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16yo at college away from home

4 replies

YolandiFuckinVisser · 30/03/2017 21:36

DS has been accepted to go to his first choice college in September, he is over the moon, back up plans were only ever there in case the worst happened and he didn't get in.

Trouble is, he will not be able to attend this particular college and live at home. It's not very far away, commutable if you can drive but no possible public transport option for getting to college by 9am every day.

It is a very niche college, the only other one offering the same course is in London which is much further away. There is really no option for the same thing closer to home, so we are stuck with it and happy to go with it. DS is talented in this sphere and I know he will make the best of the opportunity.

My concerns therefore are centred around the practicalities.

He has applied for onsite subsidised accommodation, this would be great if he gets a place in the house as it will be full of kids in the same situation. If he doesn't get a place in the house we have to find alternative housing, how easy is this for under 18s?

Obviously he will still be dependent on us for maintenance, can I still claim child benefit for him if he's away at college? Or can he claim for himself if not? Is he still eligible for child tax credits?

I don't know anybody IRL whose child has left home for college at 16, anybody have any advice on this situation? Thank you!

OP posts:

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TeenAndTween · 31/03/2017 15:59

Try PMing @KatyMac as I think her DD did similar at that age for dance college.

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cdtaylornats · 31/03/2017 23:04

Virtually everyone in the Scottish Islands are in the same boat (literally) some of tem spend the week away when they are at secondary school.

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musicposy · 02/04/2017 01:08

Do the college have host families? DD1 is away at dance school and a huge percentage of them are under 18. They usually stay with a family for the first year or two. They have their independence, but still with someone to keep a watchful eye. If he doesn't get into he house ask the college if they have a similar set up.
As far as I know you can still get child benefit as long as you're contributing more than the child benefit amount to their upkeep.

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YolandiFuckinVisser · 02/04/2017 21:53

Thanks for the responses! I think there is some sort of host family set up, they indicated it was mostly for foreign students but will follow up that lead for sure. DS is an independent sort but he's not even 16 yet so slightly jittery about the living away thing!