Save more money with us » CB http://blog.metelecoms.co.uk Save money, and get more deals from here...like voucher code, latest special offers etc Tue, 23 Mar 2010 10:45:07 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Child Benefit Stops when child reaches age 17 http://blog.metelecoms.co.uk/2009/02/18/child-benefit-stops-when-child-reaches-age-17/ http://blog.metelecoms.co.uk/2009/02/18/child-benefit-stops-when-child-reaches-age-17/#comments Wed, 18 Feb 2009 22:19:45 +0000 Me http://blog.metelecoms.co.uk/?p=462 A lady called today, saying her child benefit for her daughter had been stopped.

It is because as our understanding from the rules :

Who counts as a child and who counts as a young person

A claimant is only entitled to child benefit for someone who counts as a child or a young person. A child is a person under 16. A young person will be a qualifying young person for child benefit purposes if s/he is:-
  • aged 16, from her/his 16th birthday up to and including the following 31 August
  • aged 16 or over and under 20 and is in full-time non-advanced education or approved training which s/he started before the age of 19. If s/he is aged 19, this only applies if s/he began the education or training (or was accepted or enrolled to take that education or training) before reaching 19. This provision also covers where, having undertaken such a course or approved training, s/he has been accepted or enrolled to take a further such course or training
  • aged 16 or 17 and not in full-time non-advanced education or approved training but meets the rules for payment during an extension period.

If a young person leaves full-time non-advanced education before s/he reaches the age of 20, s/he will continue to count as a young person for a short period, up to what is known as the terminal date. There are specified dates when child benefit will stop.
The lady said her daughter had been laid off due to closeure of Woolworth, and not very good in schoo.
She might consider to claim Child Tax Credit, as she is treated as responsible for a child or qualifying young person who is normally living with her/him.
A child is a person under the age of 16. Once s/he reaches the age of 16, s/he will remain a child for tax credit purposes up to and including the 31 August following her/his 16th birthday.
A person will cease to be a qualifying young person on the date s/he reaches the age of 20. A qualifying young person is a person aged under 20 who is not a child (see previous paragraph) and:-
  • is in full-time non-advanced education or, in some cases, has been accepted or enrolled to take such a course. The definition of full-time non-advanced education is the same as that for child benefit
    or
  • is undertaking approved training or, in some cases, has been accepted or enrolled to take such training. The definition of approved training is the same as that for child benefit
    or
  • is aged under 18, has ceased full-time education or approved training within the last 20 weeks and, within three months of leaving, has registered for work or training with the Careers Service, Department for Employment and Learning, or, in England only, the Connexions Service.

However, HMRC had pretty poor reputation in dealing with benefit. You had been warned if you claim any tax credit, you should notice them as soon as your situation changes to avoid any benefit overpayment.

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