Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Circular s2

Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Circular Department for Work and Pensions The Adelphi, 1 - 11 John Adam Street, London WC2N 6HT HB/CTB A13/2005

ADJUDICATION AND OPERATIONS CIRCULAR

WHO SHOULD READ All Housing Benefit (HB) and Council Tax Benefit (CTB) staff

ACTION For information

Regulation changes - rent-free weeks SUBJECT Student loans and grants 2005-2006 National Savings Certificates: valuation 1 July 2005

Amendment

This email version of HB/CTB Circular A13/2005 is being issued because of incorrect figures in Annex A: Appendix B, Students who started, or are treated as having started, their course before 1 September 1998 (England and Wales), Living in parental home. The correct figures are Grant £1745 Loan £1155 Total £2900.

The change has been sidelined.

A printed version will not be reissued, however, HB/CTB Circular A15/2005 will include a paragraph with the correct figures.

Apologies for any inconvenience caused.

Guidance Manual

The information in this circular does affect the content of the HB/CTB Guidance Manual. Please annotate this circular number against  Part A: Rent-free periods, paragraph A5.130  Part C, C5 Annex B  Part C, C2 Annex C Queries

If you  want extra copies of this circular/copies of previous circulars, they can be found on the website at www.dwp.gov.uk/hbctb  have any queries about the - technical content of this circular, contact details are given at the end of each section - distribution of this circular, contact Corporate Document Services Ltd Orderline Tel: 0113 399 4040 Fax: 0113 399 4205 Email: [email protected]

Recipients may freely reproduce this circular. HB/CTB Circular A13/2005

Contents

Regulation changes - rent-free weeks Introduction...... 1 Queries...... 5

Student loans and grants 2005-2006 Introduction...... 6 Rates of loans/grants and disregards...... 9 Treatment of loans and grants...... 10 Queries...... 11 Annex A: Rates of loans and grants Disregards 2005/2006...... Appendix A Loans and grants...... Appendix B NHS funded student loans/grants...... Appendix C

Valuation of National Savings Certificates from 1 July 2005 Introduction...... 12 Rounding up of units of National Savings Certificates...... 16 Precise valuation required ...... 20 National Savings Certificates values 1 July 2005...... Annex B

Adjudication and Operations circular August 2005 HB/CTB Circular A13/2005

Regulation changes – rent-free weeks

Introduction

1 It has always been our policy intention that for any weeks in which rent is not due there should be no Housing Benefit (HB) payable and the rent considered in full in those weeks in which it is paid. Regulation 70 of the Housing Benefit (General) Regulations 1987 was intended to support this practice by providing that HB cannot be paid for those weeks in which a person is not liable to pay rent.

2 The Commissioner’s interpretation of HB regulation 70(1) in the case of ‘Neville’, meant that, although required to pay 23 fortnightly payments of rent, the tenant concerned was actually liable for their rent throughout the whole year. Therefore the annual rent had to be calculated and rent allowance paid, over 52 weeks even though there were weeks in which the tenant did not actually have to pay rent.

3 The effect of this decision meant that for any similar cases, because the tenant would have an annual rent liability, the rent would have to be recalculated on an annual basis and benefit paid over the whole year, even though the claimant would actually be required to pay rent for a shorter period.

4 We have therefore amended the wording in HB regulation 70 to maintain the policy intention of ensuring that benefit is considered toward the full rent in the period in which the rent is paid and no benefit is paid when it is not. The relevant instrument is the Housing Benefit (General) Amendment Regulations 2005 (SI No. 2005/ 1719), which was laid before Parliament on 1 July 2005 and came into force on 1 August 2005.

Queries

5 If you have any queries about the technical content of this section, contact Dave Jones Tel: 020 7962 8313 Email: [email protected]

Student loans and grants 2005-2006

Introduction

6 This section details the annual uprating of student loans, in line with Social Security (Student and Income-related Benefits) Amendment Regulations 2005 for disregards for books and travel and Education (Student Support) Regulations 2005 for grants and loans. SI 2005 No1807.

7 These regulations came into force from 1 August 2005 and take effect from  the day the period of study begins, when that date is on or after 1st August 2005 and before 1st September 2005, or  1 September in any other cases

8 References to ‘regulations’ refer to these regulations unless otherwise indicated.

Rates of loans/grants and disregards

9 Annex A to this section has three appendices showing the rates of  disregards, see Appendix A  loans/grants, see Appendix B  NHS funded student loans/grants, see Appendix C

Treatment of loans and grants

10 There has been no change in the attribution of loans and grants for this academic year. Note: The Lone Parents Grant is no longer paid to students.

