Advise needed on housing benefit please

lincslady2

Hi, I'll outline the situation the best I can, if anyone has any information that would be a great help please:
my daughter is 18, she & her boyfriend (he's 20) are moving in to a 1 bed flat, (private landlord.) She's an apprentice so is on quite low pay, he is a full time university student. He gets a maintenance loan & grant & doesn't work. It's so confusing trying to work out what if anything they may be entitled to regards housing benefit. Do I go by the LAH rate for 1 bed shared accommodation or self contained? I'm sure I'm being dim here, apologies! Their flat is self contained but I've read conflicting advise to do with ages etc. I was told that students can't claim, but my daughter could claim herself, so if that is true does she claim for her half of the rent?
The other thing is Council tax and disregards, apparently students are disregarded, and in some cases so are apprentices, however if both of the occupants fall in to the 'disregard' category how does that work? I'm thinking that she will maybe get a discount? Sorry if I'm not making much sense, we have never claimed any sort of social benefit before so it's all very confusing. They're going to be living in London, it's so expensive for travel etc. Any financial help they can get would be great. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

19lottie82

I don't think they would be entitled to any housing benefit I'm afraid.

And there is no "her half" as they are living together as a couple.

However, always worth checking, which you can do so on this site

http://www.turn2us.org.uk/benefits_search.aspx

Can her boyfriend not get a pt job that fits in around his studies? Likewise can your DD not get an evening job to supplement her wages?

lincslady2

Hi, he's a special police officer so that takes up any spare time he does have, and she is working various shifts so it wouldn't be possible to get another job.
Thanks anyway.

19lottie82

lincslady2 wrote: »

Hi, he's a special police officer so that takes up any spare time he does have

Only my tuppence worth, but surely it would be better dedicating his time outside of uni with something that would pay the bills? Especially as they are both on such a low income.

I didn't know any students who could afford their own place while at uni, and rents where I am are about half, or less than they are in London.

But again, check the calculator, that should tell you if your DD is entitled to anything, but I wouldn't be too hopeful, apart from maybe the council tax aspect?

Good luck.

GwylimT

As a student he will not receive HB, his student loan is there to cover his rent and living costs and being in London he will receive a slightly higher loan amount.

I very much doubt your daughter would be able to claim housing benefit, she will be exempt from paying council tax so her and her partner need to get a council tax exemption form from their local council. If she were able to claim housing benefit she would receive the rate for her area based on a bedroom in a shared property and the amount she actually got would depend on her income.

Also, where housing benefit is concerned does their landlord accept tenants who receive housing benefit?

Also, if her apprenticeship is not a programme led apprenticeship you cannot continue to claim child benefit and if you receive child tax credits for her you will have a reduction as an employer led apprenticeship is not considered as full time education.

lincslady2

It's part of his policing degree, so no option really. I have already told the child benefit people that she's no longer in full time education and we don't get any tax credits.
Thanks anyway.

19lottie82

One thing to think about is your DD's OH may be able to apply for additional grants, such as hardship funds. get him to visit his uni finance office for a chat.

Also, there may be further grants available though the police, if it is a specific police entry course he is doing.

Naf

I'm a full time student & my wife is not. We can claim HB, but I think this is because we have dependent children.

Caz3121

the benefits calculators do not really work for students

they are classed as a couple so it will be the LHA for one-bedroom accommodation that will be used in calculations
Your daughter can make a claim but her income and much of his student funding (including loans even if he does not take them) will be used as the household income so there may be very little, if any, help

pmlindyloo

This is what the Shelter website says:

Can my partner claim housing benefit?

If you live with a partner who is not a student, your partner may able to claim housing benefit for you both. Your income – such as your student loan or any earnings you have – will be taken into account when your partner’s entitlement is calculated.
Your partner may qualify for housing benefit if

• s/he is working, but on a low income
• s/he gets any income-related benefits – income support, income-related jobseeker's allowance and income related employment and support allowance.

The usual benefit calculators are not appropriate when students are involved. Certain grants/loans are taken into consideration - others are disregarded.

Your daughter should apply for both HB and CT reduction as a joint claim. As a couple they will be eligible for the one bed local housing allowance rate.

You can get the forms from your local council.

Your daughter's boyfriend should check with the Welfare Benefit officer at his university to check that he is receiving all the loans/grants that he is entitled to as he will be expected to claim everything that he is entitled to and they will take any financial assistance that he is eligible for into account whether he receives it or not!

Mojisola

lincslady2 wrote: »

my daughter is 18, she & her boyfriend (he's 20) are moving in to a 1 bed flat, (private landlord.)

She's an apprentice so is on quite low pay, he is a full time university student.

Landlords usually want to know that tenants can pay the rent before they accept them. What have the couple told the LL about their income?