why is my Child Tax Credit element stopping when in further education?

Parklife63

Please advise.
I have just made a claim for both working and child tax credits and have today received the figures so finally a bit of extra income BUT on the child tax part it says (Name)is no longer a child for tax credits purposes after 31/08/14


Why would this be as he is 18 and in further education which doesn't finish till April 2015. Have HMRC made a mistake as using the calculator they offer I am entitled to the child part until he finishes his training.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks.
Andy.

nannytone_2

you cant make an advanced claim.
once he starts education in september you need to phone and tell them.

Parklife63

Sorry maybe didn't clarify. He is already in further education (Started May) otherwise I wouldn't have received any child tax element part already! and his course doesn't finish till April 2015 so why would the child tax element only be for 86 days and not till next year when his course finishes.

nannytone_2

yes but he is past the age of compulsary education.
once the academic year starts in september you need to inform them he is still in education

lorelai34

Blondebubbles just out of interest why would there be an end date of 31-08-14 as he is 18? Normally that date would only be used on 31st Aug following 16th birthday or if they will be starting advanced education.

nannytone_2

isnt that what i said?

nannytone_2

blondebubbles wrote: »

You said you can't make an advanced claim and the OP must wait until September.

You can update that change in advance.

oh ok. just got myself really confused there for a second
maybe what i meant to say is..
because the child is beyond the age of compuldary education, you need to let them know that education will be continuing

bujin

We did this with our child for the last few years. She continued to get Child Benefit and Child Tax element in WTC. All we did was inform them each year that she was continuing in further education and each year it continued without a hitch. There shouldn't be any gap, so you're not telling them in advance as Nannytone seemed to suggest, you are simply confirming they are still in further education. Our daughter was 19 by the time she finished.
So yes it looks as though an error has been made, it won't be difficult to sort out. Sometimes the people answering the phones get confused between Further and Higher Education, as they did with us the first year and we had to talk to 3 different people before we got someone who understaood the difference, don't be fobbed off.

jimmy2bellies

My wife and I are in the exact same position. Our Daughter has just finished her A-Levels and starts a Foundation Diploma in Art and we've been told she is no longer eligible. Quite a shock. The calculated also calculated she would be still eligible.

nannytone_2

jimmy2bellies wrote: »

My wife and I are in the exact same position. Our Daughter has just finished her A-Levels and starts a Foundation Diploma in Art and we've been told she is no longer eligible. Quite a shock. The calculated also calculated she would be still eligible.

it depemds on the course.
some are further education and allowed for ctc and some are higher education and not allowed

Parklife63

Thanks for the replies the full story is. My girlfriend was claiming child tax credits for her Son. 6 weeks ago we married and as I am the working partner we ceased the tax credits on her behalf and I have made the joint claim which we have been granted. Her Son (my stepson) has been in full time education(over 12 hrs) since leaving school at 16. Now 18 he will still be on this course with "Total People" until April 2015, without a break. The benefits calculator say we are still eligible for the child part of tax credits until then but HMRC have put a "Stop" date of 31/08/14. We cannot see why this would be as my "now wife" did not have a "Stop" date on her original claim. I will be phoning them to check why but wondered if anyone else has had the same issue? He is on the same course of further education as the original claim.