Queries

11 If you have any queries about the  relevant disregards, ie Appendix A, contact Elsian Linsell Tel: 020 7962 8687 Email: [email protected]  rates of loans, grants, contact the relevant Education Authority

Adjudication and Operations circular August 2005 HB/CTB Circular A13/2005 Annex A: Appendix A

Rates of loans/grants and disregards

Appendix A – Disregards 2005/2006

Disregard from personal maintenance grant or loan for  Books and equipment £352 per annum  Travel costs £280 per annum

Adjudication and Operations circular August 2005 HB/CTB Circular A13/2005 Annex A: Appendix B

Appendix B – Student loan and grant rates 2005/2006 academic year

Personal maintenance loans

Students who started their course on or after 1 September 1998 (England and Wales)

Full year rate Loans1

Living away from home2 - in London £5175 - elsewhere £4195

Living in parental home £3320

Extra weeks attendance (Paid weekly) - Living away from home2 - in London £96 (weekly) - elsewhere £75 (weekly) - living in parental home £50 (weekly)

Final year rate

Living away from home2 - in London £4490 - elsewhere £3645 Living in parental home £2900

1 These are the rates relevant to Higher Education undergraduate students. Lower rates that are not subject to a DfES means test may apply to other students, eg those on teacher training courses, in receipt of NHS bursaries, or in full-year sandwich placements. Authorities should check with relevant LEA in cases of doubt.

2 The "London" rate is payable when a student is living away from home and studying at an institution in London. The "elsewhere" rate is payable when the student is living away from home and studying outside London.

Students who started their course on or after 1 September 1998 (Scotland)

Full year rate Loans1

Attending Scottish institutions

living away from home £4195 living in parental home £3320

Attending institutions outside Scotland

living away from home3 - in London £5175 - elsewhere £4195 living in parental home £3320

Final year rate

Attending Scottish institutions living away from home £3645 living in parental home £2900

Attending Institutions outside Scotland Living away from home3 - in London £4490 - elsewhere £3645 Living in parental home £2900 Extra weeks attendance (Paid weekly to all students who entered HE in 1998 or later) Living away from home2 - in London £96 (weekly) - elsewhere £75 (weekly) Living in parental home £50 (weekly)

1 Students who started courses in Scotland from 2001 will have their maximum support (in the form of student loans and non-repayable bursaries) increased by £530 depending on parental income.

2 Young Scottish students from low-income families studying outwith Scotland from 2002 will have their maximum support increased by up to £530 non-repayable bursary.

Students who started, or are treated as having started, their course before 1 September 1998 (England and Wales)

Full year rate Grant Loan Total

Living away from home - in London £2635 2540 £5175 - elsewhere £2140 £2055 £4195

Living in parental home £1745 £1575 £3320

Extra weeks attendance (Paid weekly)

Living away from home1 - in London £96 - £96 (weekly) - elsewhere £75 - £75 (weekly) - living in parental home £50 - £50 (weekly)

Final year rate

Living away from home1 - in London £2635 £1855 £4490 - elsewhere £2140 £1505 £3645 Living in parental home £1745 £1155 £2900

Students who started their course before 1 September 1998 (Scotland)

Full year rate Grant Loan Total

Living away from home1 - in London £2540 £2540 £5080 - elsewhere £2055 £2055 £4110

Extra weeks attendance (Paid weekly)

Living away from home1 - in London £90 - £90 (weekly) - elsewhere £69 - £69(weekly) - living in parental home £41 - £41(weekly)

Final year rate

Living away from home1 - in London £2540 £1855 £4395 - elsewhere £2055 £1500 £3555 Living in parental home £1575 £1155 £2730

Grants for extra living costs

All students

Travel grant Reasonable costs - see award notice for amount

Disabled students grants - non-medical helper (full-time student) Up to £11,840 - non-medical helper (part-time student) Up to £8,885 - major items of equipment Up to £4,680 for the duration of the course - travel costs Reasonable costs - see award notice for amount - other items (full-time student) Up to £1565 - other items (part-time student) Up to £11701

Grants for students with dependants - adult dependant (or first dependent child if no adult dependant) £2,3952

Parents Learning Allowance (England & Wales – Up to £1365 per annum depending on full-time only) income and number of children

Child care grant (England & Wales – full-time The amount is shown on the award notice students only)

Care leavers grant (long vacation only) Up to £100 (weekly)

Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) – postgraduate £56403

Part-time students – Course Grant £250

Part-time students – fee grant Up to £885

1 Not relevant in Scotland where DSA is pro-rated for part-time students. 2 This childcare package is not applicable in Scotland. 3 Not relevant in Scotland – only Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) funded PG students can claim DSA and then at the same rate as undergraduate students.

