Students
Benefit advice for students
Most full-time students are not entitled to claim housing benefit during the whole of their course, including the summer vacations. However, if you are a part-time student or if you are in one of the exempt categories below, then you may be able to get help with your rent. If you are in higher education or on a private sector course, the education establishment should be able to advise you whether the relevant course is full-time or part-time.
Courses of further education that are funded by the Learning & Skills Council, which contain up to and including 16 guided learning hours a week, are classed as part-time. Colleges are able to provide a document called a Learning Agreement which will make it clear how many guided learning hours a course entails.
If you are on work based learning for adults and getting a training allowance from the Department for Work and Pensions, you are not classed as a student for housing benefit purposes
If you are a full time student you will not be eligible to claim housing or council tax benefit unless you also fall within one of the following categories:
- Lone parents
- If you are getting Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance (Income-Based) you will automatically be entitled to claim Housing Benefit
- Disabled and those who have been awarded a Disabled Student's Allowance due to deafness
- Under 21 - if you are following a course of further education (but not higher education), unless you live at home with your parents
- If you live with a partner who is also a student and you have dependent children
- Dependent children - if you are solely responsible for a child boarded out with you by a local Council or voluntary organisation
- Those whose study has been interrupted due to illness or caring responsibilities, who are not allowed to rejoin their course until a later date and are not eligible for a student loan for this period
- Pensioners - if you are aged 60 or more (and taking into account the realignment of the pension age).
There are a number of council tax reductions available for students.
Find out more information on council tax reductions available for students.
For housing and council tax benefit purposes, a student is a person who is attending a course of study or a qualifying course at an educational establishment.
