Part-time Study (Hansard, 19 March 1993)

§ Mr. Burt

The administration of income support is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available and a copy will be placed in the Library.

Letter from Mr. M. Bichard to Ms Joan Walley, dated 18 March 1993: As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking if he will liaise with Stoke on Trent College to ensure that students studying less than 21 hours a week and available for work can claim benefit in order to continue studies. I should explain that students are defined in the Income Support scheme as people aged between 19 and pension age who are attending a full-time course of study at an educational establishment. It is Government policy that financial support for students from public funds should come from one source, the education system. The benefit system is not the appropriate means of funding or supplementing educational maintenance. The educational maintenance system is designed to provide for the particular needs and expenditure patterns of students. Most students following full-time courses are not entitled to Unemployment Benefit, Housing Benefit or Income Support during their course. However, exceptions are made for certain groups, such as lone parents with a child under 16, and disabled students, who may claim Income Support throughout the year. A student's partner may also claim benefit at any time but will have to satisfy the normal conditions of entitlement. The 21 hour rule in the Income Support scheme allows unemployed people, who have been receiving benefit, to spend their spare time usefully in part-time study while they continue their search for work. It is not intended to provide financial support for people who are primarily concerned with continuing their education. Where the course is designated full-time by the college concerned the 21 hour rule cannot apply, as it is only intended to help those in part-time education. The decision whether a course of study is part-time or full-time is made by the independent adjudication authorities based on the individual circumstances of each case and the evidence, including that from the educational establishment concerned, before them in accordance with statute law and case law. I understand from Mr. Proctor, the District Manager for the Benefits Agency's Stoke (North) District, that a liaison meeting was held in January between the Benefits Agency and the Deputy Director of Stoke on Trent College, in order to ensure that the College was fully informed about the rules governing students' entitlement to Income Support. I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report and a copy will also be placed in the Library.