When is final CSA payment made?

Caryne

I know, through reading various threads on this forum, that CSA is payable as long as child benefit but what I need to know is exactly when the last payment has to be made?

My husband pays for his son, who is in his last year at 6th form and was 18 last December. His son seems to have no interest in going to Uni and it seems will be looking to get a job (or sign on!!) when he leaves school this year. My husband currently pays his CSA, by direct debit, on the 28th of every month but what we have been unable to find out is when exactly he should make the last payment? Should it be when his son leaves school or does the Child Benefit get paid up until the start of the next school year? It is unlikely his son's Mother will tell us she has stopped getting child benefit so we need to know when we should pay her the CSA up to?

sarflee

As far as I am aware, if a child leaves education in June it is payable until around the 31st August, unless they start to work for 24 hours or more, or start to claim a benefit in their own right. Also, if a child expects to go onto higher education, payments are due until 31 August whether or not they work 24 hours or more and if they change their mind on higher education it only stops on the date they changed their mind.

Caryne

I guess what I really need to know then is does my husband make the last payment on the 28th July or 28th August?

This is a bit of an extra question but presuming my husband's son does not get a job when he leaves school inn June does he have to wait till September to 'sign on' or can he do that immediately? I ask this because if he does 'sign on' then I presume no more CSA has to be paid?

sarflee

Payments are usually made in arrears so 28th august with possibly a very small payment (for days from 28 to 31 aug) to be made on 28 September. Don't know about signing on but assume if he is over 18 and looking for a job he possibly could sign on.

Caryne

sarflee wrote: »

Payments are usually made in arrears so 28th august with possibly a very small payment (for days from 28 to 31 aug) to be made on 28 September. Don't know about signing on but assume if he is over 18 and looking for a job he possibly could sign on.

I am not 100% sure the payment is in 'arrears' as he used to pay it in cash and then changed it to Direct Debit as 'proof' that it was being paid. Thing is, this was all arranged years ago so guess there's no way of finding out for definite.

If anyone can tell me exactly when my husband's son can 'sign on' I'd be really grateful.

PreludeForTimeFeelers

sarflee wrote: »

Payments are usually made in arrears so 28th august with possibly a very small payment (for days from 28 to 31 aug) to be made on 28 September. Don't know about signing on but assume if he is over 18 and looking for a job he possibly could sign on.

It sounds as though the claim itself may end in the first week of September, if that is when the child benefit payments cease. If he goes on JSA/ESA/whatever it's called now then he will no longer be classed as a child, and the claim will end then. If you think this has happened, then it's best to contact the CSA sooner rather than later.

Caryne

He's still at school until he sits his A levels next month but I really need to know when exactly he can 'sign on' as I understand that if/when he does this the CSA no longer has to be paid. My husband's son will tell us if he signs on but his Mother won't tell us if her Child Benefit stops, hence the confusion.

PreludeForTimeFeelers

Caryne wrote: »

He's still at school until he sits his A levels next month but I really need to know when exactly he can 'sign on' as I understand that if/when he does this the CSA no longer has to be paid. My husband's son will tell us if he signs on but his Mother won't tell us if her Child Benefit stops, hence the confusion.

I think he can sign on at any point once he finishes school, as he is 18 now.

http://www.thesite.org/homelawandmoney/money/benefitsandtax/jobseekersallowance

Caryne

PreludeForTimeFeelers wrote: »

I think he can sign on at any point once he finishes school, as he is 18 now.

http://www.thesite.org/homelawandmoney/money/benefitsandtax/jobseekersallowance

Thanks for that, I wonder if he has to 'sign on' when exams end (in May) or if he has to wait until the end of the school year (sometime in July)?

Blue_Horizon

I would suggest that you inform the CSA of what's happening and use the phrase "change of circumstances". Ask them to confirm the position by issuing a reassessment.

Caryne

Blue_Horizon wrote: »

I would suggest that you inform the CSA of what's happening and use the phrase "change of circumstances". Ask them to confirm the position by issuing a reassessment.

Thanks for that suggestion but the payments are not made through the CSA. Many years ago the CSA assessed the amount that had to be paid monthly but they have not been involved at all since. My husband simply pays his son's Mother an amount direct to her bank account every month, CSA have nothing to do with it now.