Housing Benefit & Student Loan for Maintenance

[sheothebudworths]

aurora - I'd make an appointment and check that thoroughly with HB.


I think it's harder to prove having NO income, than having had any old 'official' low income coming in, oddly enough, but defo worth following up.

I've found they often misplace documents etc but are far more frequently on the right side of good advice than anyone else - who may well just tell you you're not entitlted to stuff that you are.

 

[sheothebudworths]

It is true that a lot of the back to work/new deal jobs do only pay a premium for a few weeks too - but still, if you have a limited income, I reckon it's worth checking with HB directly just incase.

 

[madzone]

Ok, just bit the bullet and phoned HB. Luckily enough I got my sister in law Apparently I can still claim HB because I get the disability component (she called it oldies, kiddies and sickies - people over retirement age, lone parents and people on disabilty ) She seemed to think they would take the whole loan into consideration (including tuition fees) whereas the woman I spoke to at college seemed to think they disregarded the tuition fees component. I guess I'll just have to wait and see. Anyway, they disregard the component for books and travel and £10 a week. The rest is worked out on 65% of the excess income over what the govt say we need to live on. So, I'm going to do a quick calc and see how much I'll lose.

 

[marty21]

Ok, just bit the bullet and phoned HB. Luckily enough I got my sister in law Apparently I can still claim HB because I get the disability component (she called it oldies, kiddies and sickies - people over retirement age, lone parents and people on disabilty ) She seemed to think they would take the whole loan into consideration (including tuition fees) whereas the woman I spoke to at college seemed to think they disregarded the tuition fees component. I guess I'll just have to wait and see. Anyway, they disregard the component for books and travel and £10 a week. The rest is worked out on 65% of the excess income over what the govt say we need to live on. So, I'm going to do a quick calc and see how much I'll lose.

I haven't assessed a student claim for about 15 years, but they used to reduce the eligible rent for students by about £20 before the HB calculation, so students would never get the full rent paid - pretty harsh, not sure if they still do that

 

[zenie]

Yes but that doesn't mean it should be taken as income whether you get one or not.
Ok, it was a while ago but my loans didn't get taken into consideration and I used them to feed and clothe my kids. I still think it's wrong that you have to get into debt to eat, clothe and keep a roof over your head. These are basic human necessities!

Sim, WTF?? So you don't pay tax on a loan, why should you? You PAY IT BACK + interest!!

I agree with your stance on it, (generally, we should still have fuckin grants innit? ) and it's silly that they offer parents who aren't working lots of FE courses, but any proper funded HE and the powers that be make things very difficult.

Hope you get it sorted Madz!

 

[madzone]

I haven't assessed a student claim for about 15 years, but they used to reduce the eligible rent for students by about £20 before the HB calculation, so students would never get the full rent paid - pretty harsh, not sure if they still do that

I've never had my full rent paid here - I have to find about a hundred quid a week of it myself. They set the eligible amount for here at a ridiculously low level. She didn't mention having the rent re-assessed so maybe they don't do that anymore

 

[Paulie Tandoori]

if you still have any outstanding queries, i recommend you call Skill they have a free helpline and can give you all sorts of advice about studying. like you've heard, your entitlement to a student loan is taken into account as income regardless of whether you apply for it or not the bastards.

 

[Clair De Lune]

I've never had my full rent paid here - I have to find about a hundred quid a week of it myself. They set the eligible amount for here at a ridiculously low level. She didn't mention having the rent re-assessed so maybe they don't do that anymore

Yeah ime I have never had the full rent paid but fuck 100 quid a week?! how much DO they pay? I have to find 125 a month to top up my rent as they say my kids dont need a room each untill my daughter is ten.
I would love to be able to study but last time I tried to work out the financial side of it I realised I could not live on it

 

[madzone]

From a quick calc it looks like I'm going to be almost £40 a week worse off as a student than I am now. That doesn't include fuel for getting to and for (30 mile round trip) I don't know if I can manage that

 

[madzone]

if you still have any outstanding queries, i recommend you call Skill they have a free helpline and can give you all sorts of advice about studying. like you've heard, your entitlement to a student loan is taken into account as income regardless of whether you apply for it or not the bastards.

Oooh, thanks Paulie - very useful

 

[zenie]

Yeah ime I have never had the full rent paid but fuck 100 quid a week?! how much DO they pay? I have to find 125 a month to top up my rent as they say my kids dont need a room each untill my daughter is ten.
I would love to be able to study but last time I tried to work out the financial side of it I realised I could not live on it

So it works out better for you financially to stay at home looking after the kids, then to try and better yourself through learning?

Fucks sake!

 

[madzone]

Yeah ime I have never had the full rent paid but fuck 100 quid a week?! how much DO they pay? I have to find 125 a month to top up my rent as they say my kids dont need a room each untill my daughter is ten.
I would love to be able to study but last time I tried to work out the financial side of it I realised I could not live on it

My rent is £220 a week. The LHA for a family my size is £137 a week but I'd struggle to find a house round here for that.

 

[Clair De Lune]

So it works out better for you financially to stay at home looking after the kids, then to try and better yourself through learning?

Fucks sake!

I know, it sucks donkey balls
Same as working, would be very hard to find a job that pays more or even equal to what I get now without training. Catch 22.

 

[Clair De Lune]

My rent is £220 a week. The LHA for a family my size is £137 a week but I'd struggle to find a house round here for that.

Yeah they always seem to award you enough for having one less child than you have. Cnuts.

 

[madzone]

What really fucks me off is they divide the student loan by 43 weeks although in reality to has to last for 52 so it looks as if you have more money coming in than you actually have iyswim.

 

[madzone]

Yeah they always seem to award you enough for having one less child than you have. Cnuts.

It's because they're all boys. The eldest doesn't count as he's too old but the 13 and 10 yr old are supposed to share.