Housing allowance.

Macro_3

In that case, you would still be considered a full time student and could not claim HB unless you were in one of the 'vulnerable' groups.

You will continue to be considered a student until you either abandon, complete or are dismissed from your course.

See here:
(2) For the purposes of the definition of “full-time student” in paragraph (1), a person shall be regarded as
attending or, as the case may be, undertaking a full-time course of study or as being on a sandwich course—
(a) subject to paragraph (3), in the case of a person attending or undertaking a part of a modular course
which would be a full-time course of study for the purposes of this Part, for the period beginning on
the day on which that part of the course starts and ending—
(i) on the last day on which he is registered with the educational establishment as attending or
undertaking that part as a full-time course of study; or
(ii) on such earlier date (if any) as he finally abandons the course or is dismissed from it;
(b) in any other case, throughout the period beginning on the date on which he starts attending or
undertaking the course and ending on the last day of the course or on such earlier date (if any) as he
finally abandons it or is dismissed from it.
(3) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph (2), the period referred to in that sub-paragraph
shall include—
(a) where a person has failed examinations or has failed to successfully complete a module relating to a
period when he was attending or undertaking a part of the course as a full-time course of study, any
period in respect of which he attends or undertakes the course for the purpose of retaking those
examinations or that module;

Macro_3

At the job center she said she has access to two systems, the job seekers one and the housing/council tax benefit system. She showed me what she said was housing benefit and im pretty sure I did see that at the top of the screen.

That's really interesting, can anyone confirm?

Robbie64

Jobseekers Allowance for people aged 16 to 24 is £50.95 per week. In addition, as you were told this amount when you went to sign on this is what the £50.95 is, your JSA payment - the DWP don't have access to Housing Benefit details such as the amount of HB in payment. In fact it's likely that your HB claim is still being assessed. The first you normally know about your HB claim is usually by a letter dropping on your doorstep. if you have any queries about HB then you should take it up with your local council rather than the DWP.

toxic1990

But that doesn't seem right to me, as in common sense. To leave someone in my position without student finance, or HB would leave me with £50 a week to live off. Which is not possible.

I am lucky and have parental support, but the system must work where any form of support doesn't exist.

It was my understanding, that no matter what your circumstances the Government determined that every individual citizen of age should have an income of £90 odd in order to live off.

I am really pretty damn !!!!ed if I don't get HA.
Thanks for the info though, even if it is somewhat depressing :P

I just asked the job center for a letter to confirm I was receiving it as I was rang up by the council to provide proof. The advisor is the one who said she was able to access the other system, and she clearly explained that my HA claim had been awarded. I don't think she would of made such a mistake if she didn't even have access to the information as you claim.

Robbie64

I never saw the reply from Macro - the poster has covered pretty much what I posted. i didn't realise that JSA staff could access the HB/CTB computer system directly.

That said, it would be too much of a coincidence that both your JSA and HB would be the exact same amount. If I were you I'd contact the council on Monday to clarify the situation. On JSA you would get 100% of your rent liability up to the maximum allowable as a single room rent - so if this is £59 then this is what you should get. You'd then have to pay £1 a week out of your JSA to cover the shortfall.

Robbie64

toxic1990 wrote: »

But that doesn't seem right to me, as in common sense. To leave someone in my position without student finance, or HB would leave me with £50 a week to live off. Which is not possible.

I am lucky and have parental support, but the system must work where any form of support doesn't exist.

It was my understanding, that no matter what your circumstances the Government determined that every individual citizen of age should have an income of £90 odd in order to live off.

I am really pretty damn !!!!ed if I don't get HA.

Thanks for the info though, even if it is somewhat depressing :P

If you can get JSA you should get HB as both have pretty much the same rules re: students.

Oldernotwiser

Have you discussed your financial situation with your StudentServices/Welfare office - they're likely to have more knowledge of your situation than the JCP?

fluffymovie

Got to say that I have never heard of JCP being able to advise on HB as this is not a benefit that they administer so they would have no need for the HB information unlike HB who need CIS to confirm JSA awards to pay the benefit.

I would say that if you haven't had any money from the HB section, then you need to contact them.

Macro_3

fluffymovie wrote: »

Got to say that I have never heard of JCP being able to advise on HB as this is not a benefit that they administer so they would have no need for the HB information unlike HB who need CIS to confirm JSA awards to pay the benefit.

I would say that if you haven't had any money from the HB section, then you need to contact them.

Glad it's not just me! I wonder if she was just showing him the interest registered on CIS for HB/CTB to show that the claim form had been passed across, and if the two systems she was referring to were just CIS and Legacy?? Who knows?!

Macro_3

toxic1990 wrote: »

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

toxic1990 wrote: »

Yeah. There has been alot of confusion about it all due to my student status, I had to put in a claim for backdating which is being reviewed.

I am neither. I am a student doing a year without residency. I was ill over exams (university) and have to take a year out until next exam period before I can progress to next year.

I am still enrolled at the University so have been exempted from Council tax, but I don't receive any student fiance from the student loan company (£6k a year).

There has been confusion about whether I fall into a bit of a black hole. classed as a student so don't pay CT but not eligible for HB/JS.

Aaaah, just seen this.

Full time students eligible for JSA
30209 F/T students may be eligible for JSA if they stop attending or undertaking a course,
with the approval of the education establishment, because they are
1. caring for another person or are ill and
2. have subsequently ceased caring or recovered from their illness and
3. they are not eligible for a loan or grant for the period at DMG 302101.
1 JSA Regs, reg 1(3D)

HB is the same:

[Vulnerable student groups]
Intercalating students - students who at any time during an academic year, with the consent of the relevant educational establishment, ceased to attend or undertake a course because they were:
(a) engaged in caring for another person, or
(b) ill, and
2 having stopped caring for that person or, having recovered from that illness, were not permitted to return to their course immediately, and
3 are not eligible for a grant or student loan for the period specified in HB

2.31 These students can claim HB/CTB but only for the period from the date they stopped caring for that other person or recovered from that illness until• they return to the course, or• the start of the next academic year whichever is the earlier


You should be fine.