18 year old kid has left school in middle of term - child benefit?

Golden_Anemone

Hi, does anyone have experience of this?

My 18 yr old has left school. He said he was struggling with his course and just left. I've talked to his tutor and she told me he just wasn't putting in any effort. He doesn't have a job, even part-time, and I have been receiving Child Benefit and Tax Credits for him as I'm a single mum. He was getting £20 per week in EMA. What happens now? I don't want him to sign on as I suspect he'd love the idea of "money for nothing". I'm very annoyed with him for walking out of school without having a plan for what comes next and have told him he needs to find a job and start contributing soon. I have made an appointment with a careers advisor for him but there's a couple of weeks wait for that.

I know I need to tell HMRC but just want to know in advance, will I lose my Child Benefit and Tax Credits straight away?

SomeBozo

Yes, you need to tell them straight away.

Should your priority not be sorting your son out with his future education and job issues rather than focusing on what benefits you will lose?

Also, at 18 he is a not a "kid", but a adult.


Bozo

Golden_Anemone

Bozo, I think you missed the bits in my post where I said 1) I had spoken to his tutor who had confirmed there was no point in his continuing and that 2) I had made him an appointment with a careers advisor. I did those first, now I'm going to sort out my benefits. And losing income is a real issue for me, maybe you didn't see where I said I'm a single parent.
And he is a kid - meaning my child - it makes absolutely no sense to say my adult has left school!

SomeBozo

Fair enough.

Though legally he is an adult, maybe cutting the apron strings might help him a little here?

Bozo

pink_princess

You will lose all entitlement to benefits for him and any maintainence you recieve in respect of your son.
You have to ask him how he intends to pay his share of the rent council tax etc,tough love time i think.
It must be awful for you though,but he needs to grow up and face his choices.
Good luck op

horseykitty

You need to tell them straight away - you don't want to have to repay allowances. When my son left college after finishing his A levels in June he wasn't allowed to receive Job Seekers Allowance until 4/9/08 as they said he was classed as not being available for work or some such rubbish to diddle him out of money. He didn't get the grades he wanted to go to uni so he's having to go to nightschool to improve his grades. It is no fun for him on JSA and there doesn't appear to any work out there, despite him looking and at this rate he won't be able to save up to go to uni anyway.
I sympathize with you - his tutor at college was useless and I didn't find out he had dropped one of his 'A' levels until results day - luckily with my next son I am wiser and he has a great tutor who is keeping a tight rein on him.

rammy007

I had a similar thing happen with my DD,its easy for someone to say concentrate on trying to help the child/adult instead of the money you have lost but when you rely on this money it is easier said than done.The thing when you get child benefit and CTC is before they get to school leaving age people need to thing how they are going to manage without this money.I increased my hours at work and now dont rely on them at all cos you get a nasty shock when they do.

foxxymynx

I think (but could be wrong) that he needs to sign on in order for you not to get charged for CT if you received council tax benefit.

Tell him that he needs to find a job and you need £x off him to cover his housing bills, he wants to leave school and be in the big wide world, let him, but make sure he pays his way.

I left school at 17 btw and got a FT job, I was one of 8 people from 2000+ applicants and did quite well during my time there. I paid board etc etc and there was never any issue except for the obvious "education or employment - you choose"

Oldernotwiser

If he does decide to claim JSA then you need to remind him that the £40 he receives is to keep himself and not for pocket money; most of this should come to you to pay for his food and something towards the bills, going some way towards covering your lost benefit income and stopping him thinking he's getting a lot of money for nothing.

Don't forget to notify the council as you'll lose your 25% discount as well. Sorry.

horsechestnut

My daughter wanted to leave school in February of her final year of A Levels, saying that there was no point etc. I said that I understood, but wanted her to do it for me. After some protest she did. and got her A Levels!!
More people regret leaving than staying on. Either one requires very hard work.
Good luck, I know that it is a very hard time for you both.

Pee

I think that despite your very sensible issue with him claiming that that is probably the only answer, re council tax etc. Taking a firm line with him paying board out of it as oldernotwiser suggests should stop the harmful idea of free money.

I hope it goes well with the careers adviser and he can find an alternative route in life.

I think education is a good thing, but he may go back to it later or he may not be suited to it and do very well without. My father left school at 15 and has made more money than both of his university educated daughters will ever do put together!