To think I shouldn't lose Hosuing Benefit because I am taking out a Student Loan?

[StyleO]

I have been told that when I become a Student and receive a Student Loan, it will affect my housing benefit. I live with a partner that is a dependent to me plus two children. I have to pay the student loan back, is it fair that I have to use that to pay rent? I am told that the old system of a grant and loan didn't affect housing benefit!

Yes the old system allowed students to claim HB... 25 years ago. That’s a really long time. It’s not like the rules just changed last year!

It must he even longer ago than that. I went to university 25 years ago and we weren't allowed to claim any sort of benefits. No help with housing, no free prescriptions. Being a student was viewed as completely outside the scope of benefits unless you were disabled.

@Asta19 I didn't go to uni because I couldn't afford it and now am paid alot. Pay alot in tax and dont claim anything.

That's about as relevant as what you have said.

You ended up earning decent money. Not all graduates do. You dont even know what OP is studying.

Not sure why you think students all of a sudden shoildnt be responsible for pay rent. Despite having a maintenance loan.

I went to university over 30 years ago and we didn't qualify for any benefits then.

My student grant was £2000 a year and my rent was £2000 a year.

My rent came out of my student loan when I was at uni, why shouldn’t yours?

That’s what the loan is for! Why should you be getting double bubble?

I was there before student loans, so the £2000 grant was all I had.

I got myself a job to earn the money I needed for things like food, electricity, beer etc.

Ah the good old days eh?

@Asta19

So by that logic, all students should be eligible for benefit money funded by tax payers because they are doing something that will increase their earning potential and therefore contribute more tax.

And basically, that's what a student loan is except if you become a higher earner you pay it back eventually.

That's a very short sighted attitude
It isn't at all. Getting a degree is no guarantee to become a high tax payer. The older you get, with little relevant work experience, the less likely you are to reach high earnings.

And in any case, it doesn't change the fact that some 18yo paying for their rent during their studies will to be on lower wages, so why shouldn't they get their rent pay.

The reality is: if you are in a low pay job, and you want a higher income than nmw and you can study, do so before having children or accept that it will be harder afterwards. There is no reasons to get special benefits.

Don't forget to apply for the adult dependant grant if your partner is financially dependent on you, if you haven't already.

www.gov.uk/adult-dependants-grant

I do kind of agree with the rules in your situation though - if you got a job, your housing benefit would decrease too.

But it's a bit of a sting with the postgrad loans when they count the money you have to spend on tuition fees. I think their 'average costs' are about as accurate as the 'average costs' they use to set housing benefit amounts, which are absolutely not what it costs to rent a flat where I live.

But such is life. I feel very lucky and grateful to have been supported by the benefits system since having my daughter (alongside working my arse off and studying, as although grateful, it is fucking soul destroying when they stop for no reason, and actually nearly drove me to suicide a couple of years ago - I can't wait to not need them anymore), and for not having an america-style university system whereby people go bankrupt due to student loans, and so many people are priced out. In your situation, you shouldn't actually lose any income in real terms? They disregard £500 for books etc. which is something.

PPs privilege are definitely showing on this thread though. I'm moving up the ladder, and am on the right trajectory to earn a great salary in the future. I'd much rather the money I pay in tax to go towards supporting a mum who wants to better herself, than one who has never had a job, and has no plans to ever get one.

Maybe this will all change when I'm old and rich - they do say this is what happens to young lefties I doubt it though.

You don't have to claim the loan and then the benefits remain in place. I was in that situation and I just chose not to take the loan. Although that was a good few years ago now so it may have changed, but you should check.

Not true, they will calculate benefits assuming you have taken out maximum loan allowable.

Well for one, a young student typically rents one room, be that in student accommodation or a house share. You can't do that with 2 kids. Depending on what the issue is with her partner etc, OP might not be able to take on part time work if she needs to care for the DC and study.

I love how you're all putting someone down who wants to better themselves, real supportive It's all very easy to say "well you shouldn't have had kids" but not all of us get an equal start in life and there are many, many, reasons why people might not make the best choices at 16 or 18 years old. For my part my neglectful, abusive, childhood meant I missed a lot of school, and was always told how stupid I was. My self esteem was at rock bottom and it took a long time for me to think "actually, maybe I can do this". And I had to start at the bottom, GCSE's, then an Access Course, then Uni. It was hard going at times, seeing my other single mum friends sitting around drinking coffee all day (this was in the days before they were forced to look for work) but I just kept thinking of the bigger picture and I wanted to set a good example to my DC. Why you would put someone down for that I don't know.

I love how you're all putting someone down who wants to better themselves, real supportive hmm It's all very easy to say "well you shouldn't have had kids" but not all of us get an equal start in life and there are many, many, reasons why people might not make the best choices at 16 or 18 years old.

Absolutely.

When I first looked into getting SF I too was surprised to learn that I would lose my HB. It seemed odd to me considering it is a loan. OP's husband doesn't work so I assume she is just worrying a little.

Well done OP for becoming a student. It's hard work but also really enjoyable.

So how did you manage to support 4 dependents and be a FT student U2? Because that’s what the OP wants to know how to do.
I wasn’t putting anyone down, but a dependent is a prime responsibility, and if one can’t meet their needs and be a student, then being a student must take a back seat for a while. Wanting isn’t enough.
So what options are available? Will an employer sponsor you OP?

Depending on what you want to study, OP. I would seriously consider Degree Apprenticeships. They are relatively new and you get paid to do your degree, whilst working (so getting experience is invaluable). There are a wide range available from practical to theoretical subjects. No student loan needed.

Study part time.

It's worth a trip to your uni's student support people, most have financial advisors who'll go through everything and make sure that you're claiming everything you can be. I found that CAB and the like got confused when faced with students, they just don't know how to help or what you should be claiming.

Those saying it's years and years since you could claim HB, I graduated in 2016 as a single parent and was able to claim it for the entirety of my course because I had a dependant. The system's seen recent change.

All students are expected to take out loans, whether you qualify for further benefits will depend on your income (your plus partners) there's extra help for student parents. I don't understand why your partner doesn't work though, unless they are seriously ill of course

So you are still eligible for HB, but they calculate your amount by factors like children, whether you're single. Then any amount over that, they take the difference off the amount you're eligible for.

So say you're eligible for £140 a week, but you get £240 a week (student loan total - discounted amount ie. Grants divided by weeks studying I think it's like 43 weeks they count), then they take the difference, 100 and take that off your weekly rent (say 115) so you'll get £15 a week HB and you pay the other £100. If you're under certain circumstances they pay your HB over summer.

The reason they do this is to help keep a roof over your child's head. It's a lot better than most students have it, a lot of my course mates' rent costs more than their loan amount.

@Asta19 when I went to uni 5 years ago any student loan I was eligible for was taken into account for housing benefit whether I applied for it or not - so I applied for it!

This is the guidance for students claiming UC- data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2019-0465/Students_Eligibility_conditionality_and_student_income_v14.0.pdf

I worked all through my degree because my grant just about paid the rent for 36 weeks a year and nothing else. Presumably your dp can look after your dcs and you can get an evening /weekend job to top up the loan.

HB is a safety net for people that would not be able to pay their rent and potentially be homeless. Not a luxury, expectation or a means to allow you to avoid working or to study instead of working.

If you want HB then don’t claim for the loan. Delay studying while you find a job that pays under the benefit threshold and save for your studies that way.

@JudgeRindersMinder I study law. I have already had an offer of employment with a firm, grades dependant, following graduation, thanks to placement and working for a professor whilst at Uni.