FT Students & Income Support

leebee11_2

Hi.
Just asking for some advice/confirmation of what I believe to be available.
Okay. Me and my partner are both 23, and both full time students. We have a 3 year old daughter, and I am currently 26 weeks pregnant, due end of August.
I am aware students generally can't claim benefits, however, I know as we are a student couple with a dependent child, we could go on JSA during the summer period.
I wanted to know, from 3 weeks time can we claim income support instead? My reasons or believing we can is that we are

• A student couple
• With a dependent child
• In 3 weeks I will be 29 weeks pregnant, and therefore fall into one of the qualifying groups for income support

I am aware they will look at our student finance as income, but only until July as student finance is only income for 42/43 weeks a year.
I am also wondering is it like JSA in that I wuld make a claim on both of our behalfs?
Thanks
Leanne

NASA_2

Student finance is generally counted as income for 52 weeks rather than the timeframe you sugest. The only time it is less is in the final year because the course generally will end in May or June.

leebee11_2

No, I'm not sure if it is because of my circumstances (i.e. dependent) but EVERYWHERE I have looked says 42/43 weeks a yr?
I haven't spoken to anyone at the JobCentre regarding it yet, but Housing Benefit have confirmed they only look at it for that time frame too?

AnxiousMum

Is this your final year? Will either of you be returning to school in September/October?

MrsManda

Due to your circumstances you are eligible to apply for Housing Benefit and Income Support, but you're eligible to apply for those anytime whilst being a student, not just for the summer.

For your income related support the student loans & grants are for the whole year unless it's your final year. Income which is taken into account is your student loans, maintanence grant, any university bursary you got and Access to Learning Grant if you got it. I don't understand why students with an income of £11k a year would be treated any differently to non-students with an income of £11k a year when it came to accessing benefits even if the SLC stated that the £11k was only for 42 weeks of the year.

It may be worth posting on the student board for more advice about student finance

(£11k is a rough figure to be used as an example)

Foggy-Karis

Hey there,

I am currently a uni student too, and seem to be having the same issues as you. Although I am single, with no dependents.
I am currently on ESA (Credits Only basis) and I specifically asked them this question this morning.

According to the DWP and Housing Benefit, they said that they consider you no longer a student and student finance is for that period until the end of the Summer Term.

So basically, my summer term ends 28th May 2010 (each university is different). They will assess me as a non-student as from 29th May 2010.
As you are no longer a student for that period, known as the summer vacation according to the DWP, they cannot assume that your student finance is for this period. They work out your student finance in quarters. Summer quarter is disregarded.

Hope this helps.

GEEGEE8

As a single person, no dependants, can you claim housing benefit and council tax exemption?

Foggy-Karis

GEEGEE8 wrote: »

As a single person, no dependants, can you claim housing benefit and council tax exemption?

Is this question for me?

leebee11_2

Hi,
Sorry I haven't been on since posting. Yes we are both continuing next year, my partner going into his final year and I am going into my second year.
Thanks for all the responses. We get the maintenance loans, parent learning allowance and special support grants. My partner gets the Uni bursary, but I don't.
So if I claim, falling into the qualifying group of being pregnant with 11 weeks to go (in 3 weeks time) can I claim on my partner's behalf too?
Thanks for all your help!

leebee11_2

Oh and to GeeGee8, not sure who the question was to, but all students are exempt from council tax anyway

Foggy-Karis

I would assume so, as like I said, neither of you (depending on when your official term end date is) would be considered students. So both your incomes would be zilch effectively...