Benefits for part time course question

shoe*gal_2

I was wondering if anyone knows anything about claiming benefits as a student. It's for an 18 year old doing a college course which he can't claim a grant for or apply for a student loan. He doesn't live with either parent and the guardianship order for him ended when he reached 18. His relative he lives with can claim child benefit while he is on this course but is it possible for him to claim housing benefit to pay rent? His course is classed as full time but is only about 18 hours a week so he is available for part time work but isn't finding it easy to get a job. He needs money for transport, books, equipment for his course as well as any clothes and food he needs. The child benefit will be enough to feed him and not much else. I know this is a bit unusual because he is almost on his own at 18 and has chosen not to go to Uni where he could get grants and loans. Thank you to anyone who knows anything and can help.

mazza1985

shoe*gal wrote: »

I was wondering if anyone knows anything about claiming benefits as a student. It's for an 18 year old doing a college course which he can't claim a grant for or apply for a student loan. He doesn't live with either parent and the guardianship order for him ended when he reached 18. His relative he lives with can claim child benefit while he is on this course but is it possible for him to claim housing benefit to pay rent? His course is classed as full time but is only about 18 hours a week so he is available for part time work but isn't finding it easy to get a job. He needs money for transport, books, equipment for his course as well as any clothes and food he needs. The child benefit will be enough to feed him and not much else. I know this is a bit unusual because he is almost on his own at 18 and has chosen not to go to Uni where he could get grants and loans. Thank you to anyone who knows anything and can help.

Hi there

He will not be able to get housing benefit. He may be entitled to help through the 16 - 19 bursary scheme. http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Schoolslearninganddevelopment/Optionsafterschool/DG_067577 You can also apply for grants from Family Action http://www.family-action.org.uk/section.aspx?id=1037 Is he classed as a care leaver?

shoe*gal_2

Thanks for the links. I'm not sure if he is classed as a care leaver as his relatives were his guardians not foster parents or anything. I'm not sure how it works when it's family.

Just read the first link and he definitely didn't get EMA. His family that he lived with were over the threshold for income so he wasn't entitled to anything. I was hoping now he is 18 and is no longer their responsibility he might get some help and they might too as they are struggling financially to keep him fed, clothed and entertained.

Ettenna

Surely if they get child benefit for him they can claim CTC for him as well. His course would probably be free because he is 18 and still eligible for free further education. Maybe the only other thing would be income support for him. Why is he suddenly liable for paying rent though?

The bursary scheme isn't only for people who got EMA.

BigAunty

shoe*gal wrote: »

... His relative he lives with can claim child benefit while he is on this course but is it possible for him to claim housing benefit to pay rent? ... ,.

Full time students without dependents and disabilities generally do not get benefits.

Is he estranged from his parents and are they unwilling to pay anything towards his books, clothes and transport? If he is estranged, then perhaps the college has a student advisor who can tell him if he qualifies for a particular benefit or bursary.

Just because his course is only 18 hours, if it is defined as a full time course, then a full time course it is and he will not be treated by the benefits system as a part time student (your subject heading is 'benefits for a part time student' which is misleading. Many full time FE/HE courses are only around 2.5 days a week, start late, and finish early.

The Direct Gov website has a good section on student finance - why does he not qualify for a grant or loan?

He cannot claim housing benefit if he lives in the same property as a close relative, even if he wasn't a full time student - there is no liability to pay rent, therefore no housing benefit is paid - board/lodgings/keep is a private matter between relatives. Here's the definition of close relative

Close relatives

You cannot claim HB if you live in the same dwelling as your landlord, and they are a close relative of you or your partner.

A close relative is a:

• parent
• or step-parent
• or father-in-law or mother-in-law
• or child
• or step-child
• or son-in-law or daughter-in-law
• or brother or sister
• or brother-in-law or sister-in-law
• or partner of any of the above.

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/specialist-guides/technical-guidance/rr2-a-guide-to-housing-benefit/housing-benefit/

shoe*gal_2

His relative is now retiring and they can't afford to keep paying for everything. They got a little bit of CTC but he needs money for transport, books, course materials, food, clothes and going out. It's a bit much expecting them to keep forking out especially now the whole legal side is done with - they ceased to have responsibility once he turned 18. Really he should be making a contribution like paying rent on his room or paying some board. I didn't know whether he could claim income support or not and his older sibling got a bursary and full grant to go on to further education because of not living with either parent.

shoe*gal_2

Thanks Big Aunty - your post appeared the same time as I was typing mine I think. I apologise for the title. I think I was having a blonde moment for a minute there working out the 18 hour thing. He has given some muddled information to his relatives and I am trying to help them work out what he can claim. According to him he can't get anything and needs them to keep paying for everything he needs and they are worried. His mother hasn't paid a penny towards his keep and it doesn't look like she'll start helping out now.

mazza1985

shoe*gal wrote: »

Thanks Big Aunty - your post appeared the same time as I was typing mine I think. I apologise for the title. I think I was having a blonde moment for a minute there working out the 18 hour thing. He has given some muddled information to his relatives and I am trying to help them work out what he can claim. According to him he can't get anything and needs them to keep paying for everything he needs and they are worried. His mother hasn't paid a penny towards his keep and it doesn't look like she'll start helping out now.

What about child mantenence? He is in education so they can still claim that. Or why if he gets a Saturday job to pay his way? He cannot claim any benefits unless he moves out, and even then he will probably be worse off.

shoe*gal_2

His mother is on benefits including DLA so doesn't have to pay. He has attempted to get a weekend job but expects things to fall in his lap rather than make an effort.

The bursary scheme looks promising though. As he is living with two pensioners and his guardianship is finished he could stand a chance so thanks for that link.

If there is no benefits available to him he needs a kick up the bum to go on a proper job hunt then. Either that or reign in his clothes shopping and social activities.

BigAunty

shoe*gal wrote: »

According to him he can't get anything and needs them to keep paying for everything he needs and they are worried. ...

What level/type of course is he applying for? Is it Further Education or Higher Education?

They should check his entitlements with the college student support body and the Direct Gov website.

When I attended college, masses of the students were totally incompetent at any type of paperwork from college application, finance application and so on.

For example, one even turned up to take a place that the college had no record of him applying for, he merely turned up on the start day, didn't occur to him that he needed confirmation of a place.

Some turned up for pre-registration days without proof of their qualifications as asked and some didn't even meet the minimum criteria to apply for the course, as set out on the course details they'd been sent. Loads hadn't sorted out their finance and had to be harassed for weeks by the lecturers to complete their docs.

BigAunty

shoe*gal wrote: »

..

If there is no benefits available to him he needs a kick up the bum to go on a proper job hunt then. Either that or reign in his clothes shopping and social activities.

Well that's not a benefit problem but a relationship problem, one where he feels a sense of entitlement. Those pensioners can't be exploited without their permission - if they are dishing out money they can ill afford, then of course, he has no motivation to sort out student finance, benefits, from his parents or employment himself and they are enabling him to think he deserves and should expect new clothes and a social life at their expense.

If they cut off the money, then it would force him to be more independent.