Help - Grey Area - Student Benefits

conquistador

#Please only reply if you have knowledge to help or can direct me to where I will find the answers to my questions. Do not comment about young love or irresponsibility or any other opinionated ignorant views#

I am currently 19 (Birthday September) and in my first year of Uni, I will be moving into private rented accommodation between July and September. I receive the full Student Finance England Loans and Grants.
My partner is 17 (Birthday September also) living about 100 miles away with their parents and in their first year of A-Levels. Their household income is about 25k pa. They currently live in Wales on the border but will be moving to England in April.
The plan is for us to live together whilst we remain in education as after their A-Levels they will go straight into the same Uni as me. We will be living in either a studio, 1 bedroom apartment or 1 bedroom with shared facilities. We will both be named tenants on the same rental agreement.
Neither of us are employed. Neither of us have individual savings of more than 16k.

Council tax does not apply as we will be living in a house with only student residents.
They can claim housing benefit as they are in full time education at A-Level, which will contribute to our combined rent costs.

I would like further information based on the above details. Specifically;

Does there need to be some sort of official statement from their parents agreeing with this proposed arrangement in order for us to start processing claims?

Because of our current ages and the fact that we both have birthdays about the time as our tenancy agreement starts, does this affect when we can make applications?
Will they definitely receive housing benefit, if not what factors affect it?

Will I receive child benefits as they are now resident with myself, if I claim as I will be the new 'carer' as it were? Or as we are both tenants is child benefit no longer an eligible application?

Any info and help regarding the above requests is truly greatly appreciated.

CAB were utterly useless as they forced their opinions about the situation into the matter and concluded that as they didn't agree with it and consequently we did not need any information.

miduck

You want to claim child benefit for your girlfriend? :eek:

conquistador

miduck wrote: »

You want to claim child benefit for your girlfriend? :eek:

I don't think I implied I had a girlfriend. As stated I was asking - When they move out of their parents house their parents will stop receiving the payment after 8 weeks. I am asking under the details given whether either myself or my partner will be able to claim this benefit as they are in full time education and under 19.

miduck

conquistador wrote: »

I don't think I implied I had a girlfriend. As stated I was asking - When they move out of their parents house their parents will stop receiving the payment after 8 weeks. I am asking under the details given whether either myself or my partner will be able to claim this benefit as they are in full time education and under 19.

Apologies, you want to claim child benefit for your boyfriend? :eek:

watcher13

It is a grey area but . . . .

Students in full time higher education (degree or equivalent) are not normally eligible for housing benefit. Students studying part time may be eligible.

Child benefit is payable for young persons aged under 20 yrs in full time education (A level or equivalent) or an approved training course The benefit is payable to those persons responsible for or bringing up the young person.

Sources of funding for students may be available from the educational establishment.

BigAunty

AFAIK, your income, less a small sum for educational related expenses, will be taken into account for any of your partner's future means tested benefit claims.

Hopefully another poster can clarify the breakdown of what is/isn't included income wise when the local council process it, though there is also a student page on MSE.

This link indicates that your partner is perhaps not entitled to HB as an A'level student unless she is estranged from her parents. Students and HB can be complicated - perhaps there is a college or Uni advisor who can help?

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/housing_benefit_and_local_housing_allowance/housing_benefit_for_students

Hopefully the following link clarifies the position on child benefit - does it?. I don't know whether your receipt of CB, if permitted, will cancel out the fact that from another benefits perspective, you are classed as a partner and your student income is used in benefit calculations for her.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/childbenefit/start/who-qualifies/child-lives-someone-else.htm

Shelter may be able to clarify the position on tenancies - is your concern the fact that landlords are wary of granting tenancies to the under 18s? Here is what the CAB says

Renting accommodation


If you're under 18, the law says you aren't allowed to hold a tenancy. However, there are ways that a landlord can work around this. For example, a landlord could grant:

• a tenancy that will be held on trust for you by a third party such as an adult relative or social worker, until you turn 18, or
• a joint tenancy if a joint tenant is aged 18 or over.

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/housing_e/housing_finding_a_place_to_live_e/young_people_and_housing.htm

Bit more info on the probs with under 18s and tenancies

http://england.shelter.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/48510/Good_Practice-Tenancies_for_Minors.pdf

miduck

watcher13 wrote: »

It is a grey area but . . . .

Students in full time higher education (degree or equivalent) are not normally eligible for housing benefit. Students studying part time may be eligible.

Child benefit is payable for young persons aged under 20 yrs in full time education (A level or equivalent) or an approved training course The benefit is payable to those persons responsible for or bringing up the young person.

Sources of funding for students may be available from the educational establishment.

The OP will be claiming estrangement from their parents in order to qualify for benefits, and hence CB will not be payable.

Gentile

Reads the thread with extreme disbelief!
hmmm. Is this what this country has come to?

conquistador

Gentile wrote: »

Reads the thread with extreme disbelief!
hmmm. Is this what this country has come to?

Please do not read selectively, as stated in the first post I did not want your ignorant, opinionated comments yet you thought it was your duty to ignore this writing and inform us all.

Gentile

conquistador wrote: »

Please do not read selectively, as stated in the first post I did not want your ignorant, opinionated comments yet you thought it was your duty to ignore this writing and inform us all.

ehh?
Believe me son, when its my hard earned money you are trying to steal i will definitely make a comment whether you like it or not.

conquistador

BigAunty wrote: »

This link indicates that your partner is perhaps not entitled to HB as an A'level student unless she is estranged from her parents. Students and HB can be complicated - perhaps there is a college or Uni advisor who can help?

I found this paragraph - Some young people aged under 21 may be able to claim housing benefit while still in further education studying for academic or vocational courses up to A-level or similar. You would have to be liable for rent and not be supported by a parent, carer or someone who claims child benefit for you. You should seek specialist advice if you are in this situation.

Does anyone know actual details? There is very little information about this on the web that I can see

It should also be noted that some of the info on Shelter is different to that on direct.gov