Home schooling and tax matters

[vitalmum]

I originally posted this in Money Matters where a respondent suggested that I post in HE. Sorry if you're reading this a second time.

My 18 year old was not able to take his three A2 levels this summer due to ill health. He does not want to go back to school but would prefer to study at home for them with the help of tutors (perhaps a couple of hours per subject per week to sort out any problems encountered). There would always be a parent at home to supervise that the work was being done and we have agreed he would need to study as though he was at school.

Can anyone advise how tax credits (and child benefit) would be affected by this plan? Will we still be eligible? If not, what do we need to do to be eligible? I would be interested to hear from anyone in a similar situation with regard to the tax credits and/or the home schooling. Thanks.

[titchy]

It's his age and the fact that he has done 2 years of post-compulsory schooling that means you can't continue to get CB or tax credits I suspect, nothing to do with being HE.

[titchy]

Incidentally this is the Higher Education topic not the Home Education one!

[alreadytaken]

unless he has 12 hours with tutors I don't think you'll qualify. You would be eligible for both if he went back to school, to a different school or 6th form college. www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/keep-up-to-date/changes-affect/family-change/child-16.htm

He could claim JSA but then he would have to show he was looking for work.