Allow students to receive Universal Credit

The furlough job retention scheme mainly helps those in full time work as they still receive the majority of their wage. However, those with part time jobs AND are students are financially disadvantaged the longer lockdown is in place. May is the last month for university students to receive student loan payments. They cannot receive any benefits if they are furloughed from a part time job and are a student. Normally, students would go work full time over summer to make up loss of income. However, this is impossible with lockdown still in place. It is not viable to pay rent and bills etc with less than a part time wage. Students with part time jobs should be able to receive benefits just like anyone else who has a low income.

Why the contribution is important

According to the government it is too soon to come out of lockdown at the current time. However, the longer it is goes on, the less money certain people will have. Changes need to be made to help keep certain groups of people afloat or they risk having to move back into another household which in turn puts those living in that household in danger.

by ohara2974 on May 09, 2020 at 12:31PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 3.8
Based on: 8 votes

Comments

  • Posted by Stephen666 May 09, 2020 at 13:43

    Used to be the case in long distant past that Students either worked in vacation or signed on. I would prefer to see UBI though.

  • Posted by happyjolucky May 09, 2020 at 13:43

    Agreed. I am a self-funding student (doing a second undergrad to change career so paying my own fees). I work as a freelancer to support myself but have lost all work for the rest of the year. I am ineligible for Universal Credit as well as many support grants and funds from other sources because I am a student. Desperately afraid of what the future holds. I love to work hard and support myself, this is not a case of laziness. Students do a lot of the seasonal work in cafes, bars, hotels etc that will be missing this summer. We need to support everybody fairly.
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