Housing Benefits Advice

[Teki187]

Me and my girlfriend are moving to York (from Nottingham) at the end of this month and will be renting a house. The situation is as follows: I have a full-time job up there and my partner will be starting her PhD in September.

We are using York Council's online 'benefits calculator (Click) to see if we are entitled to any benefits. I understand my income goes into the earnings in section 7, however it is not as straightforward for my partner's income.

She has got a scholarship from the ESRC (Click) which will pay £13,290 per year for each year of study (three years). We are unsure whether we put this under the 'earnings' section of the calculator, or under section 10 as "weekly student grant ...". According to the ESRC funding handbook, "Payment under an ESRC studentship is not regarded as income for tax purposes". You can find this under section 34 of the handbook (Click). Therefore she will not be taxed/NI on this money.

We will be popping into the Council's office at some point anyway, but any help prior would be much appreciated.

 

[muon]

I'd imagine her scholarship income doesn't enter the equation. The other tricky thing is that people in full time education cannot claim benefits and therefore you would only recieve benefits for living in a single bedroom flat. So would they allow you to live together in a larger house/flat?

As for section 10, I think its referring to student loan repayments?

 

[Teki187]

The other tricky thing is that people in full time education cannot claim benefits.

If that is the case, then surely they shouldn't have included section 10 in the form?

As for section 10, I think its referring to student loan repayments?

I wouldn't have thought it would be referring to a student, loan, but the wording is flowery, "Enter the weekly student loan or grant contribution which can also be set off against your(and your partner's) income."

So does that mean student loan payments or her grant?

 

[muon]

Yeh, the setting off thing also threw me. I'm sure the council office will clear things up. Do you have any savings? If I remember correctly for every £250 in savings above £3,000 they add £1 to your weekly income.

 

[Teki187]

Anyone else with any help?

 

[matthewhotdude]

So what entitles you to housing benefit?

 

[E1mo]

I'm almost certain you would be unable to apply for any benefits. Your girlfriend is in full time education and therefore unable to claim benefits. You are in full time work and are therefore also unable to claim benefits.

The £13200 is tax free remember, so thats the equivalent of an income of around £17000 a year if you would also have to pay student loan contributions. I would assume you are earning decent enough money, maybe around 20k. So your total household income is 37k a year! A comfortable, if not extravagant, amount of money for any childless couple to live on.

 

[neodude]

You are in full time work and are therefore also unable to claim benefits.

I'm in full time work and claim housing benefit.

 

[matthewhotdude]

I'm in full time work and claim housing benefit.

Eh how does that work?

 

[wannabedamned]

Eh how does that work?

You need to go have a read up on housing benefits I think

 

[Teki187]

So what entitles you to housing benefit?

I have no idea, but i thought i may as well check. Moneysavingexpert recommends you check if your entitled to anything.

 

[E1mo]

I'm in full time work and claim housing benefit.

A quick plug of numbers shows that a single person in full time employment earning only minimum wage is not entitled to any housing benefit.

Obviously there are circumstances for those who are disabled, have many dependents that might allow them to claim housing benefit, but for a couple pulling in 37k a year between them, no way.

 

[wannabedamned]

A quick plug of numbers shows that a single person in full time employment earning only minimum wage is not entitled to any housing benefit.

You're wrong. I got it when I first left home and got my flat, You get discounts, not full help, But its still worth doing

 

[jumpy]

OP: you are a couple; any dealings with the benefits agency will be coloured by this fact. For example (regardless of your current situation) if you are out of work, but she isn't, then whatever she earns (no matter from where it's derived) will be taken into account regarding any means tested benefits you may or may not be entitled to. It's not 'your money' but they will assume that because you are a couple it is shared monies.
Expect to be told you're not entitled to jack-****.

 

[LordSplodge]

So what entitles you to housing benefit?

Agreed. Full time job + 13K for the PHD shouldn't mean a claim on housing benefit.

 

[Pestilence]

I don't think you'll be entitled to anything except the standard Council Tax discount for one of you being a full time student.

 

[mattheman]

say your just room mates.

 

[spitzoid]

You're wrong. I got it when I first left home and got my flat, You get discounts, not full help, But its still worth doing

Well you are obviously one of these fruit pickers who earns about £2 p/h.

Like a previous poster said, if you are in full-time employment and earning at least the minimum wage then you will not get any housing benefit.

 

[Teki187]

I don't think you'll be entitled to anything except the standard Council Tax discount for one of you being a full time student.

You are right, it turns out her grant would be classed as income in regards to income benefits (i.e. income support and housing benefits) but not classed as income for tax.

Sometimes that moneysavingexpert.com website can throw more problems into the mix then is needed.

 

[wannabedamned]

I was working in Asda, for a proper wage as a produce assistant, I got a reduction in my Council Tax. That was it, but it was a reduction all the same