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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is this benefit fraud?

31 replies

Ballacre · 27/07/2019 12:12

I have changed my username for this thread.

Not really an AIBU as such.

Someone I know has been claiming Child Tax Credit and Child Benefit for his older teenage child. The child (now 18) has not been in education since s/he left school and has undergone no training and acquired no employment.

Today the person received a letter stating that the child Tax Credit would end in August but the Child Benefit would continue until September

He told me he had phoned the Child Benefit Office/ and they had said he should let them know in September if there was a change in circumstances.

I have been telling this person that he should not be claiming either benefit for his child, if the child is not in education or training. When he told me he had phoned CB, I expected a lot of questions to be asked. I am beginning to think that maybe I was wrong and this is not benefit fraud after all.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 27/07/2019 12:14

When did they leave school?

MyDcAreMarvel · 27/07/2019 12:15

When did they leave school?

Jemima232 · 27/07/2019 12:15

Why do you even care?

SolsticeBabyMaybe · 27/07/2019 12:17

If he spoke to the benefits department and they said it was fine then surely it's not fraud...

JustMe9 · 27/07/2019 12:17

Why dont you mind your own business..?

dementedpixie · 27/07/2019 12:17

When your child leaves approved education or training, payments will stop at the end of February, 31 May, 31 August or 30 November (whichever comes first).

flossie86 · 27/07/2019 12:18

@Jemima232 probably a family member & OP just making sure they dont get in trouble

Disfordarkchocolate · 27/07/2019 12:18

From my distant memory, I think they have it right.

Debfronut · 27/07/2019 12:20

If you claim you are home educating you can claim until they are 19. Maybe they did that? Could be doing online courses or something?

Musereader · 27/07/2019 12:21

Child benefit is paid until september after child leaves school and children are required to go to school until 18 so if child was at school until may/june this year then it is fine

Pipandmum · 27/07/2019 12:22

I’ve just had to fill in a form sent by government saying my 16 year old will be doing a continuing education course (I had to name the course and give the college address and the qualification he will get). Or if not that an approved training scheme. So I don’t know how they’ve gotten away with it these last two years unless they falsely declared he was on a program.

MyDcAreMarvel · 27/07/2019 12:22

You have to have been home educating before the age of 16.

NuttyOrNice · 27/07/2019 12:25

Sounds like deliberate fraud to me. How can it not be.

I’d suggest they sort it out. They will presumably have to pay the fraudulently claimed money back.

It might also effect housing benefit and council tax if relevant but I’m not really sure.

dementedpixie · 27/07/2019 12:27

Dont kids in England have to be in education or training until age 18

Queenofthestress · 27/07/2019 12:59

In England it's education or training until 18 now, has been for a few years I think

Myothernameistakenbysomeone · 27/07/2019 13:04

If they have been in education up until the age of 18, then the CB and CTC automatically will stop unless you inform them that they ARE staying in education.
I have to inform them every year that my eldest is staying in full time education.
They aren't commuting any fraud UNLESS the child isn't in education..... they are entitled to the money till the end of August.
My daughter finishes her education next June/July..... my payments will continue till the end of the 6 weeks holidays.

DuckWillow · 27/07/2019 13:06

If they were home educating before the age of 16 then no fraud has been committed. Home education can be very informal so it might appear not much is happening.

The 16-18 teams should have this teen on their radar,

NuttyOrNice · 27/07/2019 13:07

Myothernameistakenbysomeone It’s not a long thread, if you read the OP then you will see that the child has not been in education since he left school.

hazell42 · 27/07/2019 13:08

Not fraud.
You will probably find that he is enrolled on something somewhere.
No one wants to check this too thoroughly because otherwise they would have to find an adequate placement for them and they cant
So they are allowed I sign up to a jockey mouse scheme, never turn up, and continue to collect for 2 years.
Dont blame parent. Blame government who has failed to invest in post 16 education

hazell42 · 27/07/2019 13:09

That would be a Mickey mouse scheme
Jockey mouse schemes are a different kettle of fish altogether!

hazell42 · 27/07/2019 13:11

For example, You can get a 6 month run on of CB just for registering with the careers service

Sockwomble · 27/07/2019 13:24

Child is probably signed up for something. As long as the child is not also claiming benefits for themselves, I don't see what your issue is.

DuckWillow · 27/07/2019 13:27

My situation is a bit different as my son is autistic so I know there are teams who monitor 16-18yr olds who are deemed to be vulnerable.

As hazell says above there’s not enough investment in schemes to catch those falling by the wayside

Klobluchar · 27/07/2019 13:29

So what has the child been doing since he or she left school? And when was that?

YouSayPotatoesISayVodka · 27/07/2019 13:39

Well if this person says they’ve rang CB and is still claiming then it must all be fine?

As an aside how do some people know so much about others’ finances? How does the topic of who’s claiming what come up in conversation? And then stay on your mind so much you keep it up and want to double check it’s all above board?

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