Help - Grey Area - Student Benefits

conquistador

Gentile wrote: »

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.

I still do not understand why you have ignored the details and continue to offer your ignorant, patronising comments. Congratulations on contributing tax, like anyone who has money in this country does. VAT is the the third largest contributor to taxation in the UK which we are all subject to.

BigAunty

conquistador wrote: »

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

Is your partner estranged from her parents? That's one exception for HB and other benefits for those in full time education who are not normally eligible.


More info here, including a link to find a specialist advisor, what is classed as relevant or advanced education. See the 'If you are in Education' section.

http://www.turn2us.org.uk/information__resources/benefits/young_people/benefits_and_young_people.aspx

Are you hoping that if you get CB for your partner you will be classed as a parent, get income support and not have your student income counted for your partner's HB claim?

http://www.turn2us.org.uk/?page=19668

BigAunty

conquistador wrote: »

Neither of us have individual savings of more than 16k.

It's 16k per couple that rules out means tested benefits. Sums over 6k start to reduce them. It's not just savings, it's capital so this includes investments,shares, premium bonds and similar.

conquistador

BigAunty wrote: »

Is your partner estranged from her parents? That's one exception for HB and other benefits for those in full time education who are not normally eligible.


More info here, including a link to find a specialist advisor, what is classed as relevant or advanced education. See the 'If you are in Education' section.


Are you hoping that if you get CB for your partner you will be classed as a parent, get income support and not have your student income counted for your partner's HB claim?

No they are not estranged. They will simply be moving house. No I am not intending to investigate or apply for working tax credits, JSE, income support etc. I am only interested in trying to secure them housing benefit and I also want to know what happens to CB in this situation

conquistador

BigAunty wrote: »

It's 16k per couple that rules out means tested benefits. Sums over 6k start to reduce them. It's not just savings, it's capital so this includes investments,shares, premium bonds and similar.

Thank you. Does anyone know how this affects housing benefit claim for my partner?

BigAunty

conquistador wrote: »

Thank you. Does anyone know how this affects housing benefit claim for my partner?

There is someone on this board who processes housing benefit claims and hopefully they can clarify if an a'level student has any entitlement to HB. AFAIK, when they go to Uni, they will not be eligible for HB as a full time student unless they have dependents or disabilities.

If your partner qualifies for HB as an A'level student, your student income (less allowable expenses which hopefully another poster will define) may start to reduce their entitlement and any capital above 6k also reduce it further.

You can identify how your student income (once the net sum is clarified) could impact their HB claim by modelling it on the Turn2us online benefit calculator. Generally, that calculator isn't any good for calculating households where there is student finance but I think it will give you a rough figure on whether or not your relevant income will affect a future HB claim. You can identify the maximum LHA rate on the local council website and use those figures.

The info below will advise you how any capital above 6k affects it.

"You cannot get income support, income-based jobseeker’s allowance, income-related employment and support allowance, housing benefit (HB) or council tax benefit (CTB) if your savings or other capital are above £16,000.

If your capital is £6,000 or less it does not affect your benefit at all.

If your capital is between £6,000.01 and £16,000, you are treated as though you have income from this capital of £1 a week for every £250 or part of £250 between these limits. This is referred to as ‘tariff income’. For example, if you have savings of £6,525, your tariff income is £3 a week."

BigAunty

By the way, though this is pitched as a Scottish Benefit calculation site, it may be the case that this is a national way of working out your student income for the purposes of your partner's means tested benefits.

Can another poster clarify if this calculation is also valid for students in England?

http://onlineservices.cpag.org.uk/book/bss/205899

conquistador

BigAunty wrote: »

There is someone on this board who processes housing benefit claims and hopefully they can clarify if an a'level student has any entitlement to HB. AFAIK, when they go to Uni, they will not be eligible for HB as a full time student unless they have dependents or disabilities.

This arrangement is only for one year as they will then receive their own student loans and grants. Will being in receipt of HB this year affect Student Finance claims the following year?
As the household income will reduce when they move, will this new amount mean they will be in receipt of a greater level of student loans and grants for their university years?

BigAunty wrote: »

If your capital is between £6,000.01 and £16,000, you are treated as though you have income from this capital of £1 a week for every £250 or part of £250 between these limits. This is referred to as ‘tariff income’. For example, if you have savings of £6,525, your tariff income is £3 a week."

Thank you very much this is very helpful

BigAunty

conquistador wrote: »

This arrangement is only for one year as they will then receive their own student loans and grants. Will being in receipt of HB this year affect Student Finance claims the following year?
As the household income will reduce when they move, will this new amount mean they will be in receipt of a greater level of student loans and grants for their university years?

I don't know.

You will need to check the relevant student funding body and I don't know if they will be funded by the Welsh or English govt - there are certain rules around residency for you to check first.

The Direct Gov website has a student finance calculator, plus you can check with the funding bodies themselves.

When I was at Uni, students who were classed as independent/mature students had supported themselves for a certain number of years got greater grants than others so mature students did get higher grants but that was many moons ago and I can't remember if they only counted employment or if they counted time on benefits. Ask the student board.

pmlindyloo

Another link here:

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/childbenefit/keep-up-to-date/when-child-aged-16/child-16.htm

seems to suggest that if the child in full time education leaves to live with their partner, the parents can continue to claim if both are in relevant education. Since you are studying at higher education this will not apply.

As you have found this is really a very complex area and personally I would go straight to the 'horse's mouth' and telephone the Child benefit office and call in at the local council re. the HB.

As an aside, I am very surprised that CAB did not help. Did you visit one with a Welfare & Benefits specialist or did you see a generalist advisor?