Housing benefit as a NHS student please help!

ajej0207

Hello all in September I will be starting an NHS funded degree, I will receive the bursary and a good amount of help as I have children.
My question is about housing benefit, there is no calculator for students and I am struggling to figure how much if any housing benefit we will get? I get a substantial amount at the moment as my husband is on a low income. I suspect I may loose it all resulting in my entire bursary going on my rent leaving little money to pay for fuel for uni and such like! Anyone have any advice?

I have googled it to death, tried to speak to my local council who just say students can't claim housing benefit but it would actually be my husband claiming?

It seems some of the bursary is disregarded but no clear lines on how much and how this affects the amount of housing benefit awarded!

If you can help then thank you! x

pmlindyloo

Yes, your husband can make the claim for housing benefit.

However, some of your student loans/bursaries etc are counted as income.

Read this link.

https://www.lbbd.gov.uk/residents/benefits-and-support/housing-benefit/how-housing-benefit-is-calculated/student-income/

Hopefully HousingBenefitOfficer will confirm.

Your student welfare department should be able to provide more information.

ajej0207

Thank you, it seems just the parental learning allowance would be disregarded.

I imagine around £8000 of bursary will be taken into consideration then x

glenisla

Hi, I am in a very similar situation as my husband gets the NHS bursary and we have 2 kids. We get some housing benefit and council tax benefit. The HB pays about 1/3 of our rent. So, yes, the bursary except for PLA counts. Tax credits are taken into account by HB too, but I guess you know this. Basically between HB, Tax Credit, bursary and Child benefit and my small income we have enough to pay our rent but not much else. Roll on the summer when he starts work!

ajej0207

Ahh thank you!

Seems my bursary will be paying the rent then

So minus the PLA do they take that full amount as 'income'?

We are just trying to work out hubby reducing his hours may be better as we will save a lot in childcare and save a lot of stress!

glenisla

Yes, they take the full amount minus PLA (and if applicable the Childcare Grant) - so for us 'other income' from this is about £100/ week.

For us the council never said students couldn't claim housing benefit - rather that we could, and my husband did it in his name but they considered us as a couple.

All the best with your planning and your new step forward, I hope it works out well for you.

ajej0207

Thanks ever so much for your help

Guess I best get ready to take a leap of faith eh! x