16 year old child tax credit stopped

Peanuckle

Peanuckle wrote: »

I just rang to check that my 16 year old was marked on the system as still being in education (I had told them back in April but obviously the system can't implement it til September), apparently he is showing as in education and my updated award notice is on it's way but she told me the new figures and tried to explain them, can anyone confirm? She said that my annual award had been reduced this year on the assumption he would leave school and the yearly amount was then evenly split throughout the year, now the system knows he's staying on then we are due a large "catch-up" payment plus higher payments per month?

If this is really how it works then I'm going to hit big problems next year between April and September as I'll have 3 children that are over 16 but staying on in school (and yes I do know they are staying on, daughter wants to do 6th year and the boys have special needs and aren't able to cope in the workplace for a long time yet :rolleyes:)

Does anyone know if this is true?

ClareSelina

02890538192 (google say no to 0870 to search for other geographical alternatives to many premium rate numbers)

I am having the same problems as most posters on this thread and it's causing real hardship so let's not give them any more of our calling credit than we need to eh? Best of luck everybody...

alanamyles

Sorry to revive an old thread - so far this has been the most informative and I'm desperate for some clarification!

I have three children, my eldest is 16. He's just left school and will be going to college full time from September.

Checked the bank today and realised my tax credits are down for both this week and last week. Called to investigate and was advised that the amount I would usually get for my son has stopped because he has left school.

I gave them all the info needed about him starting college in September which the advisor said would be put on the system, my TCs would be recalculated, etc, and that I'd receive the amount for him from September when he starts college.

I asked if I would get backdated payments to cover the difference between now and then and was told that I wouldn't. I know it's only a couple of weeks away, but I'm already on a shoestring here and losing my eldest's TCs means I can't meet all of the expenses we need.

Will we get any backdate payment come september? Or do I need to somehow manage for a few weeks without the extra money for my eldest?

To make matters worse, the washer broke down a few days ago so I spent my few savings on a new one, thinking we'd be able to manage. Now this happens.

The advisor I spoke to wasn't particularly helpful in explaining. I was (as always) incredibly polite as I know these people must have to put up with some awful abuse from people but am unsure if I misinterpreted or was misguided - surely we can'e be expected to manage with such a reduction for a number of weeks without the difference being repaid somehow?

Thanks in advance to anyone who may be able to shed light on this, I'm so confused!

Hallie

Just a head's up. My husband rang the DWP today because the Child Tax Credits for our son whose 16 and this year finished his GCSEs has stopped. We'd told them he was staying on in school when we made our annual renewal. He was told that they no longer pay Child Tax Credits for children of 16+ for the school holidays, even though they can still continue to claim, if they are on an approved training course/apprenticeship scheme, until they are 20. So if your payments have gone down recently, this may be the reason. The payments, he was told, will resume again in September when the schools/colleges start back.

phoebe3

confused by this also.... do the parents of kids who turn 16 during the school year miss out on 6 weeks of TC because they are on school holidays before they go up to college? Even now it is compulsory for educational/vocational training to continue until they are 18?

My DS is not yet 16 and finished GCSEs this year.. i have informed TC that he will go to college, but have also received a notice informing me of a reduction in TC's. when I phoned to query it they told me I would get a new notice in September..... feeling confused and unsure whether i will have enough to cover the bills when September comes

FRESTER

Interestingly this year for the first time my award notice already shows my son (17 staying on in further education) on the award for the full year and not just until 31st August.
Other years the notice would show payments reduced after 31st August until it reculated on 4th Sep with new payments.
I told them he was staying on in May when I done my renewal and they seem to have put him on for the full year already rather than update the award in Sept.
It shows payment for him continuing right to April already.
Other years with my older children it wouldn't update until Sept 4th.

Jonj1611

Well my son turned 16 end of July and is starting 6th form this week yet my payments are down to half, having another child of 10.

I was told I wouldn't have to do anything and that they have my declaration he will be staying in full time education and that payments will continue as normal.

Will I get the £60 paid back or as like others have said from years ago it will be spread over the year? And thats even if its sorted out quickly of course.

Jonj1611

Many thanks, thats a shame.

Edit : Well got through to them and yes the missing amount will be spread over the rest of the year. So that's great, I wonder if BT will accept their bill paid over the rest of the year, something the missing amount was paying today!

kingfisherblue

Well, I informed tax credits that my son, who has special needs, would be staying in full time education back in May. The advisor would not accept the details as she said there was not a Life Skills course. Eventually, after speaking to her supervisor, I was put through to a specialist team. The chap I spoke to accepted that my son is doing Life Skills, and said that there would be no change in payments.

I then received a new award and rang to confirm it, but was told it had already been confirmed by the chap in the specialist team.

Fast forward to today. The payment has dropped greatly. I managed to get through after half an hour and spoke to a young man. He said that all payments stop while the system updates. I asked if the missing payment would be distributed over the remaining payments throughout the year or paid in a one off payment. He said it varies, but didn't know which it would be for me. He couldn't tell me either way. I asked to speak to a supervisor in case they had access to my account to find out. He told me I couldn't. When I explained that I need to know more details, especially as I had previously been informed that my payments would continue, he cut me off. I was polite at all times, did not raise my voice, blame him, or act in an improper manner at all.

Having then found this thread, I am reassured somewhat, but my budgeting for this week has gone awry. I wish I had known beforehand that this might happen. Money is tight at the moment, having bought new uniforms, new shoes, etc in recent weeks. Luckily, I do put what I can afford to one side for emergencies, and I have a fairly well stocked freezer and store cupboard. It would have been handy to know that this could happen though.

I collect my payments from the Post Office, and I'm not sure whether I can get out next week to pick up the money, as my son will have had surgery the day before, so I'm going to have to stretch this much reduced payment further, and for a few days longer.

Thanks to those who have contributed to this thread, as I have now found out more information via MSE than from the helpline.

brylissian

Back in June I had a letter from child benefit who informed me to get in touch with them if my son is likely to be startin college so I rang them. The lady on the phone said that CTC will be updated at the same time. She also told me that they both would continue now that i had informed them. So you can imagine yesterday's suprised when I found £119 short in my bank. My son does have ASD/Asperges so the helpful amount was also stopped. My budgeting always ends up in a way where I use my own money for his aids and help and the CTC is always used for a good food shop. Considering mine had already been spent on a new college support and extra communication help for him for college that food money had dissappeared! So shocked as I had 2 younger children to care for too so I've had to do minimum planning and budgeting spread between the 3.
I called tax credits and explained I had already informed CB in June who also updated CTC. They said they do apologise but they system is recalculating. I said I appreciate that but it doesn't help at all so I asked how long would it be before the new award letter drops thru my door. The reply? "About 2 weeks"! With not being able to hurry it along myself there was nothing I could do. She also told me it would be sorted soon and there "may be" an extra payment in there too. Well after reading this thread i dont know what to expect now as many have had it spread out. I was very miffed at the fact there was no warning this would happen. So what if people get angry if they are warned early? At least they have good time to prepare and TC have covered their backs with preparing people instead of suddenly dropping regular day to day lives in a mess.