Housing and council tax benefits
Most students cannot claim housing benefit or council tax benefit but there are some exceptions
Trainees on government training for work schemes do not count as students, nor do people on other training courses that do not take place at a college, school or equivalent.
Which students can get housing and council tax benefit?
Part-time students (studying 16 hours or less per week)
If you are a part time student, who does not get a grant you may be able to continue getting benefits (such as income support or job seekers allowance (income based). You must
- be on a course be run by a college school or equivalent
- have been getting IS/JSA(ib) or JSA(cb) for three months before starting your course
- be available to start work of any kind
- continue to sign on and seek work and stop your course straight away if there is a job for you
Students who get income support or job seekers allowance (income based)
If you are a student who gets income support or job seekers allowance (income based) you will get housing benefit and council tax benefit.
Students under 19 who are not in higher education
If you are studying up to A level standard you can claim until you are 19. If you are over 19 and not in higher education are you may be able to get payments from the access funds. You will not get income support.
Students over 60
If you are a student over 60 you can claim housing and council tax benefit.
Disabled students
If you are disabled and have one of the following
- you meet the conditions for a disability premium or a severe disability premium.
- you have been classed as incapable for work for a 196 day period under the incapacity test (including separate periods of less than 56 days apart)
- you get a grant because of deafness.
Students who are responsible for a child
If you (lone parent or couples), are the legal parent or guardian of a child or is a foster parent with a child who has been formally placed with you by the council or a voluntary organisation you can claim benefit.
Couples where only one partner is a student
If only one member of the couple is a student, the non student can apply for benefit. The benefit will be worked out on the couples joint income. The application form must be completed by the ‘non student’ .
Second adult rebate for council tax
You may also be able to claim the second adult rebate on your council tax if someone in your home is on a low income. To get this, the council tax bill must be in your name and you must:
- not have a partner and
- have someone living with you (e.g. a grown-up son or daughter or a parent) who has an income of less than £193.99 per week before deductions.
Useful links for students
Leeds University Union advice centre Tel: 0113 380 1300. Open 9am-5pm or 11am-4pm for Drop-ins. To visit their web site follow the link from this page.
Leeds Metropolitan help zone Tel: 0113 283 3115 or email using the link on this page. Open Monday-Thursday: 8am-8pm, Friday: 8am-5pm, Saturday 9am-12pm. To visit their web site follow the link from this page.
Leeds College of Art and Design Student welfare officer/counsellor
Tel: 0113 202 8260 or email using the link on this page. To visit their web site follow the link from this page.