16yr old staying in education/army & working

michelle_stt

Hi, I've scoured the internet but there's so much mixed stuff!

My son has just left school this July (they actually left in May but were still provided with work until July) 

He applied for college back in April and was accepted in May. Child benefit sent me a letter asking what his intentions were which I filled in and sent back at the end of May. I also informed tax credits via the online portal. 

He's enrolled and waiting for his GCSE results next week to update his enrollment. 

Whilst this has been going on he's kept his options open and also applied for the 16/17 army cadet college. He's now got both to choose from. 

He also started a summer job that was contracted from the middle of July to the end of August.

I've looked and saw that as he's going to into full time education he can work and tax credits are ok. 

What will happen of he decides to join the army? I do have all college letters and enrollment but obviously he can change his mind. Will I get in trouble for not informing them? 

My online portal says that they're recalculating my award as he's changing his education or training and it'll be done by Sept 7th.

I very much do everything spot on but this has been playing on my mind! 

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

poppy12345

I've failed to find anything specific that relates to this, other than this. https://www.gov.uk/child-tax-credit-when-child-reaches-16

Although my thoughts are, will he still be living at home and will he receive any money from the army cadet college for this?

michelle_stt

poppy12345 said:

I've failed to find anything specific that relates to this, other than this. https://www.gov.uk/child-tax-credit-when-child-reaches-16

Although my thoughts are, will he still be living at home and will he receive any money from the army cadet college for this?

He will be staying at the base, depending which course he does (if he doesn't go to college) he gets chance to come home. He would still be registered here for all purposes.

He has until 26th August to fully decide out of these two options. I'm just a little worried I'm going to get in trouble for him finding a summer job! 

michelle_stt

And yes, he would get paid from the army for his time there (which I'm fully aware everything will stop) 

It did mention a 20 week run on but I've to apply within 3 months of him leaving school. So I'm not sure if that's May when he left or it would be the end of the school year (July) 

I've not applied for this as he was set on college initially, he still doesn't know what to do. This is why I'm a bit stuck on who to inform and when

TELLIT01

If he joins the Army, you inform Tax Credits at that point.  As it seems he hasn't yet made a decision there is nothing to tell them.

poppy12345

michelle_stt said:

And yes, he would get paid from the army for his time there (which I'm fully aware everything will stop) 

It did mention a 20 week run on but I've to apply within 3 months of him leaving school. So I'm not sure if that's May when he left or it would be the end of the school year (July) 

I've not applied for this as he was set on college initially, he still doesn't know what to do. This is why I'm a bit stuck on who to inform and when

Tax credits will end on 31st August anyway, as it's then recalculated after this date.  If he joins the Army college then you will need to report the changes to HMRC and child benefit.

peteuk

If he joins the army then he will be paid a wage and will be living away from you, therefore your child benefit would stop. 

However if he goes to college regardless of which college he will remain in full time eduction.