Help Please: Student living with unemployed partner.

Jacp83

Hello,

I am in desperate need of help and advice. I am a full time student living with my boyfriend. He lost his job back in February and has been trying to get help with housing and council tax benefit. Unfortunately he has been refused because I have to much money coming in (my student loan).

I have been trying to support us both as this has now become our only option, but I just don't have the funds to keep doing this. I also can't understand how my loan has been taken so much into account. Firstly it was awarded to me to support my studies, and I was given the maximum because before he lost his job we were considered a low income house hold and secondly I will have to pay this back one day.

If someone can explain how and why a full time student is expected to support a partner that would be fantastic and if someone can help me get hold of some extra money that would also be helpful. At the moment every penny I have is going towards our home, I haven't been able to consider getting uni equipment that I need etc.

This whole situation has put so much strain on us both in so many ways and I am constantly worried about money and my course is becoming affected. Please Help!

Many Thanks

sharp910sh

Jacp83 wrote: »

Hello,

I am in desperate need of help and advice. I am a full time student living with my boyfriend. He lost his job back in February and has been trying to get help with housing and council tax benefit. Unfortunately he has been refused because I have to much money coming in (my student loan).

I have been trying to support us both as this has now become our only option, but I just don't have the funds to keep doing this. I also can't understand how my loan has been taken so much into account. Firstly it was awarded to me to support my studies, and I was given the maximum because before he lost his job we were considered a low income house hold and secondly I will have to pay this back one day.

If someone can explain how and why a full time student is expected to support a partner that would be fantastic and if someone can help me get hold of some extra money that would also be helpful. At the moment every penny I have is going towards our home, I haven't been able to consider getting uni equipment that I need etc.

This whole situation has put so much strain on us both in so many ways and I am constantly worried about money and my course is becoming affected. Please Help!

Many Thanks

I was in the same situation. My partner finished university and could not find work. She couldn't get JSA but she got housing benefit and council tax benefit. This is a lot of money. So if I were you get your BF to apply for housing tax benefit and council tax benefit. Problem solved, it will take a number of week so apply ASAP!

V_Chic_Chick

I'd suggest a visit to your Students Union advice service and / or the CAB.

You might also find it useful to cross-post on the MSE Benefits board.

redmel1621

Jacp83 wrote: »

Hello,

I am in desperate need of help and advice. I am a full time student living with my boyfriend. He lost his job back in February and has been trying to get help with housing and council tax benefit. Unfortunately he has been refused because I have to much money coming in (my student loan).

I have been trying to support us both as this has now become our only option, but I just don't have the funds to keep doing this. I also can't understand how my loan has been taken so much into account. Firstly it was awarded to me to support my studies, and I was given the maximum because before he lost his job we were considered a low income house hold and secondly I will have to pay this back one day.

If someone can explain how and why a full time student is expected to support a partner that would be fantastic and if someone can help me get hold of some extra money that would also be helpful. At the moment every penny I have is going towards our home, I haven't been able to consider getting uni equipment that I need etc.

This whole situation has put so much strain on us both in so many ways and I am constantly worried about money and my course is becoming affected. Please Help!

Many Thanks

Hi there.

What loans/grants have you received? You should have got maintenance loan, maintenance grant and adult dependant grant.

These ALL get taken into consideration if applying for means tested benefits. They do allow some arbitary reductions for books, but it amounts to something like £10pw.

You should be getting the 25% reduction for council tax, and if you want to apply for housing benefit and council tax benefit then it would have to be in his name.

Unfortunately I don't know how much HB you would get, if anything..

If he has been working consistantly up until he lost his job then he should be entitled to contribution based JSA which would last for 6mths, giving him time to try to find work.

I do agree that you are given the money to support your studies, but that money is also meant for you to live off... If you go onto the student room website you will see that many, many students still have to find part time work as their loans/grants only just cover rent and bills, leaving little to nothing for food/clothes/social events..

Also bear in mind that if, as you say, you have received the maximum... i.e the 3 incomes I mentioned first then you do effectively have an annual income of £9767 (approx)

You haven't mentioned where you live, or how much your rent is, but as a couple a 1 bed flat is sufficient, and maybe if you are strugglig to pay the rent you need to consider moving into cheaper accomodation?

kittycatface

Was in exactly same situation as last year, got an NHS bursary of just over 5 grand for the year and that was it, partner moved up here with me and unemployed for 6mths. He got JSA of the usual rate but we had to put in as a joint claim then you go to jobcentre and they make you, the full time student exempt from signing on.

Worth getting an HC2 form from jobcentre to claim free prescriptions, this will also entitle you to free dental care and a voucher to pay for a certain amount of glasses or contact lenses. Both of you are named on the certificate and it takes about 3wk to process. We are still using ours as its valid till Dec!!

I would second a visit to the student union officer as they will be able to tell you how to go about applying to your uni's hardship fund. If your first application is refused you can apply at other points in the year and an unsuccessful application doesn't prejudice future ones.

We survived through making a really strict budget: this site has budgeting tools so its there in black and white. We went without a telly for a while, closely monitored gas and elec and went on a water meter.
Contact those companies if necessary and agree payment plans.

Survey sites like maximiles will get you the odd £10 in Asda shopping gift cards relatively quickly, swagbucks best for amazon or ebay vouchers. If you or he has the spare time this is a brilliant way of supplementing the shopping budget so that we only spent £20 cash a mth on food.

It might be worth seeing if you can have a chat to a housing officer about your options: ask your local council for a "housing options interview" and explain the situation.

Citizens Advice are also brilliant for this kind of thing and their workers have specialist assessment tools to work out if you and your partner are both getting what you are entitled to.

I would also phone council tax, check they have calculated the 25% single occupancy discount properly and make them aware of the current difficulties. You'd be surprised how many times they have agreed to "put my clients accounts on hold" for a short period pending change of circumstances, but unfortunately a lot of ppl struggling at the mo so guess they can;t do it for everyone.

Thinking of you, will repost with any brainwaves.