Daughter leaving college and child benefit.

LostandAfraid

My daughter will leave college on 30th June, she has a job with an 18 hour contract that I told child benefit about months ago, they said that was okay because she is still in education.

Last week I called to tell them her leaving date, they said that my payments will go up to the end of August because she works less than 24 hours per week but I need to call back when she actually leaves.

Her employer has told her that she might be able to give her more hours but nothing is certain yet, however this makes me nervous because I don't want child benefit to keep paying me in case her hours do go up and they think I am a fraud.

I've no way of knowing yet if she will be given more hours, it might be more one week but not the next if that makes sense and I would rather they just stopped it.

I don't need the worry to be honest, I had a nervous breakdown a few months ago and I don't need anymore worry or stress so can I just ask them to stop paying me as soon as she leaves college?

I would rather they did that because the hours are something I can't predict, she is off to university in September and for the sake of 2 months it's worry I would rather avoid by them stopping it as soon as college ends.

missbiggles1

LostandAfraid wrote: »

My daughter will leave college on 30th June, she has a job with an 18 hour contract that I told child benefit about months ago, they said that was okay because she is still in education.

Last week I called to tell them her leaving date, they said that my payments will go up to the end of August because she works less than 24 hours per week but I need to call back when she actually leaves.

Her employer has told her that she might be able to give her more hours but nothing is certain yet, however this makes me nervous because I don't want child benefit to keep paying me in case her hours do go up and they think I am a fraud.

I've no way of knowing yet if she will be given more hours, it might be more one week but not the next if that makes sense and I would rather they just stopped it.

I don't need the worry to be honest, I had a nervous breakdown a few months ago and I don't need anymore worry or stress so can I just ask them to stop paying me as soon as she leaves college?

I would rather they did that because the hours are something I can't predict, she is off to university in September and for the sake of 2 months it's worry I would rather avoid by them stopping it as soon as college ends.

Why not just put the those months' money (June - September) away in a separate account until you feel reassured about the situation? That way, if there should be a problem, you can simply send back the money without worrying about it but when you're sure it's yours you'll have some money in hand to treat yourselves with.

TELLIT01

I don't think the OP needs to worry, but it's not as simple as sending the money back if the daughter's hours are increased. Most departments don't have the facility to accept ad-hoc returns of payment.
I would suggest waiting until the first week the daughter gets more than 24 hours work and then contact Child Benefit again.

LostandAfraid

Thank you both, yes I think it might be tricky to return the money and I wouldn't want them thinking I had done it on purpose so what I will do is tell them the situation when I call to tell them she has left and I expect they will advise.

Then as soon as she gets a week with 24 hours of work I will call back and tell them, that makes sense.

I know I worry too much about things but it's just the way I am at the moment, my brain is a bit messy and sometimes I just need a bit of help to see things in a simple and logical way.

Thanks again.

missbiggles1

TELLIT01 wrote: »

I don't think the OP needs to worry, but it's not as simple as sending the money back if the daughter's hours are increased. Most departments don't have the facility to accept ad-hoc returns of payment.
I would suggest waiting until the first week the daughter gets more than 24 hours work and then contact Child Benefit again.

I meant that the money would be sitting there if they asked for it back - not that she should just send it!

Alice_Holt

Also it might be worth writing to them, confirming your understanding of what you have been told on the telephone. Keep a copy and get proof of posting.

Then, in the unlikely event, that there is an overpayment you have evidence of the steps you have taken to advise them of the change in circumstances and their response.

LostandAfraid

That's an excellent idea, thank you, I will do that