Got kids who've just finished their exams? Tell the taxman

Former_MSE_Faye

If your child's still studying or starting approved training, tell HMRC or risk losing child tax credits and benefit...

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'Got kids who've just finished their exams? Tell the taxman'

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troi78

My son will be 18 on 30th September. He's enrolled in college to begin an HND course in two weeks. I've already informed HMRC but heard nothing yet.

As far as I know, higher education means we have to stop claiming Child Benefit and Child Tax Credits but I couldn't find any definitive information about an under 19 yr old and HND.

Does anyone know?

sheramber

Approved education

Education must be full-time (more than an average of 12 hours a week supervised study or course-related work experience) and can include:

A levels or similar - eg Pre-U, International Baccalaureate
Scottish Highers
NVQs and other vocational qualifications up to level 3
home education - if started before your child turned 16
traineeships in England

Courses are not approved if paid for by an employer or ‘advanced’, eg a university degree or BTEC Higher National Certificate.

Tell the Child Benefit Office if your child is:

staying in approved education
leaving approved education

HND is advanced education

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

If it's still like how it was when I had to do this, you'll have to keep contacting them, as they apparently 'ignore' all claims of college attendance before the official day they start.

I'd hope they have changed this by now, but I wouldn't want anybody to think they've notified in good time, only to find their income decimated until November (at which point, they didn't give me a back payment of the full amount, they insisted on giving it a few pounds each week for the rest of the financial year).

If I were doing it again, I'd notify them next Monday, then the following week (and then check again the next).

Might be irritating, but it's better than having to pay the bills and potentially losing all your income until it's sorted out.