Wife refused HB because she is not working and not on JSA

Dovah_diva

1878 wrote: »

Also, UK is a member of the European union which means for example that you can move to my home country and claim benefits, so this is not a one street lane.

I'd be interested to hear what country you hail from. Would be interesting to draw a comparison on the welfare system of both countries...

FBaby

What totally puzzle me in these kind of situation is WHY would you go on to get pregnant? No doubt, it is going to be one of those accidents that somehow only seem to affect those who then need to claim benefits...

If you wife wasn't pregnant, she would be able to work and then the matter would be resolved. You are in this situation because she is now pregnant, and expect to receive full housing benefit because you wanted a baby is taking full advantage of a very generous system.

clemmatis

MissMoneypenny wrote: »

There is often very little difference now between home fees and international fees. But those using the EU route, get the same rate as UK home fees and can also get UK Student Loans and some also claim welfare from the UK too. It's those students who can't get into the UK under EU rules, that are charged the international fees and don't have access to UK welfare.

I messed my explanation up pretty badly. Yes, EEA nationals pay the same fees as UK students, under the reciprocal arrangements I mentioned but did not rxplain. (That was why I pointed out the OP was an EEA national.) I don't though want to comment on.his case: I'm not an HB expert.-- to put it mildly -- and also parts of his story puzzle me.

The relationship of home fees to intermational fees varies by degree course and institution and course type. A quick Google gave me examples of international fees that were more than 3x home fees, 2.5x home fees, and very little different from home fees.

clemmatis

Housing_Benefit_Officer wrote: »

Don't feed the trolls. Why do they bother posting when they don't have a clue what they are talking about!

HBO I believe you have misread the thread. That point apart, though there are rules forbidding the import of policy discussion in this section of the forum, there is no rule that only experts may post. Much good help and advice is given by people who may nonetheless make an error of some kind: it is open to any other poster to correct them. Perhaps you don't know the forum all that well.

Errata

OP - contact Shelter before you, your wife and your unborn child find yourselves living on the streets.

clemmatis

dktreesea wrote: »

Edit: Maybe this just applies to Scotland. So there is a fee, the home fee, but in Scotland the government pays this for students who live in Scotland and for EEA nationals, except for those who live in parts of the UK where higher fees are charged.

Scotland complicates the matter because of its fees policy, but the principle -- EEA nationals pay home student fees, generally -- is the same.

cte1111

OP - have you tried contacting your local councillor? They may well be able to help ask the housing benefit people to re-consider their decision or at least explain their reasons.

podperson

I'm not going to comment on your rights in this country as don't know enough on the legalities. But I lost my job for several months when my OH was still a student - I put a claim in for JSA and due to his student loan we only received about £6 a week. Not not all that worth it on its own but it meant that we could then claim housing and council tax benefit to see us through. It might it worth your wife doing this in the meantime until the baby is born.

Dunroamin

MissMoneypenny wrote: »

There is often very little difference now between home fees and international fees. But those using the EU route, get the same rate as UK home fees and can also get UK Student Loans and some also claim welfare from the UK too. It's those students who can't get into the UK under EU rules, that are charged the international fees and don't have access to UK welfare.

EU students are eligible to take out tuition fee loans but are ineligible to take out a maintenance loan or receive a grant. As full time students, however, they are ineligible to claim benefits.

SnooksNJ

bigjl wrote: »

Isn't the loan and other financial help supposed to be enough to pay your rent.

Never had a council flat of house but I have been told the rents are reasonable.

When the child is born I believe there is a grant for childcare you can apply for.

How much is you rent?

As your income was mentioned above to be £250 is that not enough to cover rent and living expenses?

When I was in Uni, many years ago, we were not allowed to claim Hiusing Benefit.

Never did bother find out why.

I think your main issue is that you are living with your wife, which does always seem to limit what assistance you can get.

I would visit CAB as even if you can't get HB there might be something else your wife could claim, ESA perhaps?

I will reread the thread to double check, but your wife is able to access public funds isn't she?

Spouses of British Citizens cannot access public funds. Non EU spouses married to EU citizens are treated the same as British Citizens when it comes to public funds. They also don't have to pay for a visa whereas Non EU citizens married to British Citizens pay thousands for their visa's.
When I went to College(or Uni) parents paid for housing and the student got a part time job for beer money.