Research Council PhD funding and benefits

Dotinspace

I have recently been awarded a research council funding studentship. The funding is made up of a (university) fee waiver, and an annual stipend of around £16000.

As a single parent, I work part time as a self employed contractor on a low income, alongside conducting part time study/research. I receive some support through Housing Benefit, as well as Child Tax Credits & some Working Tax Credits (depending on hours worked).

From the next academic year (when my funding kicks in) I will go full time. How will my benefit support change?
I believe the research funding stipend is tax free, but I am not sure if it will be used as income in the housing benefit calculation.
I am unlikely to be able to work enough hours during the full time years of my PhD to qualify for WTC, but will my CTC remain as is?

Will I be classed as a student for Council Tax purposes?

I am SO looking forward to being able to work full time again after my degree so I can rid myself of benefit calculations and dependence!

Thanks.

pmlindyloo

Dotinspace wrote: »

I have recently been awarded a research council funding studentship. The funding is made up of a (university) fee waiver, and an annual stipend of around £16000.

As a single parent, I work part time as a self employed contractor on a low income, alongside conducting part time study/research. I receive some support through Housing Benefit, as well as Child Tax Credits & some Working Tax Credits (depending on hours worked).

From the next academic year (when my funding kicks in) I will go full time. How will my benefit support change?
I believe the research funding stipend is tax free, but I am not sure if it will be used as income in the housing benefit calculation.
I am unlikely to be able to work enough hours during the full time years of my PhD to qualify for WTC, but will my CTC remain as is?

Will I be classed as a student for Council Tax purposes?

I am SO looking forward to being able to work full time again after my degree so I can rid myself of benefit calculations and dependence!

Thanks.

The best advice about student funding is the welfare department of the university so try asking your questions there.

As a single parent and full time student I believe that you will be exempt from council tax, be eligible housing benefit and also child tax credits.

I also believe that your tax free stipend will be taken as income, as will any other income you earn for working.

But I am not an expert in this field!

Darksparkle

The only student income included for tax credits is Adult Dependants’ Grant paid to students with a partner or a dependent adult or dependants’ grants for students in Scotland.

You don't need to work to receive CTC.

Rosemary7391

As a full time PhD student you will get the student exemption for council tax.

Dotinspace

Thanks for your response pmlindyloo. I have spoken with them and they did not have direct experience to draw on for an answer. Suggested I check with CAB, which I will do also.

Have not been able to get the relevant info out of the research council documentation, but might be an avenue to check with them.

Dotinspace

The stipend will be paid quarterly, and someone told me that if it is not paid monthly it is not seen as a salary / income.
It is not a contracted job-type PhD, but purely my own research.

Is this the case?

DigForVictory

The official line appears to be that a student grant is not counted as income - but you have to get pretty close to the bottom of the page to find that.

All the best with your studies!

Darksparkle

DigForVictory wrote: »

The official line appears to be that a student grant is not counted as income - but you have to get pretty close to the bottom of the page to find that.

All the best with your studies!

I did already confirm what was counted for tax credits.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

For Housing Benefit purposes the stipend will be treated as income.

xylophone

The best advice about student funding is the welfare department of the university so try asking your questions there.

https://www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk/documents/leaflets/funding/5071.pdf

as advised in the above p 24.