[Anonymous]

I have just graduated from University and was an independent student (both patents deceased).
My aim was to complete a PGCE which would allow me to continue in education and allow me to progres into a good career without time out of education.
However, due to circumstances, I now have to take a year out of education.

I signed a contract with a company for accommodation which would usually be convered by student loans, obviously with me now not going to Uni this year I am left in a massive **** state. I am going to be homeless, pennyless, jobless and with an accommodation bill of £3400.

Anyone have any advice or experienced similar?

[Pandabär]

Any chance you can get someone to take over your room? Any get-out clauses?

I'd also recommend you speak to your local citizen's advice bureau.

[Arekkusu]

Even if your parents are deceased you must have a guardian of some sort, surely?

[HelenaS88]

Sorry to hear you're in this situation, I'm afraid I don't have any direct advice, but I do know that the charity Shelter advises about this kind of thing, their number is 0808 800 4444 (8am and 5pm), Not sure if this would be of help to you, but I hope you get it sorted out xx

[Miryo]

I feel for you, do you have any other relatives?

[Podcaster]

I was nearly in your situation once. However what I did was obtain a council flat and a job before I go to uni so if uni flops I still have the job in the same area plus the council wil obviously take housing benefit (which I'm on at the moment)

[tamimi]

Any other friends/relatives you can lean on?
Any chance of temporary employment?
If you can't find a job, why not register as a jobseeker. It's not much money but enough to get you going.

[BillyBongos]

(Original post by Anonymous)
I signed a contract with a company for accommodation

http://whatconsumer.co.uk/forum/holi...ff-period.html
The distance selling regulations (DSR)
Quote:
Contracts to provide accommodation, transport, catering or leisure services (for example hotel accommodation; plane, train, or concert tickets; car hire;10 or sporting events) where you agree to provide the service on a specific date or within a specific period. However, long-term residential hotel accommodation agreed under a distance contract may be considered to be rented accommodation and therefore subject to the DSRs.

http://www.northampton.ac.uk/info/20...and-conditions If you have received an online offer of accommodation, you will have a statutory 'cooling off period'. Further information about this is available in the 'Guidance for online agreement' on the room offer downloads.

(Original post by tamimi)
If you can't find a job, why not register as a jobseeker. It's not much money but enough to get you going.

you might have to register for an emergency assistance grant at the jobcentre to get a deposit together to get you into somewhere. You will have to pay this back. JobSeekers' Allowance can take up to 2-3weeks to sort out, and housing benefit may take around the same amount of time.

[tamimi]

(Original post by BillyBongos)
you might have to register for an emergency assistance grant at the jobcentre to get a deposit together to get you into somewhere. You will have to pay this back. JobSeekers' Allowance can take up to 2-3weeks to sort out, and housing benefit may take around the same amount of time.

I'm afraid some councils no longer offer housing benefit for singles that aren't too young or too old. I found this out the hard way. But still worth asking of course.

[mabrookes]

(Original post by tamimi)
I'm afraid some councils no longer offer housing benefit for singles that aren't too young or too old. I found this out the hard way. But still worth asking of course.

Since when, which council was this? They were talking about removing housing benefit for certain ages not long ago but didn't hear it had been done.

[tamimi]

(Original post by mabrookes)
Since when, which council was this? They were talking about removing housing benefit for certain ages not long ago but didn't hear it had been done.

I don't have a "list" of councils or anything like that, just speaking from personal experience with South Gloucestershire and Bristol City councils. I'm sure they're not all like that.

[OU Student]

(Original post by tamimi)
I'm afraid some councils no longer offer housing benefit for singles that aren't too young or too old. I found this out the hard way. But still worth asking of course.

Did you even meet the criteria for housing benefit? Because that might be why you may have been refused.

[callum9999]

I think most councils do still give housing benefit to the young - they just make you get a shared room in a house, as opposed to your own place.

[tamimi]

(Original post by OU Student)
Did you even meet the criteria for housing benefit? Because that might be why you may have been refused.

Yes. The advisor was very clear on that the council no longer provides this benefit for my age group, provided that you're single/not disabled/not a parent of a dependant child.

[tamimi]

(Original post by callum9999)
I think most councils do still give housing benefit to the young - they just make you get a shared room in a house, as opposed to your own place.

This is also true. They call it something like "Single occupancy housing benefit" or something like that. It's significantly lower than it used to be, but it's still there in most councils. Birmingham for sure as far as I know.

[OU Student]

(Original post by tamimi)
Yes. The advisor was very clear on that the council no longer provides this benefit for my age group, provided that you're single/not disabled/not a parent of a dependant child.

You're a student, aren't you? Students aren't entitled to housing benefit unless they're on a part-time course, disabled or parent of a dependent child.

[Jamie1993]

Pod teach and travel is where you apply to teach in another country (only takes a month or so before you are ready to go) my friend did it with basic GCSE's, you get paid more with a degree, they provide accomidation, food and you get paid as well whilst working, it's mainly China but it is a good way out of being homeless. Hope it helps.


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

[tamimi]

(Original post by OU Student)
You're a student, aren't you? Students aren't entitled to housing benefit unless they're on a part-time course, disabled or parent of a dependent child.

I wasn't a student at the time.

[Charlottie93]

(Original post by OU Student)
Did you even meet the criteria for housing benefit? Because that might be why you may have been refused.

According to the DirectGov website they won't provide Housing Benefit for under 25's unless they are in a bedsit or shared accommodation. They also don't allow you to claim Working Tax Credits either if you're under 25 unless you're a parent or disabled.

OP yeah I think you should see the Citizens Advice Bureau or ring Shelter or try to find shared accommodation? Unless you fancy a year in China which may work to your advantage as you could save the money that you earn for when you come back over here.

[Origami Bullets]

Can you not live in the accommodation that you have paid for, and use housing benefit to pay for it? Assuming it is shared accommodation, then HB should cover all / most of it.