§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the present criteria under which university students may qualify for welfare benefits.
§ Mr. NewtonUniversity students, unless they fall into a group which is exempt from the requirement to be available for work, are generally excluded from supplementary benefit in term time but may qualify by being available for work in vacations. Overseas students are normally excluded throughout. Students are unlikely to qualify for family income supplement, which is paid to people in full-time work who have children, though a students's spouse may qualify. All students except certain overseas students are eligible for housing benefit if they pay rent and/or rates on accommodation which they occupy as their home. Students may be able to obtain full or partial remission of National Health Service charges, and free welfare foods, on low income grounds.