ESA contributions is it given to full time students on a healthcare course

ilovepink97 · April 15

Hi, I’m looking for advice about ESA and studying full-time.

I am currently in the ESA Support Group on contributions-based ESA and receive around £560 per month. I rely on this as my main income.

I am considering starting a full-time Speech and Language Therapy degree (37.5 hours per week, including NHS placements in the second and third year). However, I am unsure whether I will be able to continue the course long-term due to my health conditions, and I know the placements in later years can be quite demanding. I do want to try the course, but I am worried about what would happen if I am unable to continue or need to interrupt my studies.

I also have recurrent pregnancy loss and I am hoping to try for another pregnancy while at university. Because of my history, I may need to take time out from my studies if I become pregnant or if there are complications. I understand I may need to take a year out in that situation.

My Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is also due for reassessment soon, so I may not continue to receive that in the future.

My main concern is financial stability. If I lose my contributions-based ESA when I start studying, or if my PIP ends, I am worried I would have no stable income if I have to pause or stop the course for health or pregnancy reasons.

I also wanted to mention that I previously received ESA while I was a full-time student, but I am not sure if that would still apply now.

Could you please advise:

Whether I could continue receiving contributions-based ESA while on a full-time degree like this
How student finance or NHS Learning Support Fund would affect ESA
What would happen financially if I had to pause or leave the course due to health or pregnancy
Whether there are any protections or options in situations like mine

I am trying to make a careful decision because I do want to try the course, but I am worried about losing financial support if my health prevents me from continuing.

Kimi87 · April 15

As this is a complex area to give advice on, I'd recommend contacting Disability Rights UK who have a Disabled Students Helpline.

https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/disabled-students-helpline

flour · April 17

Hello @ilovepink97

I've used your bullets and put my answers in bold. I hope that helps

Whether I could continue receiving contributions-based ESA while on a full-time degree like this Yes student status is not affected for New Style ESA. However, if you are working or volunteering then this will affect it under the Permitted Work rules. You need to check that whether the time spent on the wards counts as studying time or not. If not then it may count as volunteering and then you'll need to check whether it will be classed as permitted work - if it does then limits apply.
How student finance or NHS Learning Support Fund would affect ESA ask them if they will deduct it from any money they pay you.
What would happen financially if I had to pause or leave the course due to health or pregnancy benefits would continue as your status would change to no longer being a student - this means your circumstances would be as they are now.
Whether there are any protections or options in situations like mine uncertain

Dont forget, if you live alone then you'll pay no council tax whilst full time student.

I hope that helps and good luck!

ilovepink97 · April 21

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1118450#Comment_1118450

thanks so much ur an angel

I have decided not to go for it as I’m too sick to start anything 😔 feel gutted I hope once I’m abit more functioning I can go for it

ilovepink97 · April 21

Thank u so much this is so so helpful. I’ve actually decided not to go anymore as I realised It will be too much for me I barely leave the house due to cptsd so I don’t think I’ll manage going to uni on top of that it’s just way too much

I really appreciate ur support and advice