housing benefit for students

[lexie-1970]

Ive started at Uni im 42 with two sons living at home in full time education. I am a tenant of South Kestecen council in Lincolnshire.

I was on ESA for a back injury but ive lost that because atos wouldnt give me a second chance interview as i missed an appointment due to illness, so we are living off child benefit ,grants and my student loan and £5 a month CSA. Ive handed all of my documents into my local council to claim housing benefit and theyve calculated i have to pay £82 a week for an £83 rent !!! yet another lady who is on the SAME course and lives in the SAME town but is in a private let property, shes getting £350 housing benefit and shes only got 1 child ! how can this be so????????? its totaly unfair ive read that only my student lond and bursary from my university can be taken into account when calculating housing benefit, which y total nothing more than £6000 approx, can anyone advise me please as im worried sick and its affecting my health.

[Nystagmite]

There should be a certain amount of money which is disregarded.

 

Which grant do you receive? If it's the special support grant, this is ignored as income in full.

[lexie-1970]

I get the Maintenance loan and the students support grant, i also get parents learning allowance and a smll bursary from the uni but ive read all that can be allowed is the maintenace loan bursary and child tax credit, ive tried talking with my housing benefit department but im not gettting much joy tbh

[abc123def]

Are you at university? If so their finance advisors will know exactly what you are entitled to and will help advocate on your behalf.

[id6052]

the rules for students are a bit more complicated

 

special support grant and parents learning allowance are both disregarded in full, as is tuition fee loan

 

maintenance loan, bursary and child tax credit are taken into account as income (subject to some disregards for travel, books, equipment)

 

have you checked the decision letter to make sure your children are included?

what have they calculated your income at?

what have they calculated your applicable amount at?