CTC stopped after last exam.

natnhay

Hi my 18 yr old daughter did her final exam on 22/06/10 and has now finished college,she has an offer of a uni place (dependent on results) to begin late september this year.I rang hmrc to tell them of the changes and have been told that we no longer qualify to claim for her,and payments have finished from 23/06/10.Is this correct, i thought that we could claim for her until the end of august,the same as her child benefit.

[Deleted User]

did you point out to them when CB would finish?

Icequeen99

natnhay wrote: »

Hi my 18 yr old daughter did her final exam on 22/06/10 and has now finished college,she has an offer of a uni place (dependent on results) to begin late september this year.I rang hmrc to tell them of the changes and have been told that we no longer qualify to claim for her,and payments have finished from 23/06/10.Is this correct, i thought that we could claim for her until the end of august,the same as her child benefit.

This is from the HMRC technical manual:

The Child Tax Credits Regulations 2002, Regulation 5
CTC can be paid for a qualifying young person up to and including the last day they undertake full time non-advanced education, approved training or they reach age 20, whichever is the sooner, providing they meet all the other qualifying conditions.

Where a qualifying young person intends to continue their full time education but at advanced level CTC can be paid to:

the last day of the academic year (31 August), or
if before 31 August the date the young person changed their mind and decided not to continue their education.
Example

A claimant telephones on 27 August to inform tax credits that her daughter has found work. The claimant states that although her daughter had originally intended to go to university, following her exam results she had decided to look for a job instead and has now found work. She is asked what date her daughter made the decision to look for work and not go to university. This date is given as the 21 August. CTC can therefore be paid to the 20 August.

So you are correct, you should get it until 31st August unless your daughter changes her mind as the example shows.

I can't post a link, but the reference in the manual is TCTM02230

Hope that helps

IQ

natnhay

Hi icequeen99 at the time i made the call,i was asked if she was still going to college,which she isnt then asked if she was going to uni which i replied yes if she gets the results she needs.Obviously she doesnt get her results until august so i couldnt give a definate answer,I was told in that case she would be taken off the claim the day after her last exam so now the only money coming in for her is child benefit.She cant sign on for job seekers allowance as she is intending to go to uni i believe. not sure what to do now ,do you think i should ring back and quote the reference from the manual.I didnt want to leave it as i didnt want to be overpaid.Many thanks

Numptytoes

Surely if she goes to Uni you will still be able to claim TC for her?

toonbaz

natnhay wrote: »

Hi icequeen99 at the time i made the call,i was asked if she was still going to college,which she isnt then asked if she was going to uni which i replied yes if she gets the results she needs.Obviously she doesnt get her results until august so i couldnt give a definate answer,I was told in that case she would be taken off the claim the day after her last exam so now the only money coming in for her is child benefit.She cant sign on for job seekers allowance as she is intending to go to uni i believe. not sure what to do now ,do you think i should ring back and quote the reference from the manual.I didnt want to leave it as i didnt want to be overpaid.Many thanks

call back, it is definately the case that you are entitled until 31st august if she is going on to uni. it would end on the day of the last exam if she was leaving education altogether or going into employment. i know for a fact this is grey area with tax credits advisors but if you insist the advisor checks their own guidance they will find out you are right, if not ask to speak with a team leader.

toonbaz

Numptytoes wrote: »

Surely if she goes to Uni you will still be able to claim TC for her?

no. surely you cant expect to still receive benefits for them as a child once they are in uni? there has to be a point where they are classed as independent, i think starting uni is a more than reasonable cut off point.

[Deleted User]

Numptytoes wrote: »

Surely if she goes to Uni you will still be able to claim TC for her?

whatever gave you that misguided idea?:eek:

momum

My son left school last year (July) and went on to University (September)
CTC stopped on last day of school. (This was confirmed couple of weeks ago when final CTC paperwork for year was issued)
CB stopped end of August.

kingfisherblue

My daughter left sixth form last year and I received tax credits and CB until 31st August - they are paid in arrears, so the last amount paid was actually put into my account in September.

toonbaz

momum wrote: »

My son left school last year (July) and went on to University (September)
CTC stopped on last day of school. (This was confirmed couple of weeks ago when final CTC paperwork for year was issued)
CB stopped end of August.

if you told them he intended to go to uni when you called then you could probably dispute that now.
the problem is that some advisors dont even ask what the child is doing next and automatically put in the date of last exam in all cases.