PWC stopping child going to Uni

missbiggles1

HappyMJ wrote: »

Child benefit and therefore CSA continues with the right course chosen. A child doing an apprenticeship counts... see https://www.gov.uk/child-benefit-16-19

No it doesn't.

Only approved training counts,

"Access to Apprenticeships in England
Foundation Apprenticeships or Traineeships in Wales
Employability Fund programmes or Get Ready for Work (if started before 1 April 2013) in Scotland
Training for Success, Pathways to Success or Collaboration and Innovation Programme in Northern Ireland"

Those are not the apprenticeship that an 18 year old with A levels would do.

13Kent

You definitely pay if a child is doing certain apprenticeships as it counts as "non advanced education".

We've already paid CSA for a child doing one of these courses.

13Kent

missbiggles1 wrote: »

Those are not the apprenticeship that an 18 year old with A levels would do.

The PWC would make sure that the type of apprenticeship that the child did was one that made sure CSA was payable.

If the child takes a gap year then what happens to the CSA payments then?

HappyMJ

13Kent wrote: »

The PWC would make sure that the type of apprenticeship that the child did was one that made sure CSA was payable.

If the child takes a gap year then what happens to the CSA payments then?

You wouldn't be liable for any more CSA whilst child is not in education or training.

As you know doing a foundation level apprenticeship is a backward step especially from A levels with straight A's. It's only equivalent to GCSE which the child already has. I don't see the point.

If child returns to non-advanced education after gap year then PWC can get child benefit again and your liability to CSA resumes.

missbiggles1

13Kent wrote: »

The PWC would make sure that the type of apprenticeship that the child did was one that made sure CSA was payable.

The apprenticeships which are eligible for child related benefits are for those who aren't job ready or have special needs. To use the English Access to Apprenticeship scheme as an example, the eligibility criteria are,

"Either
• Be defined as Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) for 13 weeks prior to
the start of the pathway.
And/or
• Assessed and eligible for Additional Learning Support (Additional Learning Need (ALN),
Additional Social Needs ASN) or both). "

A level entry apprenticeships aren't eligible.

As well as explaining this to the PWC, make sure that the child knows that if mum tries to manipulate her on to one of these courses she'd be spending her time with all the thickos and drop outs, bored out of her skull. No intelligent 18 year old will put up with that!

However, as I said earlier, it's unlikely that any provider would accept an 18 year old with A levels on one of these courses anyway.

missbiggles1

Apologies for being rather blunt about those courses - I wouldn't be putting it that way to a student doing one of them.

janiebquick

What is a PWC?

HappyMJ

janiebquick wrote: »

What is a PWC?

Parent With Care - it's the parent the child chooses (in this case as the child is 16 or over) to live with for the majority if the time. It's this parent who has to pay for the day-to-day living costs of the child such as clothing etc... This parent can also claim the child benefit and the child tax credit. It's the home where the child is registered for school and for the GP.

The other parent is called the NRP - the Non Resident Parent and is the one paying the PWC the child support payments. This parent does not have to pay for any of the child's expenses directly but many do. In that case most are effectively paying twice. Once to the PWC to pay for the child's expenses and again direct to the child to top up the child's expenses which is why so many resent paying child support as the PWC should be using the child support money on the child.

13Kent

missbiggles1 wrote: »

The apprenticeships which are eligible for child related benefits are for those who aren't job ready or have special needs. To use the English Access to Apprenticeship scheme as an example, the eligibility criteria are,

"Either
• Be defined as Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) for 13 weeks prior to
the start of the pathway.
And/or
• Assessed and eligible for Additional Learning Support (Additional Learning Need (ALN),
Additional Social Needs ASN) or both). "

A level entry apprenticeships aren't eligible.

As well as explaining this to the PWC, make sure that the child knows that if mum tries to manipulate her on to one of these courses she'd be spending her time with all the thickos and drop outs, bored out of her skull. No intelligent 18 year old will put up with that!

However, as I said earlier, it's unlikely that any provider would accept an 18 year old with A levels on one of these courses anyway.

Thanks, that's good information. what happens if the child takes a 'gap' for more than 13 weeks after finishing A levels?

Also what is the criteria for "not job ready" - I can see the PWC trying to go down these routes.

cte1111

Remember that going straight from school to university isn't the only way to get a degree. Your step-child could always choose to apply to university at another point in their life, which they might well choose to do if they find their first path unrewarding.

Has the child actually applied to university? If not, then I think it is probably too late, unless they go into clearing.
https://www.ucas.com/ucas/undergraduate/apply-and-track/results/no-offers-use-clearing

Another idea would be to suggest that they talk to a careers advisor, their school should have one but there is also a national careers advice service. They could help the teenager think about what type of career they would ideally want and if appropriate, then this might involve university.