Adjudication and Operations circular August 2005 HB/CTB Circular A13/2005 Annex A: Appendix C

Appendix C

NHS funded students – rates for means-tested bursary and reduced rate loans – 2005/2006 academic year

Bursary Bursary Loan (England and (Scotland (England, Wales Wales) & Scotland)

Living away from home1 - in London £2837 £2740 £2540 - elsewhere £2309 £2225 £2055

Extra weeks’ attendance2 £96 (per week) £96(per week) - Living away from home1 £74 (per week) £73 (per week) - - in London - elsewhere £50 (per week) £ 44(per week) -

Living in parental home £2837 £2740 £1855 Final year rate £2309 £ 2225 £1500 Living away from home1 £1889 £1695 £1155 - in London - elsewhere

Living in parental home

2 Additional weeks’ attendance allowance is payable for every week over 30 weeks and three days. Students are required to attend the course in each academic year. If required to attend for more than 45 weeks, the student will be treated as if in attendance for 52 weeks.

NHS funded students - Allowances for extra living costs

Non-diploma students, ie means-tested students only

Travel allowance England and Wales Reasonable costs - see award notice for amount.

Scotland Up to the following limits (for 30 weeks courses): Single students living at home - £790 Independent students living in their own home - £930

Disabled students allowances - non-medical helper up to £11,838 - major items of equipment up to £4679 (for the duration of the course) - travel costs actual reasonably and necessarily incurred - see award notice for amount - other items up to £1563

Allowances for students with dependants

Allowances for dependants - adult dependant (or first dependent £2395 in Scotland (for adult dependants child if no adult dependant) only)

Dependent children - aged under 11 £500 N/A in Scotland - aged 11 - 15 £1,001 N/A in Scotland - aged 16 -17 £1,331 N/A in Scotland - aged 18 or over £1,915 N/A in Scotland

Child Care Allowance (England & Wales)

One child Up to £114.75 per week (or 85% of actual costs up to £135 per week)

Two or more children Up to £170 per week (or 85% of actual costs up to £200 per week)

Older Students Allowance

Age 26 £406 N/A in Scotland

Age 29+ £1381 N/A in Scotland

Allowance for lone parents – not payable in £1181 - £1150 in Scotland addition to Older Student’s Allowance

Care leavers Allowance Up to £100 (weekly) - payable in respect of the longest vacation

Diploma students (non-means tested)

Bursary rates 2005-2006 academic year

England and Wales

Living away from home1 - in London £6859 - elsewhere £5837

Living in parental home £5837

Extra weeks’ attendance2 £17

Scotland

Aged 26 or over, or on a two year graduate £6418 course (regardless of age)

Aged under 26 £5700

2 Bursaries for Diploma students are payable on the basis that students will attend for 45 weeks of the year. The basic rate of the bursary will increase by this amount for each week if a student has to move to London for a clinical placement.

Diploma students – Additional allowances

England and Wales Scotland

Disabled students allowances - non-medical helper Up to £11,838 £11,840 - major items of equipment Up to £4679 (for the duration of the £4680 course) - travel costs Actual reasonably and necessarily incurred - see award notice for amount - other items Up to £1563 £1565

Allowances for students with dependants

Allowances for dependants adult dependant, or first dependent £2029 £2395 child if no adult dependant - dependent children - aged under 11 £429 - aged 11 -15 £853 - aged 16 - 17 £1128 - aged 18- + £1617 £1180

Single parent addition £1001

Childcare grant for lone parents - £1100

Care leavers allowance up to £100 per week during the longest £100 Note: Not applicable in Scotland vacation

Older students’ allowance3 £682 N/A

Initial course costs £55 - a one-off payment £55

3 Paid to: - students aged 26 before the start of their course - diploma students following accelerated programmes for graduates - Allowance is payable over 52 weeks

Valuation of National Savings Certificates from 1 July 2005

Introduction

12 This section of the circular provides up to date information on National Savings Certificates as at 1 July 2005, together with the revised tables containing values of the certificates. The values provided are to be used as a guide only. If a more accurate valuation is required please contact National Savings and Investments (NS&I) on 0845 964 5000 with the Certificate issue number, purchase price and date of purchase.

13 There are three tables to be used for valuing National Savings Certificates  five-year National Savings Certificates, available for purchase from 19 February 1916 to date  three-year National Savings Certificates, available for purchase from 26 June 2003 to date  two-year National Savings Certificates, available for purchase from 8 October 1999 to date

You must establish which types of certificates the customer holds.

