Accommodation Benefit

The following groups of students are not eligible for Accommodation Benefit:

• students who are living with a parent in the parental home unless:
  • they or their partner have a supported child
• students who are not living with a parent, but who are living in a home maintained or provided by their parents, unless:
  • they are paying market rent for the area of the home occupied by the student or
  • they are responsible for the payment of the outgoings for the area of the home occupied by the student or
  • they or their partner have a supported child
    A parent may be providing a home for a student even if they do not legally own the property, e.g. a parent who is a settlor/trustee of a trust which owns property where a student is living can be considered to be providing a home for that student:

• students, their spouse or partner, who have a tenancy agreement with a social housing provider
  The definition of spouse or partner in this situation is the definition in the Public and Community Housing Management Act 1992. This means that a student who is generally considered to be single for Student Allowance purposes, has a spouse or partner in this situation.

• students who have a partner and their combined income is more than the combined income threshold unless:
  • they are living away from their partner
    In some cases a student, or their partner may be eligible for an Accommodation Supplement.

There are 2 types of Accommodation Benefit rates, the:

• sole parent rate and
• standard rates for all other students