Does anyone work in Housing Benefits who could help please?

[PopGoesTheCheeseball]

Long story short. Have been disable for years and unable to work. Had major surgery last year, want to attempt to return to university (been offered an unconditional place in September), but am having difficulty working out how that may affect my benefit situation. I receive full rent and council tax support at the moment. I called housing to ask how I would be affected, but they said they cannot tell me until I get told how much my student loan will be, and only some of that may be taken into account with the rest disregarded.

I struggle week to week financially and can't just jump into this hoping everything will work out OK!!

Would be very grateful if anyone could help

Hello OP - we're going to move your thread over to the Money Matters board as we think you'll get good advice there. Best of luck.

if you are a full time student and the only adult in the household you wont have to pay council tax at all.
Your housing benefit team are correct in that certain parts of loans/grants/bursaries are included and some aren't - do you know if you will receive any special grants or bursaries or will it be just an ordinary loan?

Sorry for the delay, things been a bit chaotic here. I should receive the maximum loan amount which is around £7500, and an additional grant as I am a lone parent of about £3500. I should add I am also currently on income related ESA in the support group, and receive child tax credit of £107pw. I gave housing those figures but they wouldn't even give me a rough estimate, said I have to apply and get offered an award before they will even tell me. I can't work on the basis of not knowing, so any advice appreciated

Benefit check when you're a student is complicated - I'll try to do my best. You may also want to contact gingerbread to see if they'll do a benefit check for you : www.gingerbread.org.uk/information/benefits-tax-credits-and-universal-credit/if-youre-planning-to-study/benefits-youre-studying/

This link should also help : www.onlinepublications.cpag.org.uk/default.aspx?nodeID=6D7177AD-D1DF-4663-98F7-B9BAA7D8D152

The academic year is held over 42 weeks i.e. No student finance is taken into account over the summer. Your maintenance loan is taken into account over 42 weeks, less 303 for books and 390 for travel less a further £10/week. Student income is ignored for tax credits.

One thing to consider is that if it wipes your ESA, you'll need to apply for UC in the summer months/after your course is done if you can wait it out. UC student finance is assessed more strictly over a number of assessment periods as unearned income.

Good luck!

I'll check those out, thanks your help Rebail