Child benefit -my confusion

cd36uk

I have been on the government website reading about what happens regarding child benefit once a child leaves school, but far from knowing what is in store I now feel confused, could someone advise me please on our circumstances:

My son is leaving school this summer, he is one of the younger pupils in his year group, he turns 16 in July (but will have completed his GCSEs by then) so will technically be leaving at age 15.

He wanted to do a plumbing apprenticeship, but we have had no joy in finding one for him, therefore he has decided to go to a local college to do the following one year course:
plumbing diploma in basic construction skills (city & guilds)
This course is listed in the college full time course guide, but at a recent interview the college told him it will be approximately 2 days a week.
I was confused by this as I thought as it was in the full time guide, it was a full time course and in my opinion full time is 4/5 days per week.
Anyway, my point is, will the child benefit stop or continue based on this course?

Prudent

16 hours is usually classified as a full time course.

Sixer

In terms of Child Benefit, full-time education counts as 12 hours. This is 12 taught (or otherwise supervised) hours. The reason it seems low is because it doesn't take into account private study. For example, the standard taught hours for A levels at my sons' school is 8 per fortnight per subject. But the kids should be spending approximately another 8 hours on private study for each subject. If it's advertised in the college prospectus as full time, then it's full time for Child Benefit purposes.

Here are the courses that are eligible:

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/childbenefit/child-16.htm#b

Presumably, the C&G qualifications are equivalent to NVQs.

Peanuckle

Firstly your child benefit and tax credits will continue til the 1st September as long as he's intending to continue education, regardless of level. It used to be you couldn't update what they were doing after on the tax credit computer system til after the middle of July, I'm not sure if their systems work any better now but when you do ring them to inform that he's going to college they'll ask you what level of course he's doing. As long as it's A level (advanced higher in Scotland) standard or lower then the child benefit etc continue as before. IF he decided not to continue education after school then you are supposed to inform then and tax credits cease from either the last day of the school year OR the day that the decision not to continue education was made, whichever is later.

Oh and these days it seems to be very unusual for a full time college course to require more than 3 days in college, if that lol

Zoetoes

Providing the course is enough hours then you should still be entitled to everything as when he was at school as far as I know.

My son left last year, did a fast track 5 month apprenticeship which ended last month, struggling to find a job, college courses don't start until September, in the meantime he has no money to live on and I don't get anything for him. It's difficult to work out what to do for the best isn't it?!

cd36uk

Thank you all for the responses... I have now been able to find out that the course is 16+ hrs per week, my only remaning confusion is to the type of course, from the link given above which directed me to the gov website I am still unsure if a course type like he will be doing counts or not. I will have to call the child benefit centre.

cd36uk

zoeleigh wrote: »

Providing the course is enough hours then you should still be entitled to everything as when he was at school as far as I know.

My son left last year, did a fast track 5 month apprenticeship which ended last month, struggling to find a job, college courses don't start until September, in the meantime he has no money to live on and I don't get anything for him. It's difficult to work out what to do for the best isn't it?!

Ain't that the truth!! :rotfl:

Sixer

cd36uk wrote: »

Thank you all for the responses... I have now been able to find out that the course is 16+ hrs per week, my only remaning confusion is to the type of course, from the link given above which directed me to the gov website I am still unsure if a course type like he will be doing counts or not. I will have to call the child benefit centre.

City and Guilds courses should count. Here are the equivalents: http://www.cityandguilds.com/43111.html.