Help with Housing Benefit Decision

gecko08

Hello, Can anyone help me

I am a full time student with the NHS studying Midwifery
I am a lone parent with 2 children under 5 years old
I get a student bursary, a portion of which is directly for use for childcare as per the terms of the bursary.

My trouble is that my local council disregards this bursary and says its part of my income, when the most part of it is paid directly for nursery fees. They are now only offering me a much smaller proportion of weekly housing benefit.

I never saw this coming and unfortunately I started my claim as I was moving in to my new accommodation, now I am left unable to pay my rent and to live.

Who is best to talk to? :-(

DomRavioli

your bursary is classed as income; not all nhs bursary students have kids - just because you spend yours on childcare doesn't mean it isn't income.

The HB decision is correct.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

Childcare Grant or the part of bursaries that cover child care shouldn't be classed as income.

DomRavioli

Housing_Benefit_Officer wrote: »

Childcare Grant or the part of bursaries that cover child care shouldn't be classed as income.

I was always under the impression that as it is not specifically given for childcare it doesn't have a disregard - it is the standard bursary given to all NHS trainees.

Indie_Kid

DomRavioli wrote: »

I was always under the impression that as it is not specifically given for childcare it doesn't have a disregard - it is the standard bursary given to all NHS trainees.

If you read the OP again, it does say that the terms of the bursary are that part of it is used for childcare fees.

StickySituation_2

DomRavioli wrote: »

your bursary is classed as income; not all nhs bursary students have kids - just because you spend yours on childcare doesn't mean it isn't income.

The HB decision is correct.

I spoke to an adviser in the tax credits office today to enquire on something on behalf of a friend, and they said that an nhs bursary isn't classed as an income.

I'm not sure if that is the same for housing benefit claims though, could just be for tax purposes.

Caveat: this is in Wales.

dippy3103

It totally depends on what the income is for.

Have you provided proof of childcare costs so those are disregarded?

Good luck- I so admire people that do what you are

Indie_Kid

Thw rules for student finance are different for tax credits than they are for other benefits.

Ettenna

DomRavioli wrote: »

your bursary is classed as income; not all nhs bursary students have kids - just because you spend yours on childcare doesn't mean it isn't income.

The HB decision is correct.

Load of rubbish. Not every one gets the childcare element of The bursary, only people who actually pay child care. NHS bursary is counted as income for housing benefit with a disregarded for books and travel. They should be disregarding the childcare element paid to you. The rules about bursary and tax credits are totally different. They disregard everything from the bursary. But of course tax credits then counts towards your income for housing benefit purposes. I am a 3rd year adult nurse and know how difficult it is balancing everything.

pmlindyloo

http://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/ssds/welfare/finance/state-benefits-and-council-tax/benefits/how-income-is-calculated-for-benefit-assessments

This link also confirms that the child care allowance is disregarded in full.

Can you get your place of learning to write a breakdown of the bursary so that the council can see how it is made up?

If this is already done then you must ask to speak to a manager and challenge this.