Jobseekers allowance and child benefit

Freia

My son is in the last few weeks of a motor vehicle maintenance course at college. He will be 19 in July. I have been able to claim child benefit for him but now he is trying to find a job and has been sending CV's off to garages, as well as visiting them personally to enquire about jobs. He rang Jobcentre Plus and spent a long time on the phone answering the questions in relation to applying for jobseekers allowance. He was told he qualified for it and an appointment was arranged for him to attend our local jobcentre to sign forms, show ID etc. When he arrived there this morning, he was told that because I was in receipt of child benefit for him, he was not able to claim the jobseekers allowance until the child benefit stopped in September. I then rang the Child Benefit office to ask them to stop the payments to me, only to be told I cannot stop them voluntarily and they have to continue until September! So now my son is unable to claim anything until then! He has set his heart on becoming a motor mechanic and is doing all he can to find a job in this trade but has been told that the industry is pretty quiet at the moment due to the economic climate. He has the option of taking the next level in motor vehicle maintenance at college in September and the college have told him that if he is in receipt of jobseekers allowance, he will be entitled to free tuition. But to qualify, he has to be on the allowance, and show proof, when he enrols in August! So - if I am not allowed to stop my benefit, and my son is unable to claim anything until it stops - what on earth is he supposed to do? Has anyone else come across this situation? I find it hard to believe a benefit is not allowed to be stopped voluntarily!!!

HappyMJ

there are a lot of other categories to get a fee remission apart from that one. is this his first level 3 course that would be free. are you on working tax credits, income support, housing benefit/council tax benefits? that would then make his course free too. there are still more fee exemptions possible.

Freia

HappyMJ wrote: »

there are a lot of other categories to get a fee remission apart from that one. is this his first level 3 course that would be free. are you on working tax credits, income support, housing benefit/council tax benefits? that would then make his course free too. there are still more fee exemptions possible.

He has a full level 3 in mechanical engineering so is unable to do the next motor vehicle course for free, so the college has told him. Both myself and my husband are working and not entitled to any benefits. We thought our son would be able to claim JSA in his own right but obviously not because of the child benefit I receive. Apart from taking out a loan to pay for his next course, I cannot see any other way of being eligible for fee exemptions. I just find it ludicrous that I am unable to stop the child benefit straight away! Thank you for your reply anyway

t0rt0ise

You are unable to stop the child benefit because until September you are deemed to be responsible for his upkeep. What does the college say when you explain the situation? And not just to the lowest worker but to someone in authority who can make a sensible decision? You may have to go to the principal.

wombourne67

We had the same thing with our 19 year old daughter yesterday.
She's just finished college and is now looking for work,but because we're recieving child benefit (£20) paid until September she can't claim Jobseekers allowance.
So she has absolutely no income and we get £20 to clothe and feed her and if she should be lucky enough to get a job interview she won't be able to afford the bus fair to get there!
A 19 year old woman with not a penny to live on,can anyone explain how this works?

RedwoodBrook

wombourne67 wrote: »

A 19 year old woman with not a penny to live on,can anyone explain how this works?

But you still receive child benefit for her.

Why not give the £20 a week to her to fund her travel to and from job interviews?

mitch161

this one is easy.

tell the child benefit people your son has moved out.

trust me the payment wil stop faster then a super car with ceramic brakes.

obviously dont kick him out. but if they beleive you are no longer supporting him they will definetly not want to pay you.

it also works for families whos daughter gets pregnant and moves out to her own home.. so just tell them he has moved out. and you feel that you are no longer eligable for the payment and you want to do your honourable part to cease payments to keep the country afloat.

wombourne67

RedwoodBrook wrote: »

But you still receive child benefit for her.

Why not give the £20 a week to her to fund her travel to and from job interviews?

Good reply.
I asked for advice,not sarcasm.
You know nothing about me or my financial situation so keep your smug comments to yourself:footie:

paddedjohn

wombourne67 wrote: »

good reply.
I asked for advice,not sarcasm.
You know nothing about me or my financial situation so keep your smug comments to yourself:footie:

i dont see how that can be seen as a either sarcastic or smug reply, it was just advice about how to help your daughter.

The last reply looks like a good option for the op and yourself, telling them that your son/daughter has moved out.

t0rt0ise

If a child goes to study at university, when they come home in the long vacations, you don't get child benefit or JSA for them. You are simply expected to feed them for the duration. It's what being a parent is all about. You support them as and when you have to.

xbrenx

wombourne67 wrote: »

Good reply.
I asked for advice,not sarcasm.
You know nothing about me or my financial situation so keep your smug comments to yourself:footie:

Seems like someone should've stayed in bed a bit longer this morning. You asked for help with finance and that's what was offered. I too was going to suggest you give the child benefit money to your daughter.