Housing Benefit for Post Grad ?

ceewash

Is my son eligible for housing benefit? he is going to be a post grad student in September or possibly in a 17 week training course. he has stayed in his rented accommodation and needs some help with rent. Whichever course he does it would have to be completely self funded. He also has a part time job for about 16 hours a week.

stevenhp1987

DirectGov wrote:

Who isn't eligible

You can't usually get Housing Benefit if:
you have savings of over £16,000, unless you are getting the 'guarantee credit' of Pension Credit
you live in the home of a close relative
you're a full-time student (unless you're disabled or have children)
you're an asylum seeker or are sponsored to be in the UK

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/On_a_low_income/DG_10018926

I guess the first question, is the post-grad course full-time?

ceewash

His course is full time but he is able to work some evenings. Unlike the degree courses their is no student loan scheme available and so he would have to fund everything himself.

Indie_Kid

Are there no bursaries or scholarships?

stevenhp1987

ceewash wrote: »

His course is full time but he is able to work some evenings. Unlike the degree courses their is no student loan scheme available and so he would have to fund everything himself.

Yes, I am aware of that, however, full-time students cannot get benefits... unless they have kids.

Has he looked into a CDL (career development loan)? Many people who do MSc's or other PostGrad courses (PGCert, PGDip etc.) get this...

If he hasn't the money, would he not be better off working for a year and taking the course next year when he has saved up some cash?

anotherginger

saving for a year and then studying seems to be the best option.

i looked into a career development loan when i started an MSc but whatever fancy package they put around it, its still a loan which has to be paid back on completion of the course. the classmates i had who chose this option had the added pressure at the end of the year about starting payments on the loan without a job and having just shelled out X000 quid on a postgrad.

to be honest, i did a year full time MSc and although you say that there are evenings free for work, losing 16 hours a week to a job would have meant that i got less out of my course.

ceewash

Thanks for the replies. You have confirmed what I thought. The loans seem to be high interest and need to be paid back after completion. I also agree about the part time job interfering with the course but this seems the only option. I want him to do the course now so that he can be earning sooner and so stand on his own 2 feet:j. The shorter course only lasts 17 weeks and so he could be earning by January in theory.

MrsManda

ceewash wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. You have confirmed what I thought. The loans seem to be high interest and need to be paid back after completion. I also agree about the part time job interfering with the course but this seems the only option. I want him to do the course now so that he can be earning sooner and so stand on his own 2 feet:j. The shorter course only lasts 17 weeks and so he could be earning by January in theory.

Why can he not apply for a job now? what difference is the PG course going to do which his degree will not? Surely it'd be better for him to get a job and save up as suggested by Stephen and Ginger?

ceewash

MrsManda wrote: »

Why can he not apply for a job now? what difference is the PG course going to do which his degree will not? Surely it'd be better for him to get a job and save up as suggested by Stephen and Ginger?

His degree is in Journalism. The post grad / training course enable him to get a shorthand qualification and do the NCJT examinations which lots of jobs require. He has done lots of work experience.

The_One_Who

Most full-time postgrad courses (especially in arts, humanities and social sciences) are nowhere near full-time. There will be full days off when he will be available to work if necessary. It's all a case of weighing up options, whether taking a year off is better than working throughout.

ceewash

So I guess the answer is no . No housing benefit or other benefits for people in training or post grad courses?

The shorter training course which is the one he wants to do is 17 weeks , 9-5 , 5 days a week.