University Students: Housing Benefit Eligibility Explained

Whether university students can get housing benefits depends on several factors, including their enrollment status, age, income, and family situation. Full-time students generally cannot claim housing benefits, but part-time students often can. Students under 21 who are not in higher education may also be eligible. Additionally, students with children or foster parents, those receiving specific benefits or pensions, and those with disabilities may qualify for housing benefits. International students, particularly those from outside Europe, typically cannot claim housing benefits.

Part-time students can claim housing benefit

It is important to note that new claims for Housing Benefit are typically not possible unless you are over 66 or live in temporary or supported accommodation. If you do not already have a claim for Housing Benefit and require assistance with rent, you will need to claim Universal Credit instead. When applying for Universal Credit, discuss your part-time course with your job centre work coach.

If you are under 21 and cannot live with your parents due to specific circumstances, you may be able to claim Universal Credit as a full-time student if your course is classified as non-advanced education, such as A-levels, and does not include university study or degree-level qualifications. In such cases, your parents are not expected to provide financial support, and you are not usually required to look for work to receive Universal Credit.

Additionally, if you are a lone parent or foster carer, or if you are part of a couple with children where both of you are full-time students, you may be eligible to continue claiming housing benefits.

Students with children can claim housing benefit

Most full-time students are not entitled to Housing Benefit. However, students with children can claim housing benefits under certain conditions.

If you are a full-time student who is already claiming Housing Benefit, you can continue to receive it if you are a lone parent or a student couple with children. In the latter case, the non-student partner must claim. If you are a lone foster carer with a child placed with you by a local authority or voluntary agency, you can also continue to receive Housing Benefit.

If you are not already claiming Housing Benefit, you may still be able to claim Universal Credit (UC) as a full-time student and parent. You can claim UC if you have a dependent child under 16 or a 16-19-year-old in full-time non-advanced education. If you share custody of your child, they must normally live with you to be eligible.

It is important to note that your student loan will be viewed as income and will be considered when calculating your benefit entitlement. To avoid deductions in your Housing Benefit, update your local benefits department with proof of your child's enrolment at university.

Students who are lone foster carers can claim housing benefit

Generally, full-time students are not entitled to housing benefits. However, there are exceptions. Students who are lone foster carers can claim housing benefits. This is applicable if you are a full-time student who is already receiving Housing Benefit and meet one of the following conditions:

• You are a lone foster carer with a child formally placed with you by a local authority or voluntary agency.
• You are under 21 and not in higher education (for example, studying A-levels at college).
• You are a lone parent or a member of a couple who are responsible for a child, and you are both full-time students.
• You are receiving certain disability benefits, such as Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
• You are over 66 and neither you nor your partner are receiving Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), or income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
• You are under 22 on a non-advanced course.

If you are a student who is a lone foster carer, it is important to note that your student loan or grant will be considered income and may impact the amount of housing benefit you receive. Additionally, if you are an international student, you are not eligible to claim housing benefits.

Students with certain disability benefits can claim housing benefit

Generally, full-time students cannot make new claims for Housing Benefit. However, there are certain exceptions to this rule. Students with specific disability benefits can claim housing benefits.

If you are a full-time student who already receives Housing Benefit, you can continue to receive this benefit if you meet specific criteria. This includes receiving disability benefits such as:

• Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• Child Disability Payment (Scotland)
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Adult Disability Payment (Scotland)
• Attendance Allowance
• Pension Age Disability Payment (Scotland)
• Disability or severe disability element of Working Tax Credit
• War Pensioner's Disability Supplement

Additionally, if you or your partner are registered blind, or if you qualify for a Disabled Student's Allowance due to deafness, you may be eligible to continue receiving Housing Benefit as a full-time student.

It is important to note that receiving student support, such as grants or loans, may reduce the amount of Housing Benefit you are entitled to. However, if you also receive Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, or income-related Employment and Support Allowance, you will automatically receive your maximum entitlement to Housing Benefit.

Students under 21 and not in higher education can claim housing benefit

In the UK, most full-time students are not eligible for Housing Benefit. This is because the government expects them to use other sources of funding, such as grants, student loans, or access funds to pay their rent. However, there are exceptions to this rule. Students under the age of 21 who are not in higher education, for example, at a university, can claim Housing Benefit. This is one of several exceptions that allow certain full-time students to claim Housing Benefit.

If you are under 21 and not in higher education, you can claim Housing Benefit as a full-time student. This exception also applies if you are under 21 and on a non-advanced course, which can sometimes be extended to the age of 22. A non-advanced course is typically defined as a school or college-level course, such as A Levels, rather than a university degree course.

To be eligible for Housing Benefit as a student under 21, you must also meet other criteria. Firstly, you must be unable to live with your parents. This could be due to various reasons, such as an unsafe home environment or if you have been asked to leave home. Additionally, your parents or guardians are not expected to contribute financially to your housing costs.

It is important to note that any grants, loans, or other sources of income you receive as a student will be treated as income when determining your eligibility for Housing Benefit. This includes student maintenance loans, wages, and other educational awards or grants. There is a weekly income disregard of £10 applied to loan income.

If you are a student under 21 and not in higher education, it is advisable to contact your local authority or seek advice from a student support service to understand your specific eligibility for Housing Benefit and other benefits you may be entitled to.

Frequently asked questions