Child tax credit college help pls

apples24

We get a small about of working tax credit, our daughter is 16 just started full time college but is having anxiety issue which the college is helping with she’s dropped down to two A levels 

so on her reduced a level Rota she has now only 10.5 hours education which is below the 12 minimum required 

there’s a few study periods of 1.5 hour each but it states they are not included 

gaps between courses are not a lot atal

I’m presuming we will now have to call them to change it? It’s all a bit of a mess as bless her she’s struggling but luckily college have helped with referral and after a chat with specialists (CAMHS)

she might even be in the autism spectrum but that’s another story


this post is about legality we don’t want to break any rules or face penalties 

apologues for the long post 

sheramber

Are the study periods supervised?

apples24

I don’t think so as she just has to attend college for them 

poppy12345

Is the course itself classed as full time? The reason she's been given reduced hours is because of her health condition. During those study periods are you saying that she will be left conpetely alone, with no one at all supervising?

apples24

I think  so yes study period you just have to be in the building 

yes was full time originally 3 A levels dropped one on medical 

poppy12345

I think you should speak to the college and ask them if the course she's doing is still classed as full time because the study periods maybe classed as supervised. If she has anxiety and potential ASD would they leave her completely alone for 1.5 hours of study time? That's along time to be left alone.

apples24

The autism side of things is something that’s appearing to light only today but camhs are messaging the college of there thoughts,  I think with child tax credit it’s just full time is classed as over 12hr by guidelines 

we have been in constant talks with the college the last week they have been fantastic, her academic grades and work are incredible a 9, 8s and a couple 7 but she can’t get in that classroom environment so dropping and changing ( the college allowed it due to the issues) 

deannagone

Csn your daughter do some distance learning i.e. work from home.  I would have thought most educational establishments allow classes to be on video now.

I would advise getting your daughter tested for ASD.  Some areas don't do this for adults so you apply for out of borough funding once you've found a place that will diagnose ASD in adults from other areas. It will probably take some time.

poppy12345

The ASD assessment process is easier and quicker before they reach adults. (18) Waiting lists will very likely be very long so if you can push for it to be done urgently then even better.

If they think there's high chance it is ASD then they may even be able to skip the first step. I went through all of this for my daughter wheh she a little older than your daughter and they skipped the first step for her and then the diagnosis came when she was 17.

We dealth with CAMHS when she was 15 and to be honest i found them very unhelpful, extremely rude and absolutely no help what so ever. It was a complete waste of our time.

apples24

My wife said camhs were so helpfull 

the next step is in my daughters hands once we voices the opinions to her when the time is right she might not want that stigma attached

im really hoping it could be a resolution answer for her as to why she feels like she does


I just need to know if I have to find a chunk of extra money from now on and still pay for her needs, bus pass just cost £500 and she can’t use it won’t go in the bus so we are taking time off work to drive her 😞 

apples24

Have found these two things I’ve attached pictures 

does one day study outside normal hours not included therefore study periods at college might be then? 

And the other about interruptions due to illness