Disagree with Tax Credits Decision

fossil

I sent my latest details as requested in June. Income had gone down very slightly. Eldest leaving ft non advanced education in September. But it looks as if they are taking my 16 year old off tax credits too. His situation is slightly complicated as he is home educated, so as there was a chance to redo the forms, I filled the parts about him in again online, for both tax credits and child benefit, making it clear that he has always been home educated, is continuing with GCSEs this year etc. I thought they may have misunderstood, or I may have missed something out.

I have heard nothing back although I only wrote just over two weeks ago, and I'm worried that his continuing education will still not be picked up. I now feel I should have phoned to disagree on their decision and but I think there is a deadline for this. What would be the most useful thing to do next? 

poppy12345

It sounds like to me that they haven't yet calculated your award. As your son is 16 then your tax credits for him will continue until 31st August. After this date they will be recalculated and the payments will increase due to your son being added back onto the claim. This happened with all of my 3 children at the same age.

You also say you "wrote" to them? Are you aware that you can report the changes on your online tax account? https://www.gov.uk/manage-your-tax-credits

fossil

Thank you. Yes, it looked as if they would continue until 31st August and then stop. But his education continues beyond that:

I have three children, so eldest will stop, 16 year old should continue and youngest should continue. But on my letter it says eldest (qualifying young person) will stop for good, end of August, and then in addition I have two child elements up to 31st August, but after that only one. So it seems they have stopped two of them as from September.

Yes, when I said I wrote, I meant that was when I filled in the online form. So I'm not sure if they are going to reassess or just ignore it.

poppy12345

Yes, as advised, the element for your 16 year old will stop on 31st August. After this date they will recalculate your tax credits to include your son and then you will receive a new award notice, with new payments. It happens all the time with young people that reach 16. It can take a couple of weeks to recalculate your new award.

fossil

Ok, sorry I misunderstood. So even though this new award says it's 2021 to 2022, they will send me another one in September...? It's sort of strange as from where I'm looking, there don't seem to be any changes with him - he hasn't stopped his education, and he even turned 16 several months ago. But I think I can see their way of doing it now. 

poppy12345

Yes, it's perfectly normal. It's because it's the August after his 16th birthday, so payments would only normally continue until then, unless they remain in full time non advanced education, which he is.

You also need to make sure you tell child benefit, if you claim this. Although they sometimes share information you should also make sure you report it too.

fossil

Thank you so much. Yes I have told Child Benefit too. 

OK I will sit tight until the end of August then and hope they will pick it up. 

poppy12345

It's likely to be September when it will be completed. Although if you're paid monthly/4 weekly then it shouldn't affect you that much.

strawb_shortcake

If you have a gateway account, it will tell you what they are doing when you look at future payments.
Currently my account looks like my last payment will be August but a note says they are reassessing my claim and will be completed by 7th September. I had exactly the same last year when my eldest finished year 11. 

fossil

Thank you. Yes the Gateway account only goes to the end of August so that must also be a sign that it will be reassessed.