Son dropping out of college-am I still entitled to tax credits

BigAunty

Ohara27 wrote: »

He said he will pay board with his part time job but it just won't cover the same as any tax credits I get at the minute but I know will help. ...

Download the MSE budget planner and work through it with him and jointly review the site to learn how to slash costs an up your income so he can identify the full extent of the impact.

I'm just suggesting this as a way of involving him in the joint household decisions, where you can cut expenses, to make up for the shortfall, such as giving up a broadband connection/telephone line or satellite tv (if applicable) or reducing when the heating is put on, for example. I wonder if this would motivate him to stay in college or work extra hours.

There is a child support board on MSE that can give you the position on child support and your options via the CSA.

Also, get him to contact the college or funding body to establish if he can do another year at that level or if it will affect any grants or cost him a tuition fee, for example. You could see if this new course is available part time or by distance learning if you think this would help free up more time for him to get employment.

BigAunty

Dunroamin wrote: »

Does the OP count as a lone parent if she doesn't have a child who's eligible for CB?

Yeah, good point, I was wrong. If he's classed as not being in education, then he's not considered a dependent. Until he re-enrols, he will be in the grey area of the parent not qualifying for CB, having to work longer to qualify for WTC and clearly not earning enough to cover his household costs.

sulkisu

I think you should both be 'frantically looking for additional work' to increase your incomes. Your son has chosen to leave college, which is fair enough, but unless these short courses he is considering to fill his time until September, are essential to his new course, getting another part-time job will be far more beneficial to you as a family. You should increase your hours because clearly you are able to, and you can't rely on CTC for ever.

jules372

As long as he is registered in school/college for 12hrs that's all he needs to do for it to be classed as full time. He must attend proper lessons though, not just be in school for 12 hrs per week.

HTH
Jules

Ohara27

We are going into his college on Thursday to talk to the careers advisor and also sign the papers to say he wants to leave that particular college. He is really wanting to find some more courses that would help him or even look at doing an apprenticeship.

I didn't realise full time education was only 12 hours or more, I thought it was more or less all week so thank you for that information.

It's the not knowing what to do till we go into college. Do I inform the tax credit ppl now or wait to see if he can find other training/apprenticeship and nothing might need to change just yet. I don't want to get into trouble for still claiming when I shouldn't be.

I am more than happy to look for another job to make ends meet more but it's how long that will take is a big worry. In the mean time I will do a planner and try and cut costs and point out to my son his decision has consequences and money doesn't grow on them there trees like a lot of them think

Dunroamin

If the college isn't actually throwing him out, wouldn't it be simpler for him just to stay on the existing course, even if he's going to fail it? He could then do a more appropriate course next year.

Ohara27

That was the problem though, the college was about to ask him to leave as he had got that bad. The decision was about to be taken out of his hands so he decided to say he was leaving. As much as none of this situation is good it would be better to say he was leaving then been thrown out for future references.

igaveupnowimback

Hi, 2nd year at college normally tends to be classed as an advanced course, no matter whether a student is under 19 or not, and Child Tax Credits are not payable for this at all. Most people think that as long as it's college and not uni, and the child is under 19 and in full time education this is ok. It's not, as I found to my cost a few years ago when I lost both WTC and CTC in one fell swoop even though my son was in 2nd year (HNC in Scotland) and apparently anything above A level in England. The loss was immense, and he had to work a LOT of hours in addition to his studies in order to contribute to the household, as it was impossible otherwise. This severely impacted his studies, and he remains in the same line of work he did whilst at college. I have regrets over this, as had he had two parent support he would have had better prospects.
However, he is hard working and doing well. It is very difficult for single parents once children reach this stage, as income is cut drastically and if you have worked low income jobs in order to earn and raise children there is no real opportunity to climb any career ladder and thus increase income. Therefore when the tax credit 'cushion' is removed it is very difficult. Young persons wages don't normally make up the shortfall either. Sorry to sound so gloomy. It may be best to check whether either of the courses is classed as advanced or non-advanced. Good luck.

Blackpool_Saver

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/childbenefit/keep-up-to-date/when-child-aged-16/further-education.htm

Hope this helps you

FBaby

igaveupnowimback wrote: »

It is very difficult for single parents once children reach this stage, as income is cut drastically and if you have worked low income jobs in order to earn and raise children there is no real opportunity to climb any career ladder and thus increase income. Therefore when the tax credit 'cushion' is removed it is very difficult.

I don't really agree with this. Single parents are provided the option to stay at home full time until their children are 5, and given the option to only work 16 hours after that. This is only an OPTION but many sees it as an opportunity, the opportunity to spend more time with their children, more time for themselves, yet still be able to afford an acceptable standard of living.

The governement can't win. If they treat single parents as non single parents, they are being accused of being discriminitory against single parents not recognising the additional demands. If they do allow extra allowances, some single parents see it as not requiring to do what some non single parent have no choice but do and then complained that they end up with less opportunities. The government can't be blamed for everything. The reality is that every single parent should prepare for their future like every other parent. If they decide to make full use of the benefits they are entitled to receive, then they need to accept that they will suddenly have to do with a lot less. If they don't want to do with a lot less, they need to prepare themselves, consider going back to work before their children are 5, consider going back to work full-time before they turn 18.