Returning from Abroad

sumsup

My friend is about to return to the UK in a couple of months, with her 15 yr old son. They are both British, born here, but they have spent the last 6 years living in South Africa. She is leaving her husband who will continue to live in SA. Will she be able to claim child benefit, CTC, WTC or JSA ( she is hopeful of getting ajob quite quickly, tough doubtful in present climate!?) What about help with council tax or rent? Please don't misinterpret, she very much intends to work as soon as she can, I just hope she won't have to get in debt before she gets her first wages She is saving hard to avoid this but I said I would try to find out what help she may be able to get.

Also, would her son be entitled to go to school? He will have finished his school year in SA but wants to go to school to meet new friends. It will be just before GCSE's so I'm not sure if a Uk school would take him?

thank you

DX2

They will have to pass the Habitual residency test IIRC.

Teahfc

sumsup wrote: »

My friend is about to return to the UK in a couple of months, with her 15 yr old son. They are both British, born here, but they have spent the last 6 years living in South Africa. She is leaving her husband who will continue to live in SA. Will she be able to claim child benefit, CTC, WTC or JSA ( she is hopeful of getting ajob quite quickly, tough doubtful in present climate!?) What about help with council tax or rent? Please don't misinterpret, she very much intends to work as soon as she can, I just hope she won't have to get in debt before she gets her first wages She is saving hard to avoid this but I said I would try to find out what help she may be able to get.

Also, would her son be entitled to go to school? He will have finished his school year in SA but wants to go to school to meet new friends. It will be just before GCSE's so I'm not sure if a Uk school would take him?

thank you

She will need to pass the Habitual Residence test to prove that they haven't returned to the UK temporarily to receive benefits. Has she somewhere to stay ? Still have a UK bank account ?

Oldernotwiser

Her son will certainly be able to go to school (although moving him only months before his GCSEs seems really selfish) but, as others have said, she'll have to pass the HRT.

Does she own property in SA?

AnxiousMum

Before she leaves South Africa, she may want to get an order in place for child support as well. This would mean that there would already be an enforceable (in SA) order in place there and she wouldn't have to rely on the courts here to get it actioned - she might save herself about two years of time in obtaining child support.

Re the son in school - yes a school will accept him - just a matter of finding a decent one for him. Given that come May, they will start writing GCSE's though - is it a wise time to move him to a different curriculum, where he will be tested on things that maybe have not been studied?

Kimitatsu

Details of the HRT here:

http://www.parliament.uk/briefingpapers/commons/lib/research/briefings/snsp-00416.pdf

[Deleted User]

Due to a relationship split up, I moved in the holidays before year 10 started, and was told Year 10 (my son was just about to start his GCSE years) was one of the most difficult years to find a school place for. True enough, all the good schools were full with waiting lists for Year 10 when I phoned altho I was also told the LA had an obligation to provide education.., I didn't really see any efforts to meet the obligation lol. Its the same as reception year. I had to go back to continue his schooling.

sumsup

thank you for all the helpful comments, I'll send her that link to the residency test. She does still have a uk bank account, and co-owns a house here with her brother, I think she will live there. She is sorting out child support now, though it will only be for a year I guess as DS will be 16 next year.

tanith

sumsup wrote: »

thank you for all the helpful comments, I'll send her that link to the residency test. She does still have a uk bank account, and co-owns a house here with her brother, I think she will live there. She is sorting out child support now, though it will only be for a year I guess as DS will be 16 next year.

She should continue to get child support as long as he is in education..

sunnyone

sumsup wrote: »

My friend is about to return to the UK in a couple of months, with her 15 yr old son. They are both British, born here, but they have spent the last 6 years living in South Africa. She is leaving her husband who will continue to live in SA. Will she be able to claim child benefit, CTC, WTC or JSA ( she is hopeful of getting ajob quite quickly, tough doubtful in present climate!?) What about help with council tax or rent? Please don't misinterpret, she very much intends to work as soon as she can, I just hope she won't have to get in debt before she gets her first wages She is saving hard to avoid this but I said I would try to find out what help she may be able to get.

Also, would her son be entitled to go to school? He will have finished his school year in SA but wants to go to school to meet new friends. It will be just before GCSE's so I'm not sure if a Uk school would take him?

thank you

sumsup wrote: »

thank you for all the helpful comments, I'll send her that link to the residency test. She does still have a u
k bank account, and co-owns a house here with her brother, I think she will live there. She is sorting out child support now, though it will only be for a year I guess as DS will be 16 next year.

Why are you asking about council tax and rent help in your opening post when you admit she isnt eligable for it later in the thread?


This type of thread and your opening post puts a very bad taste in peoples mouths for the above reason.

Mojisola

Her son isn't likely to benefit much from being in a class who have been studying for more than a year for their GSCEs.

It might be worth finding out about home study courses or whether the local further education college will take him on any of their courses. He can always make a social network by joining clubs, etc.