Council tax query

[vdbfamily]

DD is on a 3 year course at Uni and after 2 and a bit terms they asked her to take a year out and return at Easter next year where she had to do a placement which will then complete her first year. ( this was due to her having a mental health crisis and then feeling she needed a break) She had already paid a deposit to rent with 2 friends from September so got herself a job for care agency so she was not letting them down last minute ( she could have come home and lived for free with us)
As she is not currently officially a student she had been told she alone will need to pay full council tax for the 3 bedroomed property. Is this correct? Will she be entitled to UC or anything else?

I'm pretty sure that's correct unless something has changed very recently. She may be able to get help with it though.

It can vary from council to council, so it's worth checking the details carefully.

Also probably worth talking to someone at the university to see whether her status means that in some way she could still be considered be considered a 'student' albeit paused. When my DS did a placement he wasn't liable for council tax, as he was still registered as a student at the university (but he also had to pay about £1750 in uni 'fees' for his placement year!)

If she's the only non student she will get the 25% sole occupant discount plus if she's low income there may be a reduction, she needs to ask the local council as they vary in support. She may be eligible for uc depending on her income

According to Citizen's advice

"As a full-time student, you might need to take some time out from your course, for example, because of an illness or family commitments.
If you suspend your course but remain registered because you intend to go back, you should still be regarded as a student for the purposes of council tax."

@vdbfamily Ds's mate had to resit some exams from first year so didn't go into his second year but was still on role for the university as the intention is to return. He sat the resits at the end of what would have been his second year. They are still considered to be exempt from council tax as students. So I agree with Come that they are exempt from paying council tax. Ds's mate worked for a year whilst house sharing with student mates.

Who has told her she is liable to pay? She can contact the university and get an exemption certificate that will confirm she is still on role and intending to return. I would sort that out asap.

Thank you all. I will get her to contact the Uni. Sounds more positive. I am not sure who told her this and she is away at present but will ask if she makes contact.