Mature Student with Dependants :entitlements?

Penny2myName

I will be starting a degree in Sept 09, and am wanting to organise my finances for when I start.
I have read about different benefit entitlments that I could possibly go for, but these have been all over the shop in different threads on different boards. Could someone let me know what actually benefits I would likely be able to get, so far I have seen these mentioned:

• Council Tax Exempt
• Housing Benefit (council housing)
• Free School Meals
• Zero Fare bus pass for Children

My situation is that I am a lone parent with 3 children, two of which attend High School.
Filling in my SLC application earlier, It looks as thought I am entiled via them to

• Fee Loan
• Maintence Loan
• Special Support Grant
• Parental Learning Allowence

On top of this I believe I will still get

• Maintence
• Child Benefit
• Child Tax Credit (but will I still be allowed the full reward, or does this change when on student loans?)

All Input will be greatfully recieved.

Penny

Oldernotwiser

You must remember that most of your student finance will be assessed as income for means tested benefits, so you may not have all your rent paid.

You will also get a bursary of at least £300 from the university.

bestpud

How old is your youngest child?

Penny2myName

Youngest child is 10, so I know they are too old for the childcare element.

bestpud

I don't know the answer to this but have you checked you will still be entitled to HB as your youngest is already 10 and you will be exempt from IS (on the grounds of being a single parent) in October?

If you were still entitled to IS, my understanding is you could claim it in the holidays and the same with HB, but I don't kow if that is the same for people with older children now the benefit rules have changed?

Oldernotwiser

bestpud wrote: »

I don't know the answer to this but have you checked you will still be entitled to HB as your youngest is already 10 and you will be exempt from IS (on the grounds of being a single parent) in October?

If you were still entitled to IS, my understanding is you could claim it in the holidays and the same with HB, but I don't kow if that is the same for people with older children now the benefit rules have changed?

I know where you're coming from but haven't been able to find out the answer either. I wonder whether this is a gap in the system that hasn't been covered?

bestpud

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I know where you're coming from but haven't been able to find out the answer either. I wonder whether this is a gap in the system that hasn't been covered?

Yes, it seems that way doesn't it?

MrsManda

As far as I can see, the rules for housing benefit haven't changed, just those for IS.
So OP should be entitled to child tax credits and housing benefits dependent on income. It does depend a lot on personal circumstances but benefits generally do.

Information can be found HERE and HERE
HTH

bestpud

MrsManda wrote: »

As far as I can see, the rules for housing benefit haven't changed, just those for IS.
So OP should be entitled to child tax credits and housing benefits dependent on income. It does depend a lot on personal circumstances but benefits generally do.

Information can be found HERE and HERE
HTH

So she would have to find a job during the holidays, or survive on the ctc and chb alone, as the student finance only covers term time?

I have no idea how much the student finance would be though - perhaps it will stretch the year if she can receive HB in the holidays?

bestpud

Ah, I can see now it says lone parents may be bale to claim JSA during the holidays:

Full-time students

If you’re studying full time, you may be able to claim Jobseeker's Allowance during the summer holiday if:

• you're a lone parent
• you have a partner who is also a full-time student, and one or both of you is responsible for a child or young person, and
• you’re available for and actively seeking work

You may also be able to claim if you’re waiting to go back to a course, having taken approved time out for a period of up to one year because of an illness or caring responsibility that has now come to an end.

Penny2myName

Think it was the entitledto site that it said I would be able to claim HB, when I put in my figures for student loan and that. Have to admit have actually budgetted for paying full rent once I start Uni. I just wanted to check if all this was correct.