14 The following points should be noted  for 42nd and 8th Index-linked issues onwards, the value is based on a minimum purchase of £100  where only one value appears against the ordinary and reinvestment elements of an issue, the value is the same  for all issues no longer on sale, the valuation is calculated on the last day of sale

15 Current values are valued on the first day of sale. The following issues are currently on sale  2 year 29th fixed  3 year 10th Index-linked  5 year 79th fixed  5 year 37th Index-linked

Rounding up of units of National Savings Certificates

16 When a customer holds a National Savings Certificate for an odd amount, ie not for a whole unit, this is either because  an earlier certificate has been cashed in or reinvested, or  certificates purchased from September 1994 onwards can be for any amount over the minimum purchase price of £100

17 In order to establish the number of units held, divide the total value shown on the certificate by the purchase price for that particular issue.

18 If the customer were to cash in the National Savings Certificates, NS&I would pay the precise value of the certificate, including fractions of units. Therefore you must calculate the precise value of the units held and not round up to whole units.

Example

5 year 42nd Reinvestment Certificate

The purchase price for each unit was £100.00

The value of the certificate is £2,926.70

Divide by purchase price per unit, ie

£2,926.70  £100 29.26 units

The number of units the certificate is for 29.26

29.26 units x value of unit at 1 July 2005 29.26 x £143.11

Total value of certificate £4,187.39

This is the amount you will input.

19 The tables in Annex B show the value of National Savings Certificates for HB/CTB purposes as at 1 July 2005.

Precise valuation required

20 If a precise valuation is required, contact the NS&I Customer Management Unit on 0845 964 5000. Ensure you have the following details when you call, in order for the valuation to be provided  certificate issue number  purchase price  date certificate purchased  term of two, three or five years

Adjudication and Operations circular August 2005 HB/CTB Circular A13/2005 Annex B

Five-year National Saving Certificates

Issue number and purchase Last day of sale Value of each unit as price of each unit at 1 July 2005 £

