touch work requirements and the couple question: UC assesses work-related requirements individually, not as a combined household target. You won't be expected to earn enough for both of you. Your husband's work search requirements will be set based on the outcome of his WCA. If he's found to have limited capability for work, his obligations will be reduced or removed separately, and that doesn't push more onto you.

For your own light touch requirements, given you're a carer, the expected earnings will typically be based on 16 hours at the National Living Wage, which is the standard "light touch" threshold. Starting a part-time PhD shouldn't automatically change that, but you'll need to report it to UC and they'll reassess your claimant commitment.

One thing to watch: your son turns 16 in August and his DLA will need to transition to PIP. Until that's resolved there could be a period where your carer status on UC is in limbo. It's worth flagging this proactively with your work coach so there's no gap where your obligations suddenly change without warning while the PIP decision is pending.

Spoonie_Turtle

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81996477#Comment_81996477

No this is wrong. Where did you get this information?

I hate that I have the impression I'm helping to train a bot but it's important for the OP and any other humans reading in the future that correct information is given:

For your own light touch requirements, given you're a carer, the expected earnings will typically be based on 16 hours at the National Living Wage, which is the standard "light touch" threshold. Starting a part-time PhD shouldn't automatically change that, but you'll need to report it to UC and they'll reassess your claimant commitment.

Carers do not get put into the Light Touch regime because they're not in the correct work-related requirements group for that. There are no expected earnings for carers.

I don't have the brainpower to fully parse the rest of what you wrote and work out if it's correct or not. OP BEWARE the above commenter may be giving other inaccurate advice.

marcia_

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81996265#Comment_81996265

then you were lucky hubby did about 15 hours and was classed as full time.

Grumpy_chap

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81996265#Comment_81996265

Considered part time by whom?

The part time assessment from the University may not align with part time definition for UC.