Beware - INCORRECT info on Non Advanced Education

igaveupnowimback

I reckon most people think that if a child is at college (not university) then you are entitled to CTC for them. Well as I found to my great cost, if you are at college in Scotland and doing a Higher National Certificate (HNC) or HND course, you are not entitled. The student may be entitled to student loan, but tax credits will stop. In my case I asked about this several times and was told I was still entitled, then they said no and want the payments back.
So when all the blurb says 'non advanced - ie below degree' - IT'S WRONG !
Yet it still says it - almost everything in the official documents and every site message you read says that, yet it is incorrect. Worse still, it's the public and media perception on it too. Wouldn't want anyone else to go through what I am because of it.

Three_Dancing_Dragons

You're really not having a good time of it recently are you, igiveup? :grouphug:

DazzerG

It does state in the application notes (TC600, page 14), WTC1 (page 5), WTC2 (page 5) -

A young person aged 16-19 in full time education, upto and including 'A' levels, NVQ level 3 or Scottish Highers.

I would expect any adviser on the Helpline to look up the course that your child was studying before providing the answer.

In your circumstances however, I would request a COP26 and complete the form explaining that you were incorrectly advised by the Helpline, and therefore did not know that the monies received were incorrect.

I would also request a copy of your phonecalls to back up your statement.

Oldernotwiser

igiveup wrote: »

I reckon most people think that if a child is at college (not university) then you are entitled to CTC for them. Well as I found to my great cost, if you are at college in Scotland and doing a Higher National Certificate (HNC) or HND course, you are not entitled. The student may be entitled to student loan, but tax credits will stop. In my case I asked about this several times and was told I was still entitled, then they said no and want the payments back.
So when all the blurb says 'non advanced - ie below degree' - IT'S WRONG !
Yet it still says it - almost everything in the official documents and every site message you read says that, yet it is incorrect. Worse still, it's the public and media perception on it too. Wouldn't want anyone else to go through what I am because of it.

Your misunderstanding seems to have arisen because HNC/HND are NOT "below degree level". They equate (roughly) to the first and second years of a degree. HNC/HND/degrees are all level 4 qualifications. I'm afraid that the blurb is correct, although you may have spoken to someone who misinterpreted it.

lexi

Igiveup, it really is a minefield, the ctc when kids are at college. I knew rules were slightly different concerning degrees( grants, loans etc) in Scotland as it showed as much when my daughter went to an induction meeting. So i am not surprised its also different concerning HE. When my daughter started her diploma, i checked & double checked that we were eligible for the money. To be honest it was only 8 quid a week, but if it was incorrect, then it would have soon added up. Whe she started at uni, she was 18 but she doesnt qualify as its classed as higher education ( which the diploma was!). Annoying really cos her mate is a year behind her as she didnt get the correct course grades so had to do an access course of 1 yr. but she gets the award as she is still on a diploma. It would be far easier if the government just said the criteria for children is up to 19 as long as they are in higher education. Then we wouldnt get confused as every child could be entitled ( depending of course on household income) if they were in college or uni.

Gemmzie

An HND/HNC is classed as higher education - that's why it is no longer paid because it falls under the same rules as degrees.

I.E. You pay to do it, student loans and grants are available