UC Statement missing child element

NE12

I just checked my Universal Credit statement for my payment that's due next Friday, and it's missing the £290 child element.  My daughter is 17 and staying in full time education.  I'd previously looked at the change circumstances section, but I couldn't see a staying in education option.  So I've assumed they would continue to pay it.

I've messaged them on the journal, but is there anything else I should be doing?  

poppy12345

It's probably because you didn't report her staying in full time non advanced education, so she's been removed from your claim. You need to report a change of circumstances and It will probably come under "children and other people that live with you" then you can report the changes there.

You should do that now and then put a message on your journal under the payment section and tell them you didn't receive the child element.

huckster

Yes do as Poppy says and report the change under Children and other people who live with you.

The reason is that the UC claim when you made it did not ask whether your daughter was in full time education, as a presumption is made when they are 16 or younger that they are in full time education. So for the first assessment period that ends after 31st August followng the 16th birthday, it is necessary to report the change to confirm they are in full time education.

This issue always happens at this time of year and you will not be the only person this happens to.  Where the last disclosure was made that did not include confirming child was still in education, where the date of birth means they were in last year at senior school, then for Universal Credit assessment period ending after 31st of August, the Child amount is sometimes automatically removed.  If this happens then the Children need to be reported on the claim again to confirm they are still in education or approved training.

NE12

poppy12345 said:

It's probably because you didn't report her staying in full time non advanced education, so she's been removed from your claim. You need to report a change of circumstances and It will probably come under "children and other people that live with you" then you can report the changes there.

You should do that now and then put a message on your journal under the payment section and tell them you didn't receive the child element.

Thankyou Poppy.  I've found it, and have declared the change from the 5th September which is when she re-enrolled. 

I had previously looked at the "children and other people that live with you section"  but I couldn't see the staying in education option, and didn't want to blindly click continue to much incase I broke my claim.  So I'd click back and cancel.

The option was there after I'd re-typed her name in and date of birth.  tbh I think they should give you the option on the first page.

I've told them in the journal that there is actually two "Children and other people who live with you - declare changes cancelled" on the 7th September, so I'd actually tried to do it, but cancelled it because I couldn't find the option.

gizmo1961

Just checked my payment and child element missing too 

NedS

gizmo1961 said:

Just checked my payment and child element missing too 

Just wondering - did you receive the Child Benefit renewal form over the summer to advise if your child was staying in education, and did you return it promptly? Just trying to figure out why some claims the child drops off, but not others.

NE12

NedS said:

gizmo1961 said:

Just checked my payment and child element missing too 

Just wondering - did you receive the Child Benefit renewal form over the summer to advise if your child was staying in education, and did you return it promptly? Just trying to figure out why some claims the child drops off, but not others.

I never got one of those. Last Tuesday I didn't get my CB payment, and had to notify them. 

huckster

So it seems Universal Credit does a data check at some point (sometime in August each year) and if the child benefit claim has not been updated to confirm 16 year old is going to stay in education or approved training, then the child element under UC does not continue.

Child benefit issues a form to parents in June/July for 16 year old children who have just completed last senior year, asking whether they will be staying in education or approved training. This needs to be returned promptly to enable both child benefit and child element under UC to be continued beyond 31st August.

gizmo1961

I did not receive any form from CB I will contact them thanks

NedS

gizmo1961 said:

I did not receive any form from CB I will contact them thanks

Do HMRC hold an up to date address for you? Maybe you have moved since first claiming and never informed them?

poppy12345

I don't ever rememeber receiving any forms for child benefit when my children reached 16. I just contacted them to report them staying in FTE.