Universal Credit & bedroom tax when a child goes to University.

Simon7685

I have been trying to find out about UC entitlement when my daughter goes to Uni in September, particularly in relation to the bedroom tax.
I currently receive UC single parent with 1 child element -  I know this stops from September 2020.
I get child benefit - I know this stops from September 2020.
I live in social housing with 2 bedrooms and currently get full housing cost element of UC.
I receive PIP both standard rates.
I get a 25% council tax reduction as my daughter is a student and receive maximum local support for council tax.
From September when she goes to University, she will be living away during the week and coming home at weekends and holidays.  I realise CHB and child element of UC ends at this point but will I be stung with the bedroom tax, or non dependant deduction?  I have tried to get definitive answers from GOV.UK but am either looking in the wrong place or missing the answers!  So if someone could help me out I would appreciate it. 
Thanks in advance.

calcotti

The treatment of University Students is very unclear under UC. Indeed DWP's own guidance says it is up to a Decision Maker to decide, based on the circumstances, whether a student is to be treated as normally resident at their 'home' or at university.
See https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/864904/admf3.pdf and the example following paragraph F3034.

If your daughter is treated as ordinarily resident at university you will have a spare bedroom which means that your allowable rent will be reduced by 14%. If your daughter is treated as living with you then there will be no impact. There are no non dependant deductions for a non dependant under 21 and in your case even if your daughter was over 21 there would no non dependant deductions because you receive the Daily Living part of PIP.

BriNylon

I thought that if you are disabled, the bedroom tax would not apply?  Is that right?  Would the PIP not qualify someone to be "disabled"?

poppy12345

BriNylon said:

I thought that if you are disabled, the bedroom tax would not apply?  Is that right?  Would the PIP not qualify someone to be "disabled"?

No, this is not correct. Claiming PIP doesn't automatically exclude someone from the bedroom tax.

BriNylon

poppy12345 said:

BriNylon said:

I thought that if you are disabled, the bedroom tax would not apply?  Is that right?  Would the PIP not qualify someone to be "disabled"?

No, this is not correct. Claiming PIP doesn't automatically exclude someone from the bedroom tax.

Thank you.  Please ignore my contribution above.  
What the, would classify someone as 'disabled' for the purposes of avoiding the bedroom tax?

poppy12345

BriNylon said:

poppy12345 said:

BriNylon said:

I thought that if you are disabled, the bedroom tax would not apply?  Is that right?  Would the PIP not qualify someone to be "disabled"?

No, this is not correct. Claiming PIP doesn't automatically exclude someone from the bedroom tax.

Thank you.  Please ignore my contribution above.  
What the, would classify someone as 'disabled' for the purposes of avoiding the bedroom tax?

Potentially a couple that can't share a room because of a disability. An overnight carer and a disabled child that can't share a room with another child.

Simon7685

Thanks for the clarification Calcotti, I will wait and see what happens but plan for them to impose the bedroom tax. 
I thought that was the case regarding non dependant but couldn't find the relevant info.  She will be remaining on the electoral roll at this address, so maybe that will help in a decision being made maybe in my favour but I won't hold my breath!

calcotti

Simon7685 said:

She will be remaining on the electoral roll at this address, so maybe that will help in a decision being made maybe in my favour but I won't hold my breath!

Students can be on the electoral role in two places, 'home' and university, so it may not help.

tacpot12

This is not an area where I have expertise, but I would hope that you can update UC when your daughter returns home for the Summer holidays so that the allowable rent reduction only applies while she is away. You will save on food and energy while you daughter is away as she will have her Student Loan to cover these things during term-time, so I would not worry too much about being short of cash.