Child benefit and council tax

Becles

My eldest has just turned 19. He's still in full time further education at college and is planning on going to university in September 2016.

I thought the child benefit would end in August 2016 but it's stopped on his 19th birthday.

As he's dropped off the claim, the council tax have automatically cancelled my single person discount and want to take an extra £236 with January's payment.

Is this correct?

vlad

I thought CB could continue tip the "child" was 20 if in non advanced education?

poppy12345

Becles wrote: »

My eldest has just turned 19. He's still in full time further education at college and is planning on going to university in September 2016.

I thought the child benefit would end in August 2016 but it's stopped on his 19th birthday.

As he's dropped off the claim, the council tax have automatically cancelled my single person discount and want to take an extra £236 with January's payment.

Is this correct?

Child benefit is paid until the person reaches their 20th birthday, if they're in full time non advanced aducation. If you didn't tell them that your son is still in full time non advanced education then your payments will stop, which in your case they already have. I'd ring them tomorrow to find out what's going on.

Becles

poppy12345 wrote: »

Child benefit is paid until the person reaches their 20th birthday, if they're in full time non advanced aducation. If you didn't tell them that your son is still in full time non advanced education then your payments will stop, which in your case they already have. I'd ring them tomorrow to find out what's going on.

I did tell child benefit. I sent them a copy of his enrolment form in September to prove he was still at college and they acknowledged it. That's why I'm confused as to why it has suddenly stopped now.

I will give them a ring and find out. Just wanted to make sure I was right in thinking it should continue before I spoke to them!

Becles

I spoke to them yesterday. When he enrolled for this year in September, I scanned the documents and submitted it using the online form.

The man I spoke to last night said it's a complex process but basically submitting things online doesn't update your claim. The documents are stacked there and he could see them, but they don't actually get actioned until something like this happens and someone rings up.

He's sorted it now and the eldest is on the claim until next summer and he's sending me a letter in the post to confirm. I can send that to the council tax so they should update their systems and not charge me the extra money in January.

Seems a bit of a daft system to be honest!

restless6

You will get charged the extra throughout next summer until he starts uni.
My son finsished school in August, CB ceased and then two weeks later he started uni- but for those two weeks i lost my 25per cent single occupier discount even though he wasnt working!!

Becles

Thanks for the warning

He has applied to local universities but hasn't decided if he's going to stay at home or move out yet. I assumed with him continuing to be a student, then he would remain exempt but I'll be prepared now.

CIS

restless6 wrote: »

You will get charged the extra throughout next summer until he starts uni.
My son finsished school in August, CB ceased and then two weeks later he started uni- but for those two weeks i lost my 25per cent single occupier discount even though he wasnt working!!

He should probably have received the 'school or college leaver' disregard.

A person is disregarded for Council Tax purposes if:

• they are under the age of 20; and
• they have, after 30th April and before 1st November in any year, ceased to undertake a full-time course of education or a qualifying course of education.

The person will be disregarded until 1st November under any circumstances in the year of leaving school or college.

restless6

A person is disregarded for Council Tax purposes if:
they are under the age of 20; and
they have, after 30th April and before 1st November in any year, ceased to undertake a full-time course of education or a qualifying course of education.
The person will be disregarded until 1st November under any circumstances in the year of leaving school or college.


Can you tell me where I can find this information because my council were adamant that i had to pay, I even rang them up to question it.
They said he was a non-dependent adult so thats why I lost my 25per cent discount for those few weeks.