special support bursary

char_student

Can someone please help me!

I am a lone parent and I am a final year student doing law.

I have received the special support grant and the special support bursary for the previous 2 years of study and I will receive it this year.

Anyway, I was told by my uni that the special support bursary even though on the notifcation form says its for course related costs such as books, travel etc IS counted for income for housing benefit purposes.

Anyway, I am not sure this should be the case as it says online on various websites that as it is for non living expenses and is for course related costs, that it is not counted as income for housing benefit. For the past 2 years, my local council has counted the bursary as income but this year I am not sure they should.

Anyone help me?! Thanks

[Deleted User]

Insitutional Bursaries should be fully disregarded for HB calculations.

Below is some info on the relevant sections of guidance.

In accordance with HB/CTB A15/2006 the SSG and the Institutional bursary should be disregarded as income. Paras 11, 12 and 13 of this circular state:
11 Disregard the amount of any SSG paid to students from September 2006

12 When a student is in receipt of the SSG and the university or HE Institution charges the full £3,000 tuition fees [£3,145 in 2008/9] the university must award the student a bursary to make up the difference between the £2,700 [£2,835 in 2008/9]and the fees

13 Disregard the amount of this bursary.

The Institutional bursary is given for course related costs, such as books and travel and any student with an SSG will also have the full bursary.
Your Housing Guidance Manual Items 2.172 and 2.173 also states:

2.172 When a student is in receipt of the SSG and the university or HE Institution charges the full £3,000 [£3145 in 2008/9] tuition fees, the university must award the student a bursary to make up the difference between the £2,700 [£2,835 in 2008/9] SSG and the fees

2.173 Fully disregard the amount of this bursary.

You probably need to write to the Council outlining this. Also bear in mind that if the Local Council are not properly disregarding this, it is likely to be happening to everyone in the area who is a student on HB, the Students' Union might want to get involved.

Hope this helps

char_student

Thanks Shivster. I have been to council and asked them to re assess my calculation from October 2006. If they should disregard the bursary, they owe me £££! Although my bursary is £1400 and not £300 - so maybe they will just take off the £300 from the £1400?

Can you please tell me where you found the above info so I can show the council that? Thanks!

char_student

The direct.gov.uk website says that the bursary should be disregarded

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/On_a_low_income/DG_070816

char_student

sorry posted twice by accident

[Deleted User]

HB/CTB A15/2006 - refers to the circular sent out re student claims in 2006 (circulars are issued to clarify/alter regs) it's available online here http://www.dwp.gov.uk/housingbenefit/user-communications/circulars/2006/a15-2006.pdf

The relevant sections of the Housing Benefit Guidance manual are here

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/housingbenefit/claims-processing/operational-manuals/hbgm/parts/ptc_02a.asp

It's irrelevant how much you get, the full amount of the bursary should be disregarded. Students at my institution get £1800 and the whole lot is disregarded.

char_student

Thanks Shivster! The council have given me a refund into my bank today disregarding the bursary from september this year! A nice xmas pressie! Now I just need them to backdate it until 2006 which will be £1700! Thanks for you help!

Merry Christmas!

[Deleted User]

So pleased I could help - congrats!