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17 year old leaving course,what to do now

hello everyone.

my eldest child was on a college course,due to issues couldnt handle it and gave up. they then started a course through connexions but due to timekeeping has now got to exit this course.

brief background on family

single mum recently seperated
on esa
mortgaged home
3 children all together

Have just openend a case with csa as dad is messing about with maintenance.

ive read on here that if they are registered with connexions then i can still recieve child tax credit and child benifit for them. they are hoping to start a new college course in september. was recieving EMA. what will happen now with that if they register with connexions and also when they start new course in september.

Also can someone advise re cb,ctc and child maintenance.

Thank you in advance

Comments

  • Zoetoes
    Zoetoes Posts: 2,496 Forumite
    hello everyone.

    my eldest child was on a college course,due to issues couldnt handle it and gave up. they then started a course through connexions but due to timekeeping has now got to exit this course.

    brief background on family

    single mum recently seperated
    on esa
    mortgaged home
    3 children all together

    Have just openend a case with csa as dad is messing about with maintenance.

    ive read on here that if they are registered with connexions then i can still recieve child tax credit and child benifit for them. they are hoping to start a new college course in september. was recieving EMA. what will happen now with that if they register with connexions and also when they start new course in september.

    Also can someone advise re cb,ctc and child maintenance.

    Thank you in advance

    I don't think you will get tax credits or child benefit for him/her just because they are registered with connexions, they might be able to claim jobseekers for a while if you can prove hardship.
    If you're going to stalk me, while you're at it can you cut the grass, feed the dog & make sure I've got bread & milk in :D
  • MrsManda
    MrsManda Posts: 4,457 Forumite
    If he's registered with Connexions then yes, you should be able to continue to receive Child Benefit for upto 20 weeks.
    Who qualifies for the extension?

    If your child is aged 16 or 17, and has left education or training that counted for Child Benefit, you may be able to get these extra weeks. To qualify, your child needs to be registered with any of the following - known as 'qualifying bodies':
    • in England – the local careers service or Connexions

    However I'm not sure he'll be able to continue to be registered with Connexions if they've done what they can with him, provided him with a course and he's taking the mick by wasting the opportunities he presumably agreed to take.
  • Oldernotwiser
    Oldernotwiser Posts: 37,425 Forumite
    He could, of course, try to get a job until he goes back to college, which would enable him to contribute to his keep.
  • Zoetoes
    Zoetoes Posts: 2,496 Forumite
    MrsManda wrote: »
    If he's registered with Connexions then yes, you should be able to continue to receive Child Benefit for upto 20 weeks.

    However I'm not sure he'll be able to continue to be registered with Connexions if they've done what they can with him, provided him with a course and he's taking the mick by wasting the opportunities he presumably agreed to take.

    Yes that's what I was thinking, surely you can't just claim for him/her after they've dropped out of 2 colleges/courses?
    If you're going to stalk me, while you're at it can you cut the grass, feed the dog & make sure I've got bread & milk in :D
  • Zoetoes wrote: »
    I don't think you will get tax credits or child benefit for him/her just because they are registered with connexions, they might be able to claim jobseekers for a while if you can prove hardship.

    sorry thats wrong,as a 17 year old waiting to start a new course they should qualify
    to the OP remember that ema ends this summer and its still a little unclear what exactly will replace it
  • Zoetoes
    Zoetoes Posts: 2,496 Forumite
    woodbine wrote: »
    sorry thats wrong,as a 17 year old waiting to start a new course they should qualify
    to the OP remember that ema ends this summer and its still a little unclear what exactly will replace it

    I thought that would only apply if say, they had finished college for the summer? So even if they drop out of every course the parent can still claim for them?
    If you're going to stalk me, while you're at it can you cut the grass, feed the dog & make sure I've got bread & milk in :D
  • Thank you for everyone that has replied. I know its not ideal for them to have came off 2 courses. The 1st one they were nearly finished when Dad left, and things at home became really difficult for us all emotionally.

    They tried but just couldn't keep up with the work load and everything else going on at same time. This last course was a very short course that hopefully would have ended up in employment, unfortunately the learner provider felt that they weren't ready to be in employment so asked them to leave course.

    hence why now trying to start a fresh in September whilst getting themselves sorted emotionally in the meantime.

    I did ring connexions earlier and have been advised that yes i should be able to get an extension for 20weeks, on cb and ctc so they are going to connexions tomorrow to see if there is anything that can do between now and September.

    Woodbine yes connexions did explain about the ema its something i have to look into as middle child is leaving full time education this summer and has been accepted on a 6th form course.

    So thank you to everyone that replied.
  • Zoetoes
    Zoetoes Posts: 2,496 Forumite
    Thank you for everyone that has replied. I know its not ideal for them to have came off 2 courses. The 1st one they were nearly finished when Dad left, and things at home became really difficult for us all emotionally.

    They tried but just couldn't keep up with the work load and everything else going on at same time. This last course was a very short course that hopefully would have ended up in employment, unfortunately the learner provider felt that they weren't ready to be in employment so asked them to leave course.

    hence why now trying to start a fresh in September whilst getting themselves sorted emotionally in the meantime.

    I did ring connexions earlier and have been advised that yes i should be able to get an extension for 20weeks, on cb and ctc so they are going to connexions tomorrow to see if there is anything that can do between now and September.

    Woodbine yes connexions did explain about the ema its something i have to look into as middle child is leaving full time education this summer and has been accepted on a 6th form course.

    So thank you to everyone that replied.

    I hope it all works out for you and son/daughter.
    If you're going to stalk me, while you're at it can you cut the grass, feed the dog & make sure I've got bread & milk in :D
  • Oldernotwiser
    Oldernotwiser Posts: 37,425 Forumite

    Woodbine yes connexions did explain about the ema its something i have to look into as middle child is leaving full time education this summer and has been accepted on a 6th form course.

    .

    So, not leaving full time education then?
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