§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when higher education students were entitled to receive housing benefit; and what was the maximum weekly rent for 37 weeks within one year, that a student receiving full grant and claiming the full student loan but with no additional income needed to pay before starting to receive housing benefit.
§ Mr. BurtBefore 1 September 1990 housing benefit was available on a limited basis to full-time higher education students provided they did not pay rent to their educational establishment. Full-time students have not generally been entitled to claim housing benefit since that date, although partners of students and students in vulnerable groups have retained eligibility.
A student under age 25 in receipt of the standard maintenance grant and able to claim benefit in April 1990, may have received some help through housing benefits in respect of rent above a level of around £28.30 a week in London, and £17.80 a week outside London. Student loans were not available before 1 September 1990.