Child turned 18 and UC

Oneplanetonelife

What kind of proof is needed that a child is staying in full time education?

one child I hear started full time education but apparently had very poor attendance and I was wondering if UC finds out?

sheramber

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-and-your-family-quick-guide/universal-credit-further-information-for-families

Oneplanetonelife

When your child turns 16

Universal Credit will include the extra amount for your children until:

• the end of August following each child’s 16th birthday, or
• the end of August after their 19th birthday for each child still living at home and in eligible education or training

Eligible education or training means they’re either:

• enrolled on a course for more than 12 hours a week during term time, and studying for qualifications like GCSEs, A levels, BTEC, Scottish Highers, SVQ or NVQ up to level 3
• accepted on approved training (check with the training provider if you’re not sure)

Reporting your child’s education or training details

By the end of July each year you’ll get a journal message in your Universal Credit account explaining what you’ll need to do to update your child’s education or training plans for the next academic year.

Changes to your child’s education will affect how much Universal Credit you are paid. For example, you should report a change in your Universal Credit account straight away if your child:

• changes their course or training
• finishes or stops their course or training early

At the start of a new term, you’ll get a journal message to remind you to report changes if they have happened. If nothing has changed, you do not need to do anything until you are contacted in July.

When your child turns 19

Payments for children who are still on eligible education courses or training continue until the 31 August after their 19th birthday.

After this, if your child is continuing their course or training, they might be able to apply for Universal Credit as a student.

If your child is 18 or over and not in education or training

If your child is no longer enrolled on, or accepted for, eligible education or training, they can apply for Universal Credit themselves.

Oneplanetonelife

All rather confusing.

so take this hypothetical situation 

child turns 18 finishes full time education but takes a gap year to figure out what she wants to do.

will the family still get UC for her until the next August after she turns 19?

RAS

No. She's not in full-time education. 

poppy12345

Oneplanetonelife said:

All rather confusing.

so take this hypothetical situation 

child turns 18 finishes full time education but takes a gap year to figure out what she wants to do.

will the family still get UC for her until the next August after she turns 19?

It’s quite straightforward really, if a qualifying young person remains in full time education the child element continues until the 31st August following their 19th birthday. If they leave then it stops. 

sheramber

Lack of attendance is a matter for the school/ college not UC. 

College courses may not require attendance from 9am to 4 pm depending on what is being studied. 

Attendance  may  only be when actual lessons are scheduled. 

Oneplanetonelife

sheramber said:

Lack of attendance is a matter for the school/ college not UC. 

College courses may not require attendance from 9am to 4 pm depending on what is being studied. 

Attendance  may  only be when actual lessons are scheduled. 

Thanks that is a good answer 

LightFlare

sheramber said:

Lack of attendance is a matter for the school/ college not UC. 

College courses may not require attendance from 9am to 4 pm depending on what is being studied. 

Attendance  may  only be when actual lessons are scheduled. 

That’s interesting - so carrying on the hypothetical theme. One could sign up to a course to satisfy the UC eligibility criteria, but then just not bother to attend.

I am a little surprised/shocked that no one actually checks this is being fulfilled (maybe they do, but do t advertise that they do)

NedS

LightFlare said:

sheramber said:

Lack of attendance is a matter for the school/ college not UC. 

College courses may not require attendance from 9am to 4 pm depending on what is being studied. 

Attendance  may  only be when actual lessons are scheduled. 

That’s interesting - so carrying on the hypothetical theme. One could sign up to a course to satisfy the UC eligibility criteria, but then just not bother to attend.

I am a little surprised/shocked that no one actually checks this is being fulfilled (maybe they do, but do t advertise that they do)

Exactly - that would be benefit fraud, and it's pretty easy for DWP to check, especially where attendance is recorded and shared for things like automated EMA payments.

kaMelo

Hypothetical scenarios? That all sounds a little familiar.