University - when does child benefit stop?

ChasingtheWelshdream

I am probably missing something really simple.

Our 18 year old will hopefully be going to Uni in September, and our 16 year old to college. We had letters asking to confirm if either will be continuing in approved education, and if we don't respond the benefit will cease in September. We extended the 16 year old, but I am unsure what we do about the 18 year old.

We know child benefit will stop for the 18 year old, but I am not sure when. Does it run until the end of the academic year, or should it be stopping now that he has finished exams? On the HMRC online form, it says to tell them if he has stopped full-time education, but the section reads as if it is for a child that is quitting half way through, rather than ending naturally at the end of A-levels.

We don't want to inadvertently end it early, but we don't want to assume it runs until the end of the year and then have an overpayment.

I have read the form several times but am not seeing an obvious answer.

jaybeetoo

You can’t claim child benefit for someone at university.

ChasingtheWelshdream

Yes I know, I did not say we are trying to.

What I can't work out is when the child benefit ends once A-levels have finished.

The letter states that unless the child is continuing into approved education (he is not), the benefit will end in September. This implies it continues to be paid for the remainder of the academic year.

The online form to inform HMRC of a child ceasing full-time education reads as if it is for a child that is quitting half-way through a year.

We don't want to inadvertently end up with an overpayment, but nor do we want to accidentally end it early by completing the wrong from.

2childmum2

The child benefit will be paid until 31st August. There are 4 dates in the year when it stops and this is the one closest to when he finished his A levels.

See here - you need to scroll down a bit

Child Benefit when your child turns 16 - GOV.UK https://share.google/9aKSIQXLCkXKNuHZl

kimwp

Does it run until the end of the academic year, or should it be stopping now that he has finished exams?

The letter says:

"if we don't respond the benefit will cease in September."

So, don't respond and it will stop in September, alongside child benefit for all the other children receiving it and finishing their secondary education/exams this month.

ChasingtheWelshdream

@2childmum2 Ah thank you! I have been on that page and realised I have been stopping at the 'Start Now' button!

I did say I was probably missing something really obvious!

I have just thought though. His exams officially ended mid-May, but I believe he is still on the school's register until the end of term this week.

Do we still go by the term, so 31st August, or May as that is the last exam he took? I would assume as he is still on the register, the end of term date counts.

Thinking about it, the grades still need to be confirmed as there is always a chance he doesn't pass and could end up at college or repeating a year, so it does make sense that he is still classed as in education until he officially isn't and off to Uni (if that makes sense). Thank you.

@kimwp I wasn't sure if by leaving it we would end up until an overpayment if we should have done something earlier.

2childmum2

When my two went to uni I got child benefit until 31st August

NedS

As others have stated, Child Benefit runs on until 31st August.

For anyone also claiming UC the rules are slightly different. The child element of UC ends on the last official day of the school/college term and you must report a change on that date (which is normally somewhere in mid-July, depending on the school or collage) to remove the child as a child that lives with you and add them back to the claim as a non-dependant assuming they still live at the property.

ChasingtheWelshdream

Thanks you both. There are no other benefits so it seems nice and simple.