Can you point to anywhere official that says you can? Because as I said this is now classified as a public funds so I am not certain you can.
It's the same rules for this as for child benefit which says :
You may not be able to get Child Benefit if you're subject to 'immigration control'. Immigration control means either:
the Home Office says you have permission to stay in the UK (known as 'leave to enter or remain') but this permission is given to you on the grounds that you don't claim some benefits, tax credits or housing help paid by the UK government (known as 'recourse to public funds')