As a mature student with 1 child, how would I be affected with my partner moving in?

clarebear007

Hi, I am looking for some advice about this.

I am 25 years old, just about to start my second year of my foundation degree course through my university. I have a 6 year old daughter, and we rent a flat through a housing association. Through the student finance, I am currently getting the tuition loan, maintenance loan, special support grant and childcare grant. I also get some housing benefit and exempt from council tax.

I have a partner, who works within the city and lives with his parents. We were going to wait until the end of my course before we lived together which is two more years, but we wanted to find out our options of how things would sit if we did live together now. He would move in with me. He has a job at the moment, earning around £12k pa. Before he was to move in, we would ensure he had a full time job secured, as it would cost £100 a week to travel in to the job he has now. I would also look into getting a part time job too.

So my question is, how would my loan/grants/benefits be affected if he was to move in? I understand I would stop receiving the childcare grant, but we could apply for the childcare element of Working Tax Credit. I have also done an estimate on the student finance website via Direct.gov.uk website and it said that I would be entitled to the maintenance loan, but not the full amount as I am now, but also the maintenance grant as I will not be eligible for the special support grant as I wouldn't be considered a lone parent anymore. I am guessing housing benefit would stop or we would get very little of it depending on the jobs front. Would I still be exempt from Council Tax?

Many thanks.

Oldernotwiser

Your student finance would be assessed on your partner's income but, as it's so low, I would expect you to receive the same amount. I would think it likely that with your two incomes combined that you'd be over the limit for HB and, of course, you'd only get a 25% reduction on your council tax. On the other hand, your partner would no longer be having to pay keep to his parents so you might well find that the situation balances out.

Your Student Services/Welfare are likely to be the best people to work out the figures for you; I doubt that your Lone Parent Advisor will be able to cope with it!

naomi123

You cant get the childcare element of working tax credit unless you are both working more than 16 hours a week. I couldnt get it as I dont work even though I am using full time childcare as a student.

carolan78

If your household income is under a certain threshold you will still get all or part of the childcare grant.

clarebear007

Thank you for your help. My partner is earning about £12k pa at the moment, so I'm not sure how that will affect the childcare grant. I didn't know that about WTC, I must have been misinformed! Thanks.

mummytofour

I am pretty sure everything will stay the same student funding wise.
But HB may change and council tax he will have to pay 75% as the student discount is only 25%.

CIS

The council tax liability would need to be changed to the name of your partner as he would be the one liable for any charge,

As you are a student he would get a 25% reduction. The only further reduction would be if he could claim CTB.