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

notsobad

bloolagoon wrote: »

I cannot answer as many circumstances involve behaviour. If someone had an accident and were in hospital and recouperating it becomes circumstances only. If they refused college, it is behaviour only, if they had needs and were struggling but gave up at first hurdle it is a bit of both. The two are not mutually exclusive and individual circumstances depict this, therefore unless basing on individuals, I cannot give an answer.

So you are happy to say they have undesirable behaviour in the whole, just not individually.

poet123

notsobad wrote: »

So you are happy to say they have undesirable behaviour in the whole, just not individually.

It is true to say that in general it is undesirable behaviour on the part of a teen if they cease college or other form of schooling without first having in place an alternative that will yield long term benefits. That could be a job or an apprenticeship or another course to which they are more suited. In general doing nothing is not desirable behaviour. There may be exceptions to that general rule but they will be few and far between.

Does that suit?

bloolagoon

notsobad wrote: »

So you are happy to say they have undesirable behaviour in the whole, just not individually.

As a whole yes, although individual circumstances need consideration.

Reason is the following. ESA is paid to those whose circumstances prevent it, therefore are not NEET statistically, just disabled and unable to work or study. If not eligible for ESA then behaviour is normally a large part, therefore, barring certain individuals I would have to agree.

cockaleekee

bestpud wrote: »

Own my own uses 'they' in place of 'their'!

Funny how two separate posters have the same, unusual, problem isn't it?

These coincidences continue - one goes offline, and the other one suddenly logs on. Spooky!

Dunroamin

dktreesea wrote: »

You seem to be under the impression that low income families are providing things to their teenagers over and above the essentials. In my experience usually they aren't.

Why blame the teenager? Some schools, in terms of delivering an education, are an absolute joke. If that's the school for your catchment area, what choice does the teenager have?

I would have said it's important, particularly given government departmental staff which seem to take pleasure out of misdirecting their "clients" and depriving them of the services they are entitled to, where children are leaving school/moving between college courses and are already 17 (so don't fall into the category of having their benefits automatically extended to 31st of August after they leave school) that parents make sure they arrange the 20 week follow on of their benefits. At least then they will have a bit of breathing space.

1. When young people drop out of education, employment and training then low income parents have to pay everything for them, whether essential or not. That's why it's foolish to allow them to do so.

2. School education, whether good or bad is only a small part of what's available for school leavers, which is why it's important to emphasise the fact that students won't have to remain in school or even college, for that matter.

3. It really isn't a question of government departments refusing to advise students and young people, it's the role of the Connexions Service (or whatever service has replaced it in some areas) or the school/college itself. However, like any other information, the person themselves does have to make some effort to find this out and if a student drops out of college without discussing this with a tutor or Connexions then that is really their responsibility.

dktreesea

sammyjammy wrote: »

No but you can encourage that child back into education saying its either that or a job. Every time the subject of a practical course at college was discussed with my nephew he would throw a strop and say he didn't want it so the subject was dropped for fear of upsetting him. He used to be a nice intelligent young man but when I go home nowadays you can barely get a word out of him if you see him at all.

He'll look back in years to come and probably say to his parents why didn't you make me go.

Yes, encourage them, but say you tell your DS/DD it's either an education or a job. They can't get a job. They haven't got a place at college, and may not be able to get one. So what exactly is your "or else?"

Maybe your nephew is one of those kids who have been institutionalised at school for so long, they need to take a break.

I doubt if his parents could "make" him go to college. The days of "get a job/an education or get out of home" are over....I hope!

bestpud

dktreesea wrote: »

Yes, encourage them, but say you tell your DS/DD it's either an education or a job. They can't get a job. They haven't got a place at college, and may not be able to get one. So what exactly is your "or else?"

Maybe your nephew is one of those kids who have been institutionalised at school for so long, they need to take a break.

I doubt if his parents could "make" him go to college. The days of "get a job/an education or get out of home" are over....I hope!

Vocational courses, apprenticeship, Princes Trust course, voluntary work....

Dunroamin

bestpud wrote: »

Vocational courses, apprenticeship, Princes Trust course, voluntary work....

I really think that many people with no direct experience (whether personal or professional) of opportunities for young people have very little idea of the range of what's available to them nowadays."

bestpud

Dunroamin wrote: »

1. When young people drop out of education, employment and training then low income parents have to pay everything for them, whether essential or not. That's why it's foolish to allow them to do so.

2. School education, whether good or bad is only a small part of what's available for school leavers, which is why it's important to emphasise the fact that students won't have to remain in school or even college, for that matter.

3. It really isn't a question of government departments refusing to advise students and young people, it's the role of the Connexions Service (or whatever service has replaced it in some areas) or the school/college itself. However, like any other information, the person themselves does have to make some effort to find this out and if a student drops out of college without discussing this with a tutor or Connexions then that is really their responsibility.

When I was at uni, I went to a meeting to discuss our course with the HE version of OFSTED.

I kid you not, a group of third year students sat in that meeting and complained because they'd got to the third year without being told a Sociology degree does not lead into a defined job!

They also said they felt they should have been taken to the careers department because they didn't know where it was!

Lastly, they felt they should have had 'career lectures' because they didn't know what jobs they could do!

bestpud

Dunroamin wrote: »

I really think that many people with no direct experience (whether personal or professional) of opportunities for young people have very little idea of the range of what's available to them nowadays."

There really is no excuse when we have the world at our fingertips though, is there?