How long does CB continue post 16?

kitkatt1982

Hi, hoping someone can advise please? We pay maintenance for my 16 year old stepson. He left school last July but has since been at college. He has now signed up for the Army with a start date in March.
He is going away to their training college where he will be paid monthly.

My question is, how long will his mum be eligible for Child Benefit for (and in turn will we be liable for maintenance)?

I don’t want to ring and ask CMS as they won’t answer anonymously and don’t want them contacting his mum. We’ve got a good relationship with her and don’t want her (and him) thinking we’re trying to get out of paying maintenance as soon as we can! That said, I also don’t want to pay more than we’re required to as a) he’ll be earning more than I am, b) I don’t want to be in the difficult position of needing to pay us back and c) I’d rather use the spare money to put in savings for the children.

I tried ringing child benefit but the guy was a bit clueless. I’ve seen reference to a 20 week run on, and CB being paid until the Feb, May and August once they turn 16. The guy at CB said it would stop as soon as he leaves home and starts earning, but this was after loads of other info.
Also, I don’t know if she’ll be forthcoming in contacting the CMS, Do they get notified automatically when CB stops?

Many thanks

calcotti

https://www.gov.uk/child-benefit-16-19
“Your Child Benefit stops on 31 August on or after your child’s 16th birthday if they leave education or training.”

kitkatt1982

Thanks but he left school last year and been in college since x

calcotti

kitkatt1982 said:

Thanks but he left school last year and been in college since x

In which case it stops on 31 August after 16th birthday unless the college study meets the definition of approved education as described in the link I posted. Even then parent needs to confirm to Child Benefit that this is the case.

Robbie64

kitkatt1982 said:

I tried ringing child benefit but the guy was a bit clueless. I’ve seen reference to a 20 week run on, and CB being paid until the Feb, May and August once they turn 16. The guy at CB said it would stop as soon as he leaves home and starts earning, but this was after loads of other info.

The references to February, May and August are the end dates to which Child Benefit will be paid when a course ends within the three months preceeding those dates.

If your stepson is registered with the Ministry Of Defence - which he will be if he is joining the Army -  then Child Benefit can be paid for up to 20 weeks after your stepson leaves college. Assuming he is still at college at this moment and he has a start date with the Army in March it will be paid up to that week. He could leave college now and the "up to 20 weeks" rule would kick in. Your ex-partner will have to inform Child Benefit when he leaves college and I assume also inform CMS. I'm assuming that when he leaves home to go away with the army to start his training that will be the point at which Child Benefit would actually cease.

See https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/child-benefit-information-about-young-people-aged-16-or-over-leaflet-chfte

You can download a leaflet from the link which explains the above in detail. The information on page 7 may be relevant in your stepson's situation.