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 822642.
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 822642.
