Paying for a working child!

bobspan1

Hi all,
I'm curious to know at what point the CSA class a child as no longer qualifying for the maintenance assessment.
When my oldest child started working i rang to inform them she had left college and was told that until her mother stopped claiming tax credits for her, she would be included, even though i had just told them otherwise.

My second oldest started a college course in sep 2008 but had dropped out by april 2009. Due to what i had been told about the tax credits i thought they would take her off the assessment as and when they were ready.
I have just had a statement for the previous 6 months and yet again she has been included even though she has now been working for 8 months.

Can someone clarify for me whether i am supposed to query this with them - or is the implication that her mother is still claiming tax credit and therefore they know nothing of the situation?

OR....and obviously i would be deeply shocked if this was the case!.....have the CSA lead me up the garden path by implying that a change in circumstances for tax credits would automatically cause a reassessment of maintenance?

All advice welcome!

PlayingHardball

The following link will clearly show that you do not pay child support if your children have left non-advanced education such as you say they have.

The key here though is whether or not you informed the CSA that in April
2009 that your daughter had left college to go out to work. If neither you or the parent with care informed them, you would still have to pay child support as they do not automatically get this information.

http://www.csa.gov.uk/en/case/leaving-education.asp

kingfisherblue

If the mother is still claiming child tax credits and the children are working and not in full time education, surely this is fraud?

Blue_Horizon

Hi Bob - I had real trouble with the CSA with the same situation almost 2 years ago. The simplest approach is to request a change of circumstances, providing the details. If the PWC verifies then there will be no problem and they will do a reassessment. If not you will need to provide your own evidence, such as, a letter from the college or employer. Remember if the "child" is 18 then she is seen as an adult from Data Protection and you will not get any info.

btw - the CSA initially advised me to report my ex to the Benefits fraud line - which I did. This was a complete waste of time as my ex was still entitled to receive CB.