niece living with me

embob74

Recently my 16 yr old niece was thrown out by her mum and stepdad and came to live with me.
I have now found out we are in a limbo situation. I have no parental responsibility so can't claim anything for her and parents won't pay (they're on benefits).
Niece is due to start 6th form next week but it's 30 miles away and we can't afford to travel there and back 4 times a day and have other children to get to school too. Having looked into local schools and colleges it appears we'll have to pay for travel at £450. This is payable over 3 months but still £150 we don't have.
DH and I have a good income of circa £26k but have 3 children at home and helping for an older one to attend uni.
Can anybody advise what help niece could be entitled to? I want to help them go to 6th form/college but can't see a way to pay for it at the moment

TELLIT01

As you haven't assumed parental responsibility, and she is in full time education, she can claim Income Support on the grounds of Estrangement.

[Deleted User]

surely there is another college more local?most A level students only go into college for about 13 hours a week,6th form will probably be different as its more like school with school hours
because of the circumstances I'm sure a local college would accept her on the A level courses she wants to do?

embob74

TELLIT01 wrote: »

As you haven't assumed parental responsibility, and she is in full time education, she can claim Income Support on the grounds of Estrangement.

Thank you for that but when I looked at the .gov website it stated to be eligible for Income Support you need to be pregnant, a carer or sick or disabled. None of these apply to my niece.

embob74

woodbine wrote: »

surely there is another college more local?

Yes there is a more local college but we're in a rural area so local to us means 12 miles away! That would involve me driving there and back twice a day (4 journeys) at the same time I have to get other children to school. The other option is for my niece to catch the bus but that has a charge of £450 and we don't have that sort of money

pmlindyloo

This link confirms that estrangement from parents and in full time education is a criteria for Income Support.

https://www.gov.uk/income-support/eligibility

However, I have a sneaky suspicion that this is for someone who is not with someone acting as a parent. I know you do not have parental responsibility for her but usually in this situation you would be able to claim the Child Benefit and child tax credits for her. Are her parents still claiming these benefits for her?

I hope I'm wrong and she is entitled to Income Support. Put in a claim and perhaps go to CAB if it is refused.

Could she get a part time job to get some pocket money?

xylophone

https://www.gov.uk/income-support/eligibility

It would seem that she would qualify if she were not living with someone acting as a parent?

"Also, you qualify if you’re aged 19 or younger, in full-time secondary education (including A levels) and one of the following:

a parent
not living with a parent or someone acting as a parent
a refugee learning English
You can also qualify up until the age of 21 if you’re one of the above, are orphaned or estranged from your parents and enrolled in education."

If you do not feel that you are acting as a parent, or if lodgings can be found for her near the college she might get support?

Might it be as well to apply/enlist the help of the College/Social Services?

Or try CAB?

And is her mother claiming Child Benefit for her when she shouldn't be?

TELLIT01

There are a number of criteria used to determine whether you are acting as a parent, but I can't find a link to it. There is no harm in your niece putting in a claim, the worst that can happen is they say 'No'. She will be called into the JC to complete a form called an EF1 which collects the details of her situation, where she's currently living and why etc.

tomtontom

Has she spoken to the college? They will have a discretionary fund which may help towards travel costs.

pmlindyloo

TELLIT01 wrote: »

There are a number of criteria used to determine whether you are acting as a parent, but I can't find a link to it. There is no harm in your niece putting in a claim, the worst that can happen is they say 'No'. She will be called into the JC to complete a form called an EF1 which collects the details of her situation, where she's currently living and why etc.

These seem to be the criteria

Acting in place of parents
20668 To determine if another person is acting in the place of a young person's parents,
consider factors such as whether the person
1. provides supervision and financial, moral, social or other care and guidance
and
2. provides shelter, food and clothing and
3. is responsible for any necessary disciplinary action
as would be appropriate for someone the same age as the young person.
(Decision Maker's Guide )

I agree that she should put in a claim and see what they say.

If it is refused then you may need to go down the route of contacting the parents and see if they are still claiming child benefit/child tax credits for her.

They should notify child benefit and tax credits of the change of circumstances and close their claim. Then you can put in claims for her.

HOWMUCH

Are her parents still claiming child allowance and child tax credit for her?