Rent payment for university students living at home

Jowo_2

Kizzaix wrote: »

Nope it's just me and my mum.

"Those tables make it clear that there are no deductions for full time students during term time"
so this means when i start university full time, they won't ask for rent?

The council aren't asking for rent from you, anyway, they are reducing the housing benefit for tenants whose non-dependents are in paid employment and it's up to them how they deal with the shortfall. I know you consider it the same thing and it is certainly the different sides of the same coin but the conflation of your personal contribution to the household for your lodgings and the rent being paid by housing benefit is one reason why this thread got so confused.

There is certainly nothing wrong with expecting family members in employment to contribute towards the cost of running the household instead of the public purse subsidising their accommodation by providing full housing benefit to the named tenant, is there?

So no, they won't reduce her HB during term time and will only reduce it by a small sum (10 to 20% of your net earnings) depending on what you earn during the summer vacation. This is a trifling sum compared to the true costs of renting a room outside of the family home and remains a total bargain.

Your mother should advise the council of your intentions and the changes in circumstance, as usual. If that letter did not explain how non-dependent deductions operate and the exemptions to them, then it's a very poor letter.

Kizzaix

Right, it says on the front page;

From 04 april 2011 - 27 june 2011 benefit of 85.33 (this is housing benefit)
from 27 june 2011 benefit of 24.73

so that leaves £60 to be paid for rent.

on the back page it says;

Rent amount used - £85.33
Less non-dependant deductions - £60.60

so as the non-dependant person, £60.60 is being asked for, for rent.

RAS

yes. which could be paid for in a number of ways.

If your income was very low, mum may be able to claim HB to cover it, ditto, if you are on JSA, she can claim HB to cover it.

And if you are earning £1000 per week, they will only take £60.60 from her towards the HB.

Jowo_2

Kizzaix wrote: »

Right, it says on the front page;

From 04 april 2011 - 27 june 2011 benefit of 85.33 (this is housing benefit)
from 27 june 2011 benefit of 24.73

so that leaves £60 to be paid for rent.

on the back page it says;

Rent amount used - £85.33
Less non-dependant deductions - £60.60

so as the non-dependant person, £60.60 is being asked for, for rent.

Must admit that I am very puzzled why a local council would assume the maximum non-dependant person's deduction without providing information about how they arrived at that figure.

Failing to provide context about it (which type of people have the deduction ignored, the scale of HB deductions versus income) is very remiss.

If it's their way of making a household think seriously about how they will overcome the inevitable HB deductions when the household's overall income increases, it's a winner, albeit unecessarily provocative.

AnxiousMum

Depending on what type of degree you are going to be doing at uni - alot of my son's flat mates on campus (which, by the way they have to pay £113 per week for with no assistance other than their student loans, bank of mum and dad, and earnings that they all earnt before going to Uni) - only have four, six or eight hours of attendance required per week. Of course there is lots of reading to be done, but it does allow them alot of flexibility in terms of part time work. Then the other end of the scale you could be doing 30 contact hours per week plus necessary lab time etc. - so may not have time for a job.
If you do need to pay towards the rental costs, it's just the same as any other student in the country has to do - that's why you get a maintenance loan, and possibly in your case, a maintenance grant.

Kizzaix

Right, can people please read the parts in which i've stated I DO PLAN ON GETTING A JOB DURING UNIVERSITY.

I'm a 20 year old woman, I don't need to be patronised for asking a simple question.

To those who have actually helped me (RAS and JOWO) thank you very much for your help.

Kizzaix

I'd just like to add yes students who move away do need to pay rent, but if you do research, they qualify for more money in order to adapt to this.

clemmatis

I think, Kizzaix, you should take the letter to CAB, and ask them if it's correct. I thought the benefit wouldn't be deducted, in the case of a student, except during the summer vacation. Also the deduction seems very high. But I don't know all the rules.

Kizzaix

I'm not complaining about having to pay it!!!!

I'm asking if I have to!!

allen35

Kizzaix wrote: »

I'm not complaining about having to pay it!!!!

I'm asking if I have to!!

Hi Kiz

If you claim Jobseekers when you finish college your mum won't lose any of her housing benefit as you are under 25.

The council tend to calculate non dependant deductions as the maximum earnings of £387 plus per week until you confirm your earnings, don't worry the award or notice your mum has received will be ammended.

If you gain employment you will then be expected to contribute towards rent/council tax, see this link for the thresholds:

http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/homepage/benefits/counciltaxbenefit/nondependantdeductions2011.htm

An example is you earn £170 pw you would be expected to pay £21.55 in rent to your mum as she will lose this amount as housing benefit.

If your mum receives a disability benefit and this includes DLA care no non dependant deductions will be made.

Good luck in job hunting and then in university.