Rent payment for university students living at home

Kizzaix

allen35 wrote: »

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.

thank you! :T

Jowo_2

allen35 wrote: »

...
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.

...

ah, so that's why the councils do it that way.

Perhaps they find that some HB tenants are not timely in reporting changes relating to their non-dependents so take this approach to encourage them to declare it?

As the housing benefit bill has nearly doubled over the last decade, perhaps the govt missed a trick by continuing to exempt all full time HE students living at home from paying a reasonable sum for their keep.

The maximum student grant (for a low income family) is around 3k, and a student loan for someone living at home is £4375. At the moment, the housing benefit isn't affected by their student child's income of £7.3k but if they earned the same money through employment, the deduction from the parent's HB would be around £20 per week.

duchy

Are the council even aware you intend to continue studying-or is this a catch-all letter ?

allen35

Jowo wrote: »

ah, so that's why the councils do it that way.

Perhaps they find that some HB tenants are not timely in reporting changes relating to their non-dependents so take this approach to encourage them to declare it?

As the housing benefit bill has nearly doubled over the last decade, perhaps the govt missed a trick by continuing to exempt all full time HE students living at home from paying a reasonable sum for their keep.

The maximum student grant (for a low income family) is around 3k, and a student loan for someone living at home is £4375. At the moment, the housing benefit isn't affected by their student child's income of £7.3k but if they earned the same money through employment, the deduction from the parent's HB would be around £20 per week.

I imagine it's to encourage the claimant to declare their non dependants income asap (it is in their best interests and there sole responsibility), you'll be surprised how many people get into trouble for not reading their HB/CTB award notices and then are threatened with eviction/bailiff action due to this.

allen35

duchy wrote: »

Are the council even aware you intend to continue studying-or is this a catch-all letter ?

This will be based on what the council know, (OP finishing college) and until her mum declares her circumstances/income the highest available non dependant deduction will begin.

Jowo_2

allen35 wrote: »

This will be based on what the council know, (OP finishing college) and until her mum declares her circumstances/income the highest available non dependant deduction will begin.

I can understand the strategy (to coax people to declare relevant changes) but not the lack of information on the scale of deductions and exclusions to it.

I think the council should have included a table on it to explain all the deductions for certain types of income and when non-dependent deductions are not made (for pensioners, full time students during term time, those on JSA, etc).

allen35

Jowo wrote: »

I can understand the strategy (to coax people to declare relevant changes) but not the lack of information on the scale of deductions and exclusions to it.

I think the council should have included a table on it to explain all the deductions for certain types of income and when non-dependent deductions are not made (for pensioners, full time students during term time, those on JSA, etc).

Excellent Idea!!!!

I think we have a social policy issue now, if this information was given there would be no need for people to feel alarmed at letters similar to the OP's pensioner mum who is probably struggling on her income and lets face facts would probably soldier on paying rent to help her daughter if she couldn't contribute due to getting no information from the LA.

It's due to this that a lot of young people have to move out of the family home due to non dependant deductions, as much as they are right, a lack of info' doesn't help

Jowo_2

allen35 wrote: »

..
It's due to this that a lot of young people have to move out of the family home due to non dependant deductions, as much as they are right, a lack of info' doesn't help

Wow, is it because the parent throws them out rather than charge their adult child £5, £10 or £20 per week towards their rental costs even though they are earning £120, £180 or £300 per week?!

Or because the kid leaves rather than pay a small percentage of their income to their parent who accommodates them?!

Is it because they see benefits as an entitlement they'd prefer to protect rather than share income across the household and support each other?!

allen35

Jowo wrote: »

Wow, is it because the parent throws them out rather than charge their adult child £5, £10 or £20 per week towards their rental costs even though they are earning £120, £180 or £300 per week?!

Or because the kid leaves rather than pay a small percentage of their income to their parent who accommodates them?!

Is it because they see benefits as an entitlement they'd prefer to protect rather than share income across the household and support each other?!

I was thinking on the lines of the case of the OP, being told they will be charged or lose £60 ish from HB due to child leaving school/college without being given relevant info' which OP didn't seem to receive. people on low income cannot afford or grasp these charges and it ends up in the young person leaving home 'cause they can't afford it.

A pensioner in this case being told that when her daughter leaves college she will be expected to pay £60 approx towards her rent from pension credit without a table of deductions as you mentioned.

As stated LA's place the maximum deduction until you give evidence of circumstances and income.

It's similar to LA's estimate your savings as £20,000 and therefore stop benefit until you show evidence of bank statements.

bestpud

My local council write and say they will apply the largest deduction unless, or until, they have proof of lower income.

However, they just say they will assume they are earning the highest amount and apply that deduction. They don't say it will be x amount per week.

I think it's to ensure people give the information promptly.

It's better than doing it the other way round and then some people having huge overpayments.