======= Date Modified 25 19 2010 22:19:59 =======
======= Date Modified 25 15 2010 22:15:59 =======
Hello, I work 2 days a week and am studying part-time for an MA in London. I have no grants, bursaries or other sources of funding for my studies but I do have £2,000 in savings (for my fees next year). I live with my partner who works full-time and is on £18,000 salary. I pay £455 per month rent and am in private rented accommodation. Does anyone know if I'd be entitled to housing benefit/local housing allowance (or any other benefits)? Would I have to go into detail about my course timetable when claiming? I have lectures/seminars every Tuesday, 6pm-9pm. Thanks in advance.

Hi Sugarbear, I was in a similar situation last year when doing my MA. I was doing paid work for just under 15 hours a week, and first had to apply for housing benefit via job seekers allowance (I wasn't eligible to receive any money for jobseekers because I was working those 15 hours but still had to sign on every two weeks to ensure that I remained eligible to apply for housing benefit) then was allowed to apply on the basis of low income. I mentioned that I was doing 'a course' and said that it involved 3 hours lecture per week, but played down how much private study it involved. (Initially I told the lady in the job seekers office that it involved ten to twenty hours a week of private study - she told me that it was best to keep that info to myself, as the jobseekers office would consider it impossible to be studying twenty hours a week and still be looking for work!) Eventually I got around £480 housing benefit for the ten weeks that I was out of full-time work, but it took the full ten weeks and a lot of phone calls and letters on my part to get that. Also I was living in a shared flat, not with a partner, which might affect things for you. So yes, it is possible to get housing benefit when doing a part time MA, seems to vary for each individual, and in my case seemed to be dependent on going through the jobseekers route first.

======= Date Modified 26 Oct 2010 09:15:52 =======
Hi, I can't see how you could get any form of housing benefit if you're living with your partner and he is working f/t on that salary, you're classed as a joint entity as far as benefits are concerned. When I was about to marry my husband and he moved in I lost my housing benefit, income support, the lot and he was on a similar salary - slightly less. If you live with someone, even if they are staying with you 3 nights or more a week (or that's how it was 10 years ago), then you're classed as a 'couple' sharing an income. Now, with 3 children, he's on 20K a year and we only get a small amount of child tax credit - no housing benefit, nothing like that - you have to be earning far far less to qualify for 'benefits' as a couple than 18k

Hi Stressed and GibsonGirl, thanks for getting back to me. My partner has barely enough to support herself at the end of the month let alone cover my rent or give me some spending money so I'm amazed that £18,000 - at least for private rented accommodation in inner London - is seen as enough to support 2 people.

I've read around on the Directgov site and it seems to say that you're treated as a 'single entity' when it comes to benefits - that is your partner's earnings are taken into account when calculating if you're eligible but they don't automatically deny you on the basis that you can share your partners income (to quote part of the site directly: "If you live with a partner or civil partner only one of you can get Housing Benefit.") The site also lists restrictions on eligibility but makes no mention of living with your partner: you have savings of over £16,000, you live in the home of a close relative, you're a full-time student (unless you're disabled or have children), you're an asylum seeker or are sponsored to be in the UK. I suppose the other thing to do would be to say I'm living with a flatmate...? Would that change my eligibility?

Also, GibsonGirl - do you know why they made you go through the Jobseeker's Allowance route in order to get HB? Everything I've read states that HB eligibility is independent of your employment status.

Thanks again for all your help!

Hi Stressed and GibsonGirl, thanks for getting back to me. My partner has barely enough to support herself at the end of the month let alone cover my rent or give me some spending money so I'm amazed that £18,000 - at least for private rented accommodation in inner London - is seen as enough to support 2 people.

I've read around on the Directgov site and it seems to say that you're treated as a 'single entity' when it comes to benefits - that is your partner's earnings are taken into account when calculating if you're eligible but they don't automatically deny you on the basis that you can share your partners income (to quote part of the site directly: "If you live with a partner or civil partner only one of you can get Housing Benefit.") The site also lists restrictions on eligibility but makes no mention of living with your partner: you have savings of over £16,000, you live in the home of a close relative, you're a full-time student (unless you're disabled or have children), you're an asylum seeker or are sponsored to be in the UK. I suppose the other thing to do would be to say I'm living with a flatmate...? Would that change my eligibility?

Also, GibsonGirl - do you know why they made you go through the Jobseeker's Allowance route in order to get HB? Everything I've read states that HB eligibility is independent of your employment status.

Thanks again for all your help!

Hi Stressed and GibsonGirl, thanks for getting back to me. My partner has barely enough to support herself at the end of the month let alone cover my rent or give me some spending money so I'm amazed that £18,000 - at least for private rented accommodation in inner London - is seen as enough to support 2 people.

I've read around on the Directgov site and it seems to say that you're treated as a 'single entity' when it comes to benefits - that is your partner's earnings are taken into account when calculating if you're eligible but they don't automatically deny you on the basis that you can share your partners income (to quote part of the site directly: "If you live with a partner or civil partner only one of you can get Housing Benefit.") The site also lists restrictions on eligibility but makes no mention of living with your partner: you have savings of over £16,000, you live in the home of a close relative, you're a full-time student (unless you're disabled or have children), you're an asylum seeker or are sponsored to be in the UK. I suppose the other thing to do would be to say I'm living with a flatmate...? Would that change my eligibility?

Also, GibsonGirl - do you know why they made you go through the Jobseeker's Allowance route in order to get HB? Everything I've read states that HB eligibility is independent of your employment status.

Thanks again for all your help!

Sugarbear- I still have no idea why they tested me for jobseekers eligibility first, and like you, I read a lot of info on their website that seemed contradicted by actual practice. The principal lesson that I took away from the whole experience is that the benefits system seems utterly random and impenetrable! I would advise just putting in a claim and seeing what happens in your individual case - it doesn't seem as if you stand to lose anything by doing so.

All I know is that the second I told them that my partner had moved in they stopped the lot. Income support, housing benefit, everything. In fact, the letter to the housing benefit people was delayed in their paper mountain and I had a visit threatening me with court through non-disclosure until I showed them the dated letter and the evidence of posting! It is totally bizarre, and don't forget its all changing now too. My friend has no job, no income and STILL can't get HB. Be very careful, don't lie, if they have any suspicision at all that your partner is that and not a basic flatmate then you're for it big time! As I say, my husband earns much what your partner does, our rent is higher and we have 3 children.. we can't get it.

Does your local council have a benefits calculator on their website? If they do, you can use it to calculate how much HB you're entitled to. Talk to your local CAB as well.