Housing & Council Tax Benefits

Students

What is a student?

A student is defined as "any person who is undertaking a course of study at an educational establishment". This includes

• Study at any level (from school onwards) full time/part-time
• Students with or without loans or grants
• Both State funded and private establishments
• Both term-times and vacations

When a course of study starts a student is treated as such until they finish the course, abandon it or are dismissed from it. Therefore, someone is still classed as a student during the Christmas and Easter holidays and any summer holidays within the course, even if they take up full-time work.

Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit

Most full time students are not allowed to claim Housing Benefit. The exceptions to this include:

• students with a partner
• part time students
• students whose grant includes an amount for deafness
• students who get a Disability premium
• students who are responsible for a child (including foster children)
• students over the age of 60
• students under 19 who are not in higher education
• students who are authorised absent from their course because they are ill or are caring for someone

Absence during the summer vacation

Full-time students are not eligible for Housing Benefit on their term-time accommodation if they are absent from it during the summer vacation.

If one of the above applies to you and you are on a low income please contact the Benefit Section for an application form. Further information about Housing Benefit can be obtained on 01851 709552.

Do not delay making a claim because Housing Benefit will start from the Monday following the date we receive your form.

Council Tax and students

Students may also be able to get a discount or exemption from their Council Tax liability. Further information about Council Tax discounts and exemptions can be obtained on 01851 709288.