1st 31 March 1922 4.96 15s 6d

2nd 29 September 1923 4.89 16s

3rd 30 June 1932 4.20 16s

Conversion 23 May 1932 4.20 16s

4th 31 May 1933 3.62 16s

5th 28 February 1935 3.50 16s

6th 21 November 1939 3.55 15s

7th 31 March 1947 6.46 15s

£ Issue 31 March 1947 6.46

8th 31 January 1951 4.14 10s

9th 31 July 1956 5.39 15s

10th 12 March 1963 4.62 15s

11th 26 March 1966 6.01 £1

12th 3 October 1970 4.94 £1

Decimal 15 June 1974 4.58 £1

14th 11 December 1976 4.26 £1

14th 27 January 1979 3.59 £1

16th 31 March 1977 22.21 £5

Index-linked Retirement issue 15 November 1980 35.41 £10

18th 2 February 1980 33.95 £10

19th 9 May 1981 33.29 £10

2nd Index-linked issue 29 June 1985 25.49 £10

21st 7 November 1981 30.14 £10

23rd 10 March 1982 78.57 £25

24th 4 November 1982 69.65 £25

25th 13 August 1983 62.57 £25

26th 19 March 1984 63.03 £25

27th 7 August 1984 58.85 £25

28th 11 September 1984 63.66 £25

29th 12 February 1985 59.44 £25

30th 9 September 1985 60.18 £25

3rd Index-linked 31 July 1986 61.41 £25

31st 11 November 1986 54.20 £25

4th Index-linked 30 June 1990 48.71 £25

32nd 10 March 1987 55.69 £25

33rd 21 July 1988 48.24 33rd Reinvestment £25

34th 16 June 1990 46.35 34th Reinvestment £25

35th 14 March 1991 49.53 35th Reinvestment £25

5th Index-linked 12 November 1992 42.58 5th Index-linked Reinvestment £25

36th 2 May 1992 45.35 36th Reinvestment £25

37th 5 August 1992 43.97 37th Reinvestment £25

38th 22 September 1992 42.90 £25

38th Reinvestment 4 October 1992 42.90 £25

39th 12 November 1992 164.44 39th Reinvestment £100

40th 16 December 1993 37.85 40th Reinvestment £25

6th Index-linked 16 December 1993 39.46 6th Index-linked Reinvestment £25

41st 19 September 1994 36.50 41st Reinvestment £25

7th Index-linked 19 September 1994 153.71 7th Index-linked Reinvestment £100

42nd 25 January 1996 143.11 42nd Reinvestment £100

8th Index-linked 25 January 1996 147.71 8th Index-linked Reinvestment £100

43rd 31 March 1997 144.05 43rd Reinvestment £100

9th Index-linked 31 March 1997 146.22 9th Index-linked Reinvestment £100

44th 8 January 1998 138.03 44th Reinvestment £100

10th Index-linked 24 July 1997 143.12 10th Index-linked Reinvestment £100

12th Index-linked 26 March 1998 137.11 12th Index-linked Reinvestment £100

46th 15 October 1998 131.55 46th Reinvestment £100

13th Index-linked 15 October 1998 132.05 13th Index-linked Reinvestment £100

48th 2 February 1999 123.29 48th Reinvestment £100

51st 13 July 1999 122.56 51st Reinvestment £100

52nd 7 October 1999 122.64 52nd Reinvestment £100

53rd 26 January 2000 124.26 53rd Reinvestment £100

16th Index-linked 23 February 2000 125.20 16th Index-linked Reinvestment £100

19th Index-linked 23 May 2001 117.62 19th Index-linked Reinvestment £100

58th 18 July 2001 114.03 58th Reinvestment £100

61st 29 November 2001 112.21 61st Reinvestment £100

21st Index-linked 29 November 2001 115.52 21st Index-linked Reinvestment £100

22nd Index-linked 24 January 2002 114.81 22nd Index-linked Reinvestment £100

63rd 22 August 2002 109.11 63rd Reinvestment £100

23rd Index-linked 03 October 2002 112.36 23rd Index linked Reinvestment £100

27th Index-linked 25 June 2003 106.77 27th Index-linked Reinvestment £100

28th Index-linked 20 August 2003 106.42 28th Index-linked Reinvestment £100

70th 24 September 2003 104.50 £100

29th Index-linked 24 September 2003 106.73 £100

71st 21 October 2003 104.06 £100

72nd 19 November 2003 104.29 £100

30th Index-linked 19 November 2003 106.16 £100

73rd 18 February 2004 103.80 £100

31st Index-linked 18 February 2004 105.64 £100

74th 21 April 2004 102.80 £100

32nd Index-linked 21 April 2004 105.11 £100

75th 19 May 2004 102.85 £100

33rd Index-linked 19 May 2004 104.52 £100

76th 23 June 2004 103.05 £100

34th Index-linked 23 June 2004 103.98 £100

77th 18 August 2004 100.00 £100

35th Index-linked 18 August 2004 100.00 £100

78th 24 November 2004 100.00 £100

36th Index-linked 24 November 2004 100.00 £100

79th 25 November 2004 to 100.00 £100 date

37th Index-linked 25 November 2004 to 100.00 £100 date

Three-year National Saving Certificates

Issue number and purchase Date of Purchase Value of each unit as price of each unit at 1 July 2005 £

1st Index-linked 20 August 2003 106.63 1st Index-linked Reinvestment £100

2nd 24 September 2003 107.02

3rd 19 November 2003 106.63

4th 18 February 2004 106.02

5th 21 April 2004 105.41

6th 19 May 2004 104.76

7th 23 June 2004 104.28

8th 18 August 2004 100.00

9th 24 November 2004 100.00

10th 25 November 2004 to 100.00 date

Two-year National Savings Certificates

1st 21 December 1999 120.39 1st Reinvestment £100

1st Index-linked 21 December 1999 125.74 1st Index-linked Reinvestment £100

2nd Index-linked 23 February 2000 127.28 2nd Index-linked Reinvestment £100

3rd 22 June 2000 120.68 3rd Reinvestment £100

3rd Index-linked 22 June 2000 124.11 3rd Index-linked Reinvestment £100

6th Index-linked 22 January 2001 119.83 6th Index-linked reinvestment £100

7th Index-linked 18 July 2001 115.60 7th Index-linked Reinvestment £100

11th Index-linked 25 April 2002 115.08 11th Index-linked Reinvestment £100

15th Index-linked 25 June 2003 107.06 15th Index-linked Reinvestment £100

20th 24 September 2003 104.51 £100

21st 21 October 2003 104.07 £100

22nd 19 November 2003 104.51 £100

23rd 18 February 2004 103.80 £100

24th 21 April 2004 102.90 £100

25th 19 May 2004 102.95 £100

26th 23 June 2004 103.15 £100

27th 18 August 2004 100.00 £100

28th 24 November 2004 100.00 £100

29th 25 November 2004 to 100.00 £100 date

Adjudication and Operations circular August 2005