Please can you let me know if I am entitled to housing benefit?

d0m1n0

Hello,

I was a full time student at university studying for a year long Masters degree (Sept 09-10) - during this time I was renting an appartment with a friend at £300 a month each (I just made the final payment on it this month).

I was still attending the University up until July 2010, however in July I told the university I no longer wanted to continue my course, and they put on their system that I stop being a student in February 2010 (as this is when the last course fee was paid).

Therefore am I right in thinking that, because officially I was not a full time student from February 2010 to September 2010, and was earning under £6000 a year from a bar job, that I could claim backdated housing allowance for this period of time (7 months)?
I was paying for my rent out of the career development loan I got for my masters degree, and am now stuggling to repay the loan and could really do with the housing benefit help.

Also, Could you tell me if I would have to pay Council tax on my house for this period as well? (for the same reason that I was not a student for this period.)

Thank you for your advice in advance, please ask if you require any more information.

Thanks

AnxiousMum

If you are no longer a student, then yes, you would be liable for council tax. If you are the only adult liable for cuncil tax in the property though (ie, the others are students), then you should get a 25% discount for being the only adult liable for it during that time.

Housing benefit is not normally backdatable that I'm aware of - I seem to recall that in our area, it's only backdatable to the Monday prior to applicatin papers being received. Unless you have a very good reason for not applying sooner, (and no, ignorance of eligibility is apparently not a good enough reason), then it will only take effect once you apply for it.

d0m1n0

For the council tax:

I was living with one other student in this house during February - September 2010.

As far as I am aware our council tax was being paid as we were both students.

obviously I was not a student from Feburary to september, so maybe you could advise me further....

Specifically, how much would I be expecting to pay of this council tax, presumably just for the period Feb - September, but also would I only be expected to pay half of the council tax (as I was living with someone else (even though they were a student))

Also, do I still get this 25% discount even though I was only living with one other person?

d0m1n0

for the housing benefit:

I have read that I can claim backdated housing allowance for up to 6 months if I can show good cause for not applying earlier.

Good cause can include age and inexperience apparently, because I did not know I could claim for this, so I think I might be able to apply for this? what do you think

My problem is - would the benefits of applying for backdated housing benefit outweigh this council tax bill Im going to be stuck with....

Duncombe

You have no chance in hell of them back-dating your claim "because you did not know". Just to make you aware.

You are the one liable for the council tax bill, so unless you were living with a generous student expect to have to pay the full amount. You will receive a 25% discount on whatever the bill is (Say your bill is £1000 for example, the bill would be reduced to £750 as you would be eligible for the single persons discount)

dmg24

You will not qualify for backdating, you do not have good reason for not claiming earlier. If you have done a degree you are more than capable of establishing your entitlement!

You will be liable for 75% of the full council tax for the period that you were not a student.

(Crossposted!)

mazzybaby33

d0m1n0 wrote: »

Hello,

I was a full time student at university studying for a year long Masters degree (Sept 09-10) - during this time I was renting an appartment with a friend at £300 a month each (I just made the final payment on it this month).

I was still attending the University up until July 2010, however in July I told the university I no longer wanted to continue my course, and they put on their system that I stop being a student in February 2010 (as this is when the last course fee was paid).

Therefore am I right in thinking that, because officially I was not a full time student from February 2010 to September 2010, and was earning under £6000 a year from a bar job, that I could claim backdated housing allowance for this period of time (7 months)?
I was paying for my rent out of the career development loan I got for my masters degree, and am now stuggling to repay the loan and could really do with the housing benefit help.

Also, Could you tell me if I would have to pay Council tax on my house for this period as well? (for the same reason that I was not a student for this period.)

Thank you for your advice in advance, please ask if you require any more information.

Thanks

My sincere advice to you is tomorrow morning first thing walk into your local authority office and ask for a claim form for Local Housing Allowance and Council Tax Benefit

Fill out the form including the part that asks you if there are any reasons why you want the benefits back-dated.
Add a note giving the explanation

Await the decision

If it comes back as a no then you can appeal the decision if you think it is wrong

Even if you lose that appeal There is a further appeal you can make to an independant arbitrator

Get all of your ducks in a row prepare to fight your corner be tenacious and you may well win through

At least then it will be straight from the "horses mouth" and not from this Daily Mail forum whos politics run slightly to the right of Atilla the Hun

Good Luck always

let us know how you get on if only to crow and p off the neigh sayers pmsl

Maz

dmg24

mazzybaby33 wrote: »

My sincere advice to you is tomorrow morning first thing walk into your local authority office and ask for a claim form for Local Housing Allowance and Council Tax Benefit

Fill out the form including the part that asks you if there are any reasons why you want the benefits back-dated.
Add a note giving the explanation

Await the decision

If it comes back as a no then you can appeal the decision if you think it is wrong

Even if you lose that appeal There is a further appeal you can make to an independant arbitrator

Get all of your ducks in a row prepare to fight your corner be tenacious and you may well win through

At least then it will be straight from the "horses mouth" and not from this Daily Mail forum whos politics run slightly to the right of Atilla the Hun

Good Luck always

let us know how you get on if only to crow and p off the neigh sayers pmsl

Maz

What would be the point in wasting time appealing a decision that is never going to go in the OP's favour?

d0m1n0

Would the government actually have any idea if I would need to pay council tax for that period?

I mean as far as they are aware I was a student for the whole year and it has been paid....

How would they find out?

I realise its not ethical, but im interested in whether they would likely find out if I didnt mention it (because if I start digging around about housing allowance then I think it might be pretty obvious)

Jomo

d0m1n0 wrote: »

Would the government actually have any idea if I would need to pay council tax for that period?

I mean as far as they are aware I was a student for the whole year and it has been paid....

How would they find out?

I realise its not ethical, but im interested in whether they would likely find out if I didnt mention it (because if I start digging around about housing allowance then I think it might be pretty obvious)

I think you should tell the truth, that way you won't get in trouble because I've known people who have tried to avoid paying council tax and they have had to pay it in the end. Unless you are going to leave the country that is.

Oldernotwiser

mazzybaby33 wrote: »

My sincere advice to you is tomorrow morning first thing walk into your local authority office and ask for a claim form for Local Housing Allowance and Council Tax Benefit

Fill out the form including the part that asks you if there are any reasons why you want the benefits back-dated.
Add a note giving the explanation

Await the decision

If it comes back as a no then you can appeal the decision if you think it is wrong

Even if you lose that appeal There is a further appeal you can make to an independant arbitrator

Get all of your ducks in a row prepare to fight your corner be tenacious and you may well win through

At least then it will be straight from the "horses mouth" and not from this Daily Mail forum whos politics run slightly to the right of Atilla the Hun

Good Luck always

let us know how you get on if only to crow and p off the neigh sayers pmsl

Maz

What is right wing about giving correct advice?