Living whilst at Performing Arts College

[kzgirl]

We are at the stage whereby we are looking at accommodation for our daughter who is starting a 3yr musical theatre diploma course in September 2015. I am wondering what level this course is classed as further, advanced or higher education? I have just rung my local careers office and I have been told that because a 16yr old can apply for and do the course it is advanced education and I can still remain on child benefit until my daughter's 19th birthday. It doesn't look like we can remain on tax credits but I will check when I telephone them to do my renewal. I have also rung the local council where my daughter will be living as regards to housing benefit and that appears to be no go. Has anyone else had the same replies as me when enquiring?

[Katymac]

Doing better than us - we've been told no child benefit, no tax credits & no housing benefit

Sigh

I don't know what they expect DD to live on.....fresh air? cos she can't get a student loan

[kzgirl]

My daughter has also applied for the £10,000 career development loan and she will have to work while away. It isn't easy as most of the colleges are around London, the cheapest rent I can find is around £350 - £380 per month house sharing. My worry is affording the rent.

[Katymac]

Isn't the CDL for just 2 years & doesn't it need to be paid back starting 6 weeks after the end of the second year?

We rejected it as an idea for funding as the third year will be the hardest for the students and you can't combine it with a job; have the rules changed?

[kzgirl]

The career development loan has to be paid back one month after the course has ended, in certain circumstances you can ask for a postponement of up to 17mths. There is nothing to say it has to be paid back before the course has ended.

[Katymac]

If it's the government backed CDL this page says it can only be taken out for a 2 year course. https://www.gov.uk/career-development-loans/eligibility (they do often allow it for the second & third year of a course)

If you have found a different one I'd love to know where from as it could really help us

[mrs_lovett]

Be really careful with Cdl loans and try to find another way if you can- repayments start so soon after graduation and unless you get work instantly it becomes very difficult. My best friend had a terrible time trying to pay it back. They are very different to student loans so approach with caution!

[2dancersmum]

If it is the usual level 6 Trinity 3 year musical theatre diploma then it is classed as higher education as it is the same level as a university degree in terms of assessment. This means no benefits unless your DD is doing any A levels or further education courses alongside - regardless of the fact that she is only 16. I think you may find that your careers office has got it wrong but the tax office and child benefit office will probably not. My DD went at 16 and we were initially told the same as you but then a notification came for revised child benefit and it had been stopped for my 16 year old. I phoned up and was eventually allowed to keep child benefit for the first 2 years but only because my DD was doing the minimum required number of hours of further education alongside (ie A levels). Housing benefit is also only for further education and refusal to allow housing benefit for 16-18 year olds on diplomas with no student loans has been appealed and refused in court so local councils have a legal precedent to refuse it now. I would seriously advise doing all your financial planning and budgeting on the assumption that you get nothing.

[Sonabe23]

Hi, I am new to this site but wondered if anyone knew of anyone who was able to claim housing benefit whilst doing the pre/voc course at Performers College? Thanks

[carriecrafts]

Hi, I am new to this site but wondered if anyone knew of anyone who was able to claim housing benefit whilst doing the pre/voc course at Performers College? Thanks

In theory I think you should be able to because the pre-voc is classed as 'non-advanced' (pre-degree level). A friend has had Housing Benefit for the last year while doing the Foundation at Laine's but I don't know anyone at Performers.

[Sonabe23]

Thanks Carriecrafts. I have spoken to Performers and they said although the course has no official classification at the moment they would class as a level 3 which you would think would be ok for making a claim. Trouble is I have spoken to Thanet Council and one operator said no to housing benefit whilst another said yes. So all confusing. Will just have to hope that once she's there she can claim but with all the changes from the Budget earlier this week I won't be holding my breath.

[Barb]

Post by Sonabe23 » Fri Jul 10, 2015 12:14 pm

Hi, I am new to this site but wondered if anyone knew of anyone who was able to claim housing benefit whilst doing the pre/voc course at Performers College? Thanks

There is a thread "Housing benefit and Performers" started by Evie who has contacted the council and has been told yes Housing Benefit can be claimed, so hopefully you can claim.

[Sonabe23]

I rang Thanet Council before the changes in the budget so don't know if the changes to housing benefit take affect immediately? Thought I heard on the news that it was from 2017. Don't suppose anyone on here knows if it is immediately? Thanks

[Barb]

I think anyone starting a foundation/ pre-voc course this September might be ok for Housing Benefit

This from https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guid ... de-content

The Summer Budget – 8 July 2015
The government announced a number of welfare measures as part of the Summer Budget. These measures will be phased in and will not affect any claimants until April 2016 at the earliest, with many changes affecting only new claimants.

Doesn't help anyone on a 3 year Diploma course though, still no access to student loans or any other help for rent/living expenses.

[Barb]

Just found this on the Epsom and Ewell Council website
http://www.epsom-ewell.gov.uk/EEBC/Coun ... udents.htm

Laines students
Important information for Students studying the Foundation course or the National Diploma in Professional Theatre or Dance.

The question of whether, for Housing Benefit purposes, the Foundation and Diploma courses are Further or Higher Education was a contentious issue for some time.

Recent Tribunal decisions have clarified this. The Diploma course is Higher Education and students on the course are not eligible to receive Housing Benefit.

The Foundation course is not Higher Education and students are still able to claim Housing Benefit.


Background Information
The administration of Housing Benefit is governed by regulations laid by parliament. Regulations cannot cover every specific issue and so occasionally they can be considered open to different interpretations. Where these interpretations are challenged by a customer, the challenge is heard by the HM Courts & Tribunal Service.

Initially the challenge will go before a First-tier Tribunal. Decisions made by the First-tier Tribunal are binding upon the parties involved, and can be considered influential/persuasive to other councils. A First-tier Tribunal decided in January 2014 that the Foundation course is not Higher Education.

If dissatisfied with the outcome the customer may take their case to an Upper Tribunal. The decision of the Upper Tribunal becomes case law and is binding on all councils. In July 2013 Judge Bano concluded in the Upper Tribunal case CH/1957/2012 that the diploma was Higher Education.

The Council has no discretion in this matter and because Housing Benefit cannot be paid, there is also no entitlement to Discretionary Hardship Payments.

Please note: this decision does not affect the student status for Council Tax purposes. Any appropriate discounts and exemptions remain in place.