Child tax credit - I have a feeling we're in more trouble than we realised - help?!

BlushingRose

As far as I know, Mr BR is getting child tax credits for his son, who is 20 and away at uni. I've just been told (and read myself on-line) that this tax is only supposed to be paid until he child is 20 and not at all if they're at uni?
If it turns out that I've got my facts straight and Mr BR is getting this tax, what do we do? We're about to start a DMP and I'm now worried that we'll have to pay this money back as well. Shouldn't it automatically have stopped being paid out at the age of 20 regardless?

Februarycat

Mine stopped when my 18 yr old son started uni in September but I did ring them up which I think you are suppose to, I ended up owing them some as they paid me for October so I think you will have to pay it back.

MrsManda

It's your responsibility to inform Tax Credits of any change in circumstance which may affect your payments. This includes when your child starts advanced education.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/TaxCredits/Keepingyourtaxcreditsuptodate/Changesthataffectyourtaxcredits/Familychanges/DG_172979

Has your son been at university since he was 18?
You should've received a renewal pack each year where you confirm the details are correct so even if you don't inform the Tax Credit office as soon as a change of circumstance occurs you should inform them when you get your renewal.
For information about what happens when you haven't reported a change have a look here:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/TaxCredits/Keepingyourtaxcreditsuptodate/Changesthataffectyourtaxcredits/DG_173254

You need to phone the tax credit office ASAP to get this sorted.

BlushingRose

MrsManda wrote: »

It's your responsibility to inform Tax Credits of any change in circumstance which may affect your payments. This includes when your child starts advanced education.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/TaxCredits/Keepingyourtaxcreditsuptodate/Changesthataffectyourtaxcredits/Familychanges/DG_172979

Has your son been at university since he was 18?
You should've received a renewal pack each year where you confirm the details are correct so even if you don't inform the Tax Credit office as soon as a change of circumstance occurs you should inform them when you get your renewal.
For information about what happens when you haven't reported a change have a look here:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/TaxCredits/Keepingyourtaxcreditsuptodate/Changesthataffectyourtaxcredits/DG_173254

You need to phone the tax credit office ASAP to get this sorted.

Oh god :eek:
He's not my son, he's Mr BR's son and so he's been the one who's dealt with that side of it.
This'll be a drop in income of about £200 which we can't afford, we'll have to tell the DMP people as well cos it'll end up being another creditor I suppose.

Oldernotwiser

I dread to ask this but is he still claiming Child Benefit for his 20 year old "child"?

BlushingRose

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I dread to ask this but is he still claiming Child Benefit for his 20 year old "child"?

Not as far as I know, I think it's just the tax credits.

It's not been on purpose, he's a very honest person, we both are, this will have been an oversight or perhaps not reading the paperwork properly.

Dognobs

A CHILD at 20!! If he was away at uni why was you getting the money anyway?!

Oldernotwiser

BlushingRose wrote: »

Not as far as I know, I think it's just the tax credits.

It's not been on purpose, he's a very honest person, we both are, this will have been an oversight or perhaps not reading the paperwork properly.

With money so tight, it's difficult to see how you could have missed the fact that you had an unexplained £200 per month coming in!

BlushingRose

Well, as it turns out, I was wrong.
The amount Mr BR had been getting was actually £20, not £200 and it was stopped in May.
So, panic over!

BlushingRose

Dognobs wrote: »

A CHILD at 20!! If he was away at uni why was you getting the money anyway?!

According to the paperwork he had from the tax credit people he was eligible until the 'child' was 20 as he was in full time education.

System

BlushingRose wrote: »

According to the paperwork he had from the tax credit people he was eligible until the 'child' was 20 as he was in full time education.

Only if that full time education was Non-Advanced. That means not degree level at uni.