Full time education rules

Carer Support Payment is an ‘income replacement’ benefit. It provides financial support for people caring for 35 hours or more a week, in recognition of their caring role and the impact of this on their lives and ability to take on paid work.

Carer Support Payment rules on when you can get the benefit while studying are different from the rules for Carer’s Allowance (the benefit Carer Support Payment replaced). People who are studying part-time for 21 hours or less a week can get Carer’s Allowance, but it is not available to anyone studying full-time or for 21 hours or more a week.

Carer Support Payment is available to some full-time students, but not all full-time students.

This chapter sets out the rules on when carers can get Carer Support Payment while in education.