NHS bursary and housing benefit

Ettenna

I understood that an NHS bursary was treated differently to a standard student loan. I have just had my housing benefit reassessed and cut because the council state that it is all taken into account.

I have had £1000 overpayment written off because "I could not reasonably have known the was an error".

I cannot find anywhere that states what is taken into account for housing benefit.

Can anyone shed any light on this and point me in the right direction for the rules?

benefitbaby

Hi, NHS bursary's are taken into account, averaged over 52 weeks - Regulation 59(6) of the Housing Benefit Regulations.

Ettenna

My HB claim was started in March 2012 and I am reading the HB/CTC Manual June 2010 Amdt 22 (2.174) and it states that Parental Learning Allowance is disregarded. And 2.270-3 does say that NHS bursaries are taken over 12 months. Have you got a link any newer regulations?

Apparently the 2012 regulations I was shown state that all of the bursary is taken into account. I don't know when this came into effect.

benefitbaby

I don't know,but I am looking at the welfare benefit and tax credit handbook 2012/2013.

Ettenna

Is this hard copy or online? Please could you look and see what it says about Parental Learning Allowance in this manual, if anything.

I think I'm just going to have to go through and make a spreadsheet with income and allowances to see if I can work it out. I have had several changes during the year including my daughter having an serious accident and not being my defendant anymore, therefore changing my premiums, tax credits, child benefit, etc.

benefitbaby

The book says that a parental learning allowance is disregarded (ignored) as income [HB regs 59(2) and (3)] so is treated differently than an NHS bursary.

benefitbaby

Regulations are here http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/213/part/7/made

Ettenna

The elements of the NHS bursary are basic award, extra weeks allowance, dependants allowance and parental learning allowance. So reading the regs, as I read it anyway, means that all it taken into account except the parental learning allowance and then averaged over 12 months (as it is paid anyway).

benefitbaby

Sounds spot on to me.

Ettenna

Then the £693 disregard for travel/books I presume. Then add on my reduced rate student loan?

benefitbaby

Exactly