Claiming Housing Benefit if you're a student
Most, but not all, full-time students are not entitled to Housing Benefit.
New Housing Benefit claims can only be considered from students in temporary accommodation (under Homelessness Prevention legislation), certain supported accommodation and those who have reached State Pension Age.
Students who are in one of the above groups would be considered eligible for Housing Support where they are:
- receiving Income Support, Job Seeker's Allowance (Income Based), Employment and Support Allowance (Income Related).
- part-time students
- under 21, in further education (not higher education), as long as they were enrolled/accepted before the age of 19
- under 20 and for whom Child Benefit is still payable
- of pensionable age
- a student couple where both students are responsible for a child
- a student couple where one is a student and responsible for a child; the non-student must claim
- lone parents who are responsible for a child
- responsible for foster children
- able to qualify for the disability premium/severe disability premium
- incapable of work (as decided by the Department for Works and Pensions) and have been for at least 28 weeks
- in receipt of a Disabled Student Grant which includes an allowance for deafness
- unable to get a grant or student loan following an absence from their studies (with consent) due to illness or providing care to another person
The person who should claim is shown in the table below.
| Claimant | Partner | Who can claim? |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time student in above list | Non-student | Either |
| Full-time student not in above list | Non-student | Partner |
| Full-time student not in above list | Full-time student not in above list | Neither |
| Full-time student not in above list | Full-time student in above list | Partner |
| Full-time student in above list | Full-time student not in above list | Claimant |
| Non-student | Full-time student not in above list | Claimant |
| Non-student | Full-time student in above list | Either |
| Non-student | Non-student | Either |
Please contact us for any help you need with Housing Benefit.