Student is studying on an FE course and currently receives the Adult Learning Grant of £30 pw. and part-time earnings of around £65-70 pw Her father (with whom she lived) died last month and now she is responsible for all the bills, including rent. She applied for HB but was turned down as she is a full-time student over 19.

This young women seems in a very unfortunate situation - and I wondered if there was any help she may be entitled to. Have already suggested charitable trust and going back to Student Welfare at the college as they usually have funds but it doesn't seem right that someone who has lost a parent could then face losing their home as they are unable to pay the rent. She finishes her course June/July time and will then be off to Uni in the Autumn but in the meantime just simply does not have enough money to live on.

Does the new provision in the miscellaneous amendments help? - see news item today. It seems to allow someone in your persons circs to claim HB until they are 21 as long as they began the course before they are 19. Only applies from 6th April though.

Tony

Sorry - I didn't read the title properly - didn't notice person was 21 already

Tony

Check whether or not the course is actually full time. If it does not involve more than 16 guided learning hrs per week and is funded by the learning and skills council, it may well be part time, even though the college describe it as full time.

If the course is actually part time, its arguable that the person is entitled to HB

It's definately full time - I was hoping that maybe it could be one that was considered part-time and asked her to check the GLH on her enrolment form and its 33 hrs pw!! It seems so unfair that a young person having just lost her father is having to cope with all the money problems as well.

If anyone else has any thoughts/suggestions, please let me know.

Thanks.

I think you have already suggested the best course of action - tell her to go see a student advisor at the college. There may be some sort of discretionary fund or grant she could apply for. From what you have stated she would not be entitled to Housing Benefit (and obviously could not therefore be considered for a Discretionary Housing Payment either).

...oh, but also make sure she has applied for a Council Tax exemption.

Thanks for your reply. She has already applied for the CT exception. I am hoping now that her college will be able to help out. Such a shame that to be entitled to Discretionary HB you have to have an entitlement to HB - there should be something available for people who suddenly find
themselves in totally different circumstances through no fault of their own without having to resort to charity and the like!