Most full time students cannot claim housing or council tax benefit. However, there are some exceptions.
Full time students who can claim housing benefit
- lone parents
- you are receiving income support, employment and support allowance or jobseekers allowance – income based
- you are disabled or been awarded a disabled student’s allowance due to deafness
- under 20 – if you are doing a course of further education (but not higher education)
- you live with a partner who is also a student and you have dependent children
- you are a pensioner, you are aged 60 or more.
If you qualify for housing benefit then you can claim during the holidays, but if your benefit is to pay for accommodation just to be near your college, you cannot claim for any week you are away.
If you are living in halls of residence you cannot claim for the period of study, the only exception is where the college rents your accommodation for your use.
You must tell us the number of weeks there are in your academic year.
Loan and grant income
If you are eligible for a loan or have been awarded grant we will assume that you are receiving these payments, whether or not you are actually receiving them.
If you do receive a loan you must send us your letter showing the full breakdown.
See below for other evidence you will need to provide.
The rules for students claiming housing benefits are very complicated, please call us if you need further information
443210 (local rate)
Related documents: