Lone parent student, lose housing benefit?

inchinga

Hi all,

I've asked a similar question in the past but am a bit confused, so please forgive the re-posting.

On Monday I have an appointment at my JC as my offer for student finance has just come in and I need to swap over from income support to being a student.

Now the maintenance grant I will get is more than the income support I get so I accept that I will probably not be eligible for income support anymore. However, without the income support, the person I spoke to on the phone said I wouldn't be entitled to any housing benefit. This is huge, (£1000p/m) and without that, there is no way I can stay a student.

Has anyone else had any experience of NOT getting income support but still being able to claim housing benefit?

My maintenance grant is £4950, and I am still being assessed for the london allowance and the special support grant, which I am told I will only hear about in about 4 weeks time.

I have 2 primary age children.

Please ask if you need more detail. Many thanks

Oldernotwiser

You don't mention the maintenance loan but this, as well as the grant etc, will be used to assess your eligibility for means tested benefits. There's no reason why you shouldn't carry on receiving HB (or at least part of it); it all depends on your total income from all sources.

welshmoneylover

inchinga wrote: »

I wouldn't be entitled to any housing benefit. This is huge, (£1000p/m)

:eek:

Thats not HB, thats an absolute fortune!

inchinga

welshmoneylover wrote: »

:eek:

Thats not HB, thats an absolute fortune!

I know, but this is my local housing allowance for London, needing 2 bedrooms (both kids same sex).

Sorry Oldernotwiser, the standard loan is £4950, and I'm waiting to hear about the special support grant (instead of a maintenance grant) and the parents learning allowance.

inchinga

I estimate that since I lost my job at the end of last year, and started studying at an adult college, I've been getting what works out to be around £18000 per year (12000 housing benefit and 6000 income support and child tax credit).

A veritable fortune I know, and am grateful for. However, even if I get the parents learning allowance and the london top up and the special support grant, I will be around £8000 in deficit per year, as we live pretty frugally, and just come out.

I have got about £3000 in ISA savings, but this would still leave £5000 which would leave us in a real pickle rent wise.

I have applied for a ton of part time jobs, but so far no luck.

Oldernotwiser

Certainly the loan and grant will count as income, although I'm not sure about the PLA.

I would expect that you'd get at least some of the rent paid when you're studying - I used to advise my clients that they shouldn't be any worse of as students and some may be a little better. Your Student Services/ Welfare are likely to be in a better position to run through the figures with you; the council and JCP aren't always much good on questions of full time students and benefits.

emidee

Hi Inchinga

The rules for calculating Benefit Entitlement & Tax credit entitlement are different - in a nutshell, Tax Credits only take account of the Adult Dependants grant; whereas calculations for all other benefits take into account all student support except the Tuition Fee Loan, Childcare Grant, Special Support Grant & Parent's learning Allowance. Full details can be found here:

(Very sorry.....as a new user apparently I'm not allowed to post links....argh!!

Go to the HMRC (dot gov dot uk) website & search for a page called 'Other Income - how to work it out for your tax credits claim'.

and

Go to the Direct (dot gov dot uk) website & search for a page called 'Which types of student finance are counted as income when working out benefits?'

All the info regarding what will be taken into account is on these two pages.

Good luck & HTH - very sorry about no links!
Emily xx.

Oldernotwiser

emidee wrote: »

Hi Inchinga

The rules for calculating Benefit Entitlement & Tax credit entitlement are different - in a nutshell, Tax Credits only take account of the Adult Dependants grant; whereas calculations for all other benefits take into account all student support except the Tuition Fee Loan, Childcare Grant, Special Support Grant & Parent's learning Allowance. Full details can be found here:

(Very sorry.....as a new user apparently I'm not allowed to post links....argh!!

Go to the HMRC (dot gov dot uk) website & search for a page called 'Other Income - how to work it out for your tax credits claim'.

and

Go to the Direct (dot gov dot uk) website & search for a page called 'Which types of student finance are counted as income when working out benefits?'

All the info regarding what will be taken into account is on these two pages.

Good luck & HTH - very sorry about no links!
Emily xx.

Please stop confusing the issue by bringing the question of tax credits into everything when they're not relevant.

Nickynoo1

You need to tell the council that your income is changing and they will re-calculate your housing benefit on the basis of your income of tax credits and student finance. They will need to see all your income proofs but will disregard some of it.

Also, while your at the council go to the council tax dept and ask for council tax exemption if your the only adult living in the property.

Also its worth making an appointment with your university student finance office. They can often give you non-repayable awards from the access to learning funds.

And you also should still get you milk/veg coupons.

Regards
Nicky

elfen

Special Support Grant ISN'T counted as income (but you can only get it if you receive certain benefits) when grants/loans are taken into account, nor should the Tuition Fee loan as you don't receive it, the uni does, so that may help. Not sure what other grants you're entitled to, but you may need to pop down the council and have a chat with someone from their Housing Dept.

zebber

Hi
I am in the same situation as yourself. I'm single parent of two primary aged children and i started uni this year.
I was working part time before this and received full housing benefit on a pt wage.
I have left work now for study.
I am entitled to the special support grant and parents learning allowance neither of which are counted as income.
I just received my housing benefit award today and I'm still entitled to the full amount.
The only income they used in the calculation was the was my Maintenance Loan and C.T.C.
I assume that if you are in the same circumstances and you were previously getting full housing benefit then you should be entitled to the full amount also.
you will be entitled to special support grant because you have no earned income (from job etc) and have dependents

I hope this helps

Z