Help - Grey Area - Student Benefits

Dunroamin

BigAunty wrote: »

Generally, for all means tested stuff - benefits, student allowances, etc, marriage is irrelevant as they treat couples the same whether they are unmarried or married or in a civil partnership.

There are one or two situations with student finance where it's financially beneficial for a couple to be married/in a civil partnership rather than living together.

dundeediva

OP do either of you have a job?

conquistador

PippaGirl wrote: »

hb is rarely paid to higher education students and seems unlikely in this case.

Like I said my partner is not in higher education, I am enquiring as to whther this situation entitles them to claim HB

And its really creepy that you want to claim child benefit for someone you are sleeping with.

Again like I said I am enquiring as to what happens to child benefit in this case as they are still in full time education and under 19 but living away from the recipient of the benefit. At no point have I stated details of our sexual relationship as this is irrelevant and once again despite the first post asking you not to comment you too have decided that your opinion is of such high standing merit that you can ignore my request. Please do not post unless you have knowledge.

OP do either of you have a job?

As stated in the first post neither of us are employed. My course is 55 hours a week and finding working hours when my timetable changes from week to week is hard. I am partially self employed but this adds only 1k a year,

conquistador

My local council's housing advice service has told me, after I requested information, to contact a local housing advice service?!?!

Does anyone know who makes the decisions and has actual knowledge about this grey area?

Poppie68

OP as the CB seems to be a big issue with you. Why don't you ask the recipients? but they might just tell you to mind your own business.

LunaLady

conquistador wrote: »

Again like I said I am enquiring as to what happens to child benefit in this case as they are still in full time education and under 19 but living away from the recipient of the benefit. At no point have I stated details of our sexual relationship as this is irrelevant and once again despite the first post asking you not to comment you too have decided that your opinion is of such high standing merit that you can ignore my request. Please do not post unless you have knowledge.

If you want advice without comments or opinion, try the CAB, not an internet forum.

I dont need any details of your sexual life, the fact that you want to live in a studio/one bedroom flat gives me all the indication I need.

Poppie68

OP you will not be able to claim the CB. If you move in together and both doing relevant education that qualifies for CB, the parents can still claim but you can't.

Mara69

The fact that the OP is so defensive tells me all I need to know.

Oh and if there is one thing guaranteed to make me post, it's arrogant, rude people telling me not to bother

Mojisola

conquistador wrote: »

At no point have I stated details of our sexual relationship as this is irrelevant

When you're claiming benefits, it isn't irrelevant.

If you are "living together as husband and wife" (and that includes same sex relationships) you have to make a joint claim for anything you think you're entitled to.

pmlindyloo

conquistador wrote: »

My local council's housing advice service has told me, after I requested information, to contact a local housing advice service?!?!

Does anyone know who makes the decisions and has actual knowledge about this grey area?

Since you have not been happy with CAB's advice then I suggest you contact Shelter as regards the HB.

Just a couple of other points. In your original post you asked

'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?'

Does that mean that the parents are not happy with the arrnagement? The reason I am asking is that if your partner is estranged from their parents then this might make a difference benefit wise.

If the parents are happy with the arrangement then as their child is in full time education would they be willing to make some sort of financial contribution towards their child's living costs?

Next. Your partner is under 18 years old. Legally they are not allowed to enter into a tenancy agreement. This might make it impossible for your partner to go onto the tenancy agreement and certainly difficult to claim for half the rent. (or prove that they have a liability for rent)

Also, as someone who is under 35 years they would only be entitled to the local housing allowance for a shared room rate.

You need to put all these questions to Shelter.

As regards the question about who makes the decision then this would be made when your partner applies for HB. However, it is worth getting Shelter to give you their understanding and hopefully a 'quote'/link that you can show the council department.