Single parent student, housing benefit mess looming

Hi all,

I don't know whether this would be better off in the benefits board, but I'll try this one first.

Thanks

My student loan payment schedule to date:

Academic Year Instalment Date Product Payee Amount Method Status 2009/10 First 03/02/2010 Tuition Fee Loan UNIVERSITY £1,612.50 Direct Credit Approved 2009/10 Second 05/05/2010 Tuition Fee Loan UNIVERSITY £1,612.50 Direct Credit Approved 2009/10 Interim 22/10/2009 Supplementary Grant Student £969.00 Direct Credit Paid 2009/10 Second
04/01/2010 Supplementary Grant Student £969.00 Direct Credit Paid 2009/10 Third
12/04/2010 Supplementary Grant Student £968.00 Direct Credit Approved 2009/10 First
29/09/2009 Student Support Loan Student £1,646.04 Direct Credit Paid 2009/10 Second
04/01/2010 Student Support Loan Student £1,646.04 Direct Credit Paid 2009/10 Third
12/04/2010 Student Support Loan Student £1,695.92 Direct Credit Approved

ETA: the above table has displayed badly although it looked ok when pasting it in. Sorry
This is confusing so I've tried to be as accurate as possible.

I am lucky in that I have received my student loans, but I do have another problem. I am a single parent of 2 primary aged kids, and between my job and becoming a student I was on income support, child tax credits and housing benefit.

When I became a student, I notified the job centre, and they said they needed my final student loan agreement to come to a decision on whether I would receive any income support (allowing me to continue to be entitled to housing benefit). I took them all the correspondence from student loans co, which included the payment schedule.

They stopped my income support in November, saying I hadn't provided them the 'final' notice. I contacted student loans co again asking for this only to be told firstly that they were still working on correspondence I'd sent them in August so it wasn't finalised.

When I phoned again about 4 weeks later (10th December) I was told that I hadn't sent them proof of my separation status (I've been separated over 5 years, and husband lives overseas). I was upset that I'd never been asked for this before, but sent it to them anyway that same day.

I phoned before Christmas to be told they're still working on October correspondence, and today I phoned to be told they're working on November. I contacted the job centre / income support office before Christmas to tell them that I still hadn't received the notice and they said that I would be on suspended income support until I eventually get it.

Now, I come to what I'm really worried about:

I've still been receiving child tax credits and housing benefit, which apart from the payments I've received from student loans (see payment schedule above) are my only income.

*I'm worried that the housing benefit people are going to say I haven't been entitled to it all these months and I'll have to repay.
*I'm worried in case they eventually realise I've been suspended from income support, suspend my payments and I won't be able to pay rent.

My rent is £1000 per month (London prices) which covers me and 2 kids for a 2 bedroom place, which is covered by Housing Benefit / Local housing allowance.

If I don't qualify for any income support, can I still get housing benefit? I would not be able to continue studying if I don't get it as I can't hold down a job as well as keep up my study schedule, and mind my kids.

I just see a mess looming, and want to know if there is anyway to get around it.

If there's anything I haven't made clear please ask.