Hi,
I’m hoping to get some feedback on advisers’ experience of disabled students being awarded universal credit.
A disabled full time student is eligible for ESA if they receive DLA or PIP. They are “treated as having a limited capability for work” on this basis. They only need to have a work capability assessment at all to see if they should be in the support group (and so receive a higher amount of ESA).
But we have recently confirmed that under UC that a disabled student cannot – except in very limited circumstances – be treated as having a limited capability for work.
Around a year ago we were informed by the DWP that a disabled full time student could be awarded UC if they were receiving DLA or PIP and were submitting med certs. They would be treated as having a limited capability for work on this basis and awarded UC before having a WCA.
However, we’ve now been told that, in practical terms, most disabled students will need to pass a WCA before they can be awarded UC.
I’ve attached a fuller note on the above together with the DWP’s conflicting advice.
