School Leaver - Child Benefit

[roofio]

Posted in Money Matters, but no responses.

DS17 sat his last exam today. Is that him officially classed as having left school? I'm trying to work out if I need to tell the Child Benefit office yet, or if he's still classed as in education until end of term? It makes a difference as to whether I receive CB after this month or not - see photo. He's not planning on going to college or uni, but will be working part time until such time as he turns 18 and can apply for the role he's interested in. We are in Scotland. Thanks.

If he's still 17 then it's the closest month to when he's 18 so I'm assuming August date. DS18 is still in 6th form until June so his is end of August as well. I've recieved letters for both of mine to fill in if they are or ignore if they aren't going on to FE.

Both mine, stopped end of August.

I would class the end of the exam period as the last day of his schooling and then CB would finish in August

I'm pretty sure it's the last day of August they would take it from if he isn't staying on in education.

My DC , it stopped end of August too..I had to explain this to a colleague who thought he would get it until they finished university. He reasoned they should get it as they were still children if he had to support them through university. 😁

It will end on 31st August.

For those saying August, are you in Scotland?

I'm in Scotland
I would count the end of the exam period as the end of his schooling. CB won't know what exams he is sitting or when so they arent going to query about the exact dates

Last exam is 1st June so I'd count that as his last day so you can get CB until August

I’d also assume august but when I have called them they have been surprisingly helpful.
they won’t (need to) know that the last exam has passed

I had a letter in Feb saying it would stop on 5 Sept, for daughter in Y13 in England

My dd is also finishing school this year. Do I have to actually tell the CB or do they just stop paying you?

I know that I filled in a form in 2020 in which I had to put a date for when she’d take her final exam, I put May 2022. But the exam period runs right up until June 🤔

looks like my child benefit might finish at the end of May 🤦🏼‍♀️

@Linnet I assumed I have to tell them? I also filled in the form when he was 16, but i don't remember what I filled in.

DS isn't 18 until end December.

My dd is 18 next week.

I have an older dd but she left school 6 years ago and I can’t remember what happened with the CB then.

They pay until 31/8...

If he registers with his local careers service, you can apply for an extension of CB for 20 weeks.

See www.gov.uk/child-benefit-16-19

It sort of automatically stops in the August/September of year 13. If you are still eligible if they do an additional year of college you have to request it.

Same with CMS it carries on until the end of August.

Thanks for the replies.

Will leave it as is, and keep an eye out in August to make sure it stops.

Have had issues with tax credits when I received those, so it has made me really wary of receiving overpayments.

Did you read the link I shared?

Most PPs are referring to 18yos leaving education. Your DS is 17 which makes it slightly different.

Hi @AnotherEmma I had already read that page, and that's where my screenshot was from.

Which part are you referring to? Looking at now, it seems I do have to tell them as he is over 16 and leaving education.

@roofio as pp says you can get a 20 week extension as he is still 17.

Yes, I saw that. But I'm not sure exactly how many hours he will be working. Or whether I can even convince him to sign up to the careers service, since he knows what he plans to do.