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Make students studying less than 35 hours a week eligible for carers allowance

Submitted by Shania Marcela Barros-Pullen on Saturday 28th March 2026

Published on Thursday 30th April 2026

Current status: Open

Open until: Friday 30th October 2026

Current Signatures: 152
(count is updated approximately hourly)

Relevant Departments

Tagged with

3 days ~ Allowance ~ DWP ~ Education ~ Full Time ~ My Family ~ sense ~ training ~ weeks ~ work

Petition Action

Make students studying less than 35 hours a week eligible for carers allowance

Petition Details

The DWP states that anybody in “full time” education, even if they only attend classes 2-3 days a week, is not eligible to receive carer's allowance. We believe this is unsustainable. Anyone attending classes for less than 35 hours a week (equivalent to a full-time job) should be eligible.

Additional Information

Evidence shows young adult carers are 3x more likely to be out of education, employment, and training. Anyone making more than £204, or studying more than 21 hours per week, loses their carer's allowance, so the stats make sense. People should not have to choose between investing in their future and financial support. If I attend uni for 21 hours a week, I'd still care for my family member for more than 35 hours a week. It punishes people who still do care work for trying to improve their lives.


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