UC work commitments as a student

NUSA

Hi all,

I’m hoping to get some advice regarding my Universal Credit commitments.

My husband recently migrated from ESA to UC, and we had to make a joint claim. He has Limited Capability for Work (LCW), so I understand that I’m expected to meet some work requirements. However, I’m a full-time student and started my course on 2 October 2025. My student finance has already been taken into account, and deductions of £1,620 per month are being applied.

Despite this, my work coach has placed me under full-time work search requirements — 35 hours per week and 5 full-time job applications — which doesn’t seem to match my circumstances. From what I’ve read, I should fall under the “no work-related requirements” group during the academic year once student deductions apply.

I’ve raised this several times in my UC journal, and I also submitted a Mandatory Reconsideration in September, but I haven’t received a reply. I’ve tried contacting Citizens Advice, but haven’t been able to reach anyone yet.

Any guidance or advice from others who have been through something similar would be greatly appreciated, as I feel quite stuck at the moment.

Thank you.

Passerby

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/139547/uc-work-commitments

From my understanding, a full-time student in a limited capability for work (LCW) group due to having a partner who is eligible for UC is not required to search for a job, but they must take part in work-focused activities, such as attending work-focused interviews and training courses. etc.

You can lodge a complaint and ask that your complaint be passed on to a senior manager.  

Chris75_

I am surprised you are allowed to claim UC and go to college full time. I thought only part time was permitted.

Passerby

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1079584#Comment_1079584

There are exceptions, including having a partner who is eligible for Universal Credit, which is her case.

NUSA

Thank you, Passerby. This is exactly what I am trying to establish. I am willing to take part in reasonable work preparation activities, but a full-time 35 hour per week job search and applying for full-time roles is not possible alongside a full-time degree. Even though I physically attend two days per week, I have approximately 200 hours of independent study time per module.

I intend to raise this further with someone at a higher level, though at the moment I am struggling to progress because I do not believe my journal messages are reaching the right person.

My only reason for posting here is to understand whether this is normal practice. I am trying to make sure I take the correct steps, but I also want to ensure that what is being asked of me is reasonable and in line with policy.

Regards,

Rachel_Scope

Hi @NUSA, I've found some information for you that should clear things up a bit:

Claimant commitment

To be able to get Universal Credit, everyone has to agree to a claimant commitment.

You will not have to do anything under your claimant commitment if:

• You are claiming Universal Credit as a student, and you receive student income such as a grant or a loan for maintenance.

Even if you don’t fall into either of these two groups, you might not have to do anything under the normal rules on claimant commitments.

You will have to take some actions as part of your claimant if:

• You are claiming Universal Credit as a student who has taken time out from your course. You will have to talk to your work coach to find out.

From this, it appears that you shouldn't have to do anything in terms of finding work. I would definitely try to speak to a more senior member of staff. It can be difficult getting through to people but I hope you're able to get it sorted soon.

Passerby

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1080066#Comment_1080066

No, it's not the "normal practice" at all. Someone whose partner is in the LCW should not be subjected to full-time work search requirements, leave alone a full-time student. Don't let them abuse you. You need to contact the office that's dealing with your claim.

You can contact them by phone, in person or in writing. Universal Credit claimants can also use their journal. 

You need to let them know:

• your National Insurance number
• your full name, address and contact numbers
• which benefit you are complaining about
• what happened, when it happened and how it affected you
• what you want to happen to put things right

If you’re not happy with the response from the team that would be dealing with your complaint, you can ask them to pass your complaint on to a senior manager.

This is what the claimant commitment of people in LCW stipulates, and yet you're a full-time uni student:

• Work-related activities: You will have a claimant commitment that outlines specific work-related activities, such as attending occasional training courses, meeting with a work coach, and taking steps to prepare for future work.
• No obligation to look for work: You will not be required to actively look for work as you are in the LCW group.
• Regular meetings: You will have regular appointments with your work coach to discuss your work preparation activities.
• Review and updates: Your commitment will be reviewed and updated based on your individual situation and progress. 

I believe a full-time uni student should be completely exempted from having anything to do with a jobcentre, as anyone who has been to university knows perfectly well the substantial and challenging workload that involve in being a full-time university student, often comparable to or exceeding the hours of a full-time job when accounting for all academic commitments, which is due to a combination of scheduled classes, extensive independent study, and other responsibilities, in addition to constant pressure from assignments, tight deadlines, and high expectations for academic performance, which can be a significant source of stress and anxiety.

NUSA

Hi all.

Thank you so much for taking the time to explain this clearly. This confirms what I felt, that the current requirement being placed on me does not reflect policy or common practice. I will follow your advice and raise this formally with the office dealing with my claim, and if needed ask for it to be escalated to a senior manager.

I appreciate your support and the clarity you provided.

Regards,