Tax credits for young person in further education

silvermist05

Hi Last year we claimed tax credits for our son who was in college taking A-levels. He has now decided this year to study for a diploma in ICT instead. Does anyone know if we are still entitled to tax credits for him? he is still a full time student and if so do I have to inform tax credits that he has changed his course?
Thanks

davehughes182

You will still be eligible for CTC for him and you only need to contact them now when your son leaves full time education.

HTH

Dunroamin

How old is he and what level is the diploma he'll be studying?

missusjen

My son changed from A Levels to Btech - as long as it's still full time, it's Further Education and they're under 20 you're okay. Higher Education (University) is a different story.

silvermist05

He is 17 and I'm not sure whether it's a level 2 or 3.

MsShorty

No problem with continuing to claim child tax credits, whether a level 2 or level 3 BTEC. Level 2 is equivalent to GCSE level and Level 3 is equivalent to A Levels.

As previous poster says, you only need to advise tax credits now once your child leaves college.

HTH

Cate1976

Hope this helps OP and possible others as well:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Vocational_Qualification

Short is up to and including level 3 qualification counts for tax credits, not sure how many hours have to be taught time, but do know that total hours including 'lesson time' private study and/or work experience need to be 24 for the course to be classed as full time unless it's changed since last year.

trixie73

Cate1976 wrote: »

Hope this helps OP and possible others as well:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Vocational_Qualification

Short is up to and including level 3 qualification counts for tax credits, not sure how many hours have to be taught time, but do know that total hours including 'lesson time' private study and/or work experience need to be 24 for the course to be classed as full time unless it's changed since last year.

I thought full time was 12 hours

Kayalana99

Not disputing that your wrong because I have no idea but don't see how 12 hours can be considered a full time course!

trixie73

Kayalana99 wrote: »

Not disputing that your wrong because I have no idea but don't see how 12 hours can be considered a full time course!

It does seem crazy that 12 hours could be classed as full time, but when son was at college a couple of years ago im sure that's what it was.

maginot

Kayalana99 wrote: »

Not disputing that your wrong because I have no idea but don't see how 12 hours can be considered a full time course!

From HMRC

"Education counts for Child Benefit if it's full-time, 'non-advanced' education. Your child needs to have started, enrolled or been accepted onto a course that counts before their 19th birthday.
'Full-time' means that, on average, more than 12 hours a week in term time is spent on:
tuition
practical work
supervised study
taking exams
It doesn't include breaks for meals and homework."

Remember level 3 courses also expect students to be working in 'free' periods as part of their own independent learning. Majority of students who do 3 a levels or equivalents spend 50% of their time in the classroom and 50% own time. Although some students may do 4 or 5 a levels or equivalent and are therefore having to do personal study outside of school/college

If they go to university they will probably only have about 10 hours of actual tutor led support and will have to organise their own study.