Student benefits when husband works

warwicktate

Hello all,
Hope this is the right place to post this.

My wife has decided to return to Uni to study Radiography with the intention of working for the NHS for the rest of her working life. She is 40. I work full-time, and earn approx. 40k. I know she is entitled to a student loan to cover the tuition fees, and we have been told she will also be eligible for a maintenance loan as she will be studying for a healthcare qualification. She will also receive an NHS bursary. 

My question is what other benefits will she qualify for? I think we might be entitled to a 25% council tax reduction as she'll be a student. Is this true? I'm asking as we need to get our finances sorted for this, as 3 years of only one income will mean money will be tight.

Many thanks for your help

poppy12345

25% council tax reduction because she'll be student so you'll be classed as a single person for that. As for anything else, it will depend on your circumstances. Universal Credit is a means tested benefit and student maintenance loans will reduce it £1 for £1 and your earnings will reduce it by a further 63% if you don't have dependant children, Use a benefits calculator.

If you have no dependant children and you own your own home then it's unlikey you'll qualify for any UC.

calcotti

The 25% Council Tax discount will only apply if there are no other adults living in the house. She will need evidence of student status and then you apply to your local authority.

warwicktate

calcotti said:

The 25% Council Tax discount will only apply if there are no other adults living in the house. She will need evidence of student status and then you apply to your local authority.

Yup, just me and her. We have all her student numbers etc from the Uni, so will get that sent over. We'll also need to change all her insurance policies etc, but dunno if that'll have an effect on the cost of each?

Should I inform my home insurance?

strawb_shortcake

My husband is also going to uni this year, we have children and I earn a bit less than you so his maintenance loan is higher than expected. 
I don't think we can claim the 25% discount until September, but not sure how this will work with him being home based initially?
Don't forget to get the student card now Totum for all your discounts. 
Car insurance was a little higher with him being a student but this was from going to stay at home Dad to student. 

poppy12345

annabanana82 said:

I don't think we can claim the 25% discount until September, but not sure how this will work with him being home based initially?

You won't be able to claim the 25% discount until he starts uni. Once he does then you'll need proof from the uni that he's a student, without this you won't be able to claim the discount.