Students - Jobseeker's Allowance

A customer cannot normally receive benefit if they are a full-time student.

If the customer is a member of a couple, and both the customer and their partner are full-time students, they may be able to receive Jobseeker's Allowance during the summer vacation if they have responsibility for a child. They must meet the conditions, including being available for and actively seeking employment.

Under Jobseeker's Allowance what counts as part-time education will depend on the type of course.

If the customer is unemployed and receiving benefit they can study part-time as long as they remain available for and actively seeking employment. If they are offered a job the course they are taking must not prevent them from taking the job.

There are slightly different rules for certain Jobseekers.

If a customer has been unemployed for three months or more no aspect of their part-time study will be taken into account when deciding whether they are available for work, providing they are willing and able to rearrange their course to take a job in the hours that they have agreed they will be available in their Jobseeker's Agreement.