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<p>This Government recognises and values the vital contribution made by all carers,
young or old in supporting some of the most vulnerable in society including pensioners
and those with disabilities.</p><p> </p><p>The Government thinks it is important that
carers can maintain links with the education system and so carers are able to undertake
part-time education and still receive Carer’s Allowance. However, there are no plans
to change the current 21 hour study rule as we think it is right that people in full-time
education should be supported by the educational maintenance system, via its range
of loans and grants, rather than the social security benefit system. That is why,
as a general principle, full-time students are usually precluded from entitlement
to income-related and income-maintenance benefits. Many college courses are provided
on the basis of 16 hours a week supervised study so we have been working with the
Learning and Work Institute and colleges to increase awareness of the Carer’s Allowance
study rules.</p>
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