Please Help Me!!!!

cati16

Hello.

I only work 16.5 hours per week because I go to university.
I also live with my mum and the council are demanding that I pay council tax and rent.
I don't know what else to do. They are taking over half of my monthly income.

dmg24

If you are a full time student then you are exempt from paying council tax.

However, your mum will be. If she is the only other adult in the house then she will qualify for a 25% reduction in CT.

Do you have a student loan? Unfortunately most students have to pay rent in some form or another! x

cati16

No. I don't have a student loan.
The rent doesn't bother me much. It's mainly the council tax.

dmg24

Have you advised them that you are a full time student?

pinkshoes

Well one of my old housemates refused to pay council tax because she was doing an industrial placement for a year as part of a student course. So, despite being paid an annual salary of about £16k, the council exempted her from paying! We already had a student in the 4 bed house, so weren't pleased about the other 2 of us having to pay the entire bill, even though this girl had signed a non-student contract!!

so long as you send a certificate to the council saying that you're a student, then you won't have to pay!

cati16

The problem is I only go to university once a week during the day for 3 hours. I am doing a resit on one module.

Would it be better for me to leave my job and sign up for job seekers allowance until June?

OR

should I work longer hours with increased council tax and rent?

dmg24

If you are not a full time student, which it does appear that you are not, then you are not entitled to the exemption.

Many people who study on a part time basis do also hold down a full time job. I did, and I know it can be very hard work, but for me it was a case of needs must.

I would be inclined to increase your hours worked, possibly to 25 or 30, surely you will still be better off than on Jobseekers?

Also, your JSA may be reduced as you are not available for work one day a week.

Students on placement year are entitled to a CT exemption, just as those who get a bursary are.

Oldernotwiser

Surely the rent has to be paid whether you're a FT/PT student or not? Isn't the tenancy in your mother's name? What do you mean when you say the council are demanding you pay rent? If you're only studying for 3 hours a week you'd be much better working full time (or almost so) than going on JSA.
What's going to happen in June that'll change the situation?
Sorry for all the questions but your situation seems very unclear.

Impet_Limpet

I work full time and attend uni for 9 hours a week. Rent must be paid whether you are a student or not. Can you give us more details as oldernotwiser has suggested

welf_man

I presume you mean that the Council are making a non-dependant deduction from your mother's Housing and Council Tax Benefits, meaning you have to contribute this amount? I can't see how else they can be making you pay unless you are a joint tenant - in which case you can claim in your own right.

TBH, I don't think this is particularly unfair, considering that you are able to work full-time at present; is there any reason you cannot work more e.g. disability?

I suggest you contact your Students' Union or University Advice Centre to check you are getting everything you can.

Mel.

Blacksheep1979

cati16 wrote: »

Would it be better for me to leave my job and sign up for job seekers allowance until June?

I'm sorry but that is plain wrong. As long as you are able to work and have a job you shouldn't even think about quitting and signing on, infact I believe if you quit your job you aren't entitled to jsa. Yes they may be taking half your monthly income but at least you are contributing to society rather than leeching off it.