Benefits - am I entitled and definition of 'partner'

k_pressy

Hi All :wave:

Newbie to the site, and no doubt other people have asked this question countless times, but so far the answers I have seen have been...well...an interesting read, at most, but not very conclusive.

Basically, I have just moved into my own flat through the housing association with my other half. We are both down as joint tenants. However, I would like to know if there is any chance we would get any benefits to help out financially, such as housing benefit or council tax benefit.

I am 21 and work a full time job, 39 hours a week. However, I earn around £15,500 a year at present. My other half is 22 and is a full time student at university, and currently does not work at all. Neither of us receive any benefits or financial aid from anywhere else. I have personal outgoings that amount to around £350 a month; £120 of this is petrol to get to and from work.

First of all, I guess I would like confirmation that on any claim I make for any benefits, my other half would be classified as my partner (sounds like a simple question but just want to make sure that I am putting her under the right category by Govt's definition)

Secondly, from what I have explained, do you think we would be eligible for benefits? Is it worth looking into or would I be wasting my time?

many thanks for any help with this
regards

Muttleythefrog

http://static.advicenow.org.uk/files/benefits-and-livingtogether-2010-11-1161.pdf
http://static.advicenow.org.uk/files/lt-housing-2010-1208.pdf

Are good guides regarding the issue of living together/partner.

Regarding benefits probably worth using a benefits entitlement calculator if nobody can offer precise advice.
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/benefits-check?utm_source=forum&utm_medium=clicks&utm_campaign=resourcebar

Oldernotwiser

You have a decent income for your age, your partner has his/her student funding package and you have cheap social housing. Apart from the 25% discount for a single person household you are unlikely to be eligible for any benefits.

puddy

everyone is entitled to claim, whether your circumstances would result in any benefits is difficult to say but it sounds unlikely

however it is odd that you are both down as joint tenants as under other circumstances, strictly speaking you would be able to claim housing benefit separately IF it is a 2 bed flat? if its not, then no, you would be a joint claim and if i remember rightly, the partner of the student claims hb and ctb (with the student as second claimant) not the student (with the partner as second claimant)

so with your partners income (student loan) you are probably getting about 18k as income over the year, its tight but doable. it would be better if your partner could work, as a full time uni course is not 40 hours a week

JimmyTheWig

Definitely sounds like you are partners to me.

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

25% discount for a single person household

If this doesn't make sense, the council tax discount should apply as students should be exempt from council tax.

Caz3121

as has been said you can make a claim, they will be interested in the household income but will not take into account your outgoings. The majority of your partners maintenance loan will be counted as income even if not taken http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/On_a_low_income/DG_070816
It is likely if your rent is low there will be little or no help

hjsmum

puddy wrote: »

so with your partners income (student loan) you are probably getting about 18k as income over the year, its tight but doable. it would be better if your partner could work, as a full time uni course is not 40 hours a week

Depends what course she is studying, it may well be 35-40 hours a week.

Oldernotwiser

hjsmum wrote: »

Depends what course she is studying, it may well be 35-40 hours a week.

There are precious few university courses with hours anything like this.

hjsmum

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

There are precious few university courses with hours anything like this.

They may be the precious few... doesn't mean she isn't studying one of them.

sandraroffey

students dont pay council tax. so that may reduce your bill a little.

and a 'partner' is someone you live with, as if you are married to them. that is how they define partner.

put in a claim, they can only say yes or no.

Oldernotwiser

hjsmum wrote: »

They may be the precious few... doesn't mean she isn't studying one of them.

Of course not, although the odds are that she isn't.