Benefit Enitlement when partner is working or a student

WelshHybrid

Right, I'm asking this question for a friend. They are currently living in a housing association flat and claim Income Support and DLA, along with housing and council tax benefit. They now have a girlfriend who is a student, she does not currently live with my friend, but they would like to rent a flat/house together. If she is a student, working to fund her way through college/uni, will they be eligible for housing benefit? Will my friend lose his income support/DLA benefits? If they're not entitled to these benefits, what do you think the alternatives might be?

There is some other information which I will add later, if I put it in now, the topic may go off at too much of a tangent.

Thank you for any help/advice.

bestpud

Firstly, if the student is working then that income will be taken into account as far as income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit are concerned. If she is a full time student then they should still get a 25% reduction off council tax however.

DLA, as far as I am aware, is not linked to income so he would still get that. I'm sure someone will correct me if that's wrong but I don't think it is!

If she is a full time higher education student and relies on a student loan, then this too is taken as earnings for income support, housing benefit or council tax benefit purposes. She would be expected to take the loan too, as in she wouldn't be allowed to refuse the loan and live on benefits instead.

I don't know how much it would affect his benefits but it would definitely have some impact I imagine.

I don't think they would get any alternative help either. May be best off waiting until she has finished her education and can work full-time?

Hth

Bestpud

Hapless_2

DLA is not means tested so unless his ill-health/disability improves, that will not change.

WelshHybrid

Thank you for your replies, they have been most useful and confirm what we were already telling my friend. I'm going to start another topic with the other information I mentioned as I don't think it will fit well in here. I will post a link when I've posted that info.

Thanks again for your replies.

Here's the link to new post with other information I mentioned.