Is this benefit fraud?

[Ballacre]

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.

Thank you.

The child was not enrolled on any course and left school at 16. The child has been unsuccessfully looking for work for two years and has not signed on at the age of 18.

I am not sure what the person said ton his claim, but I doubt he stated that the child was NEET.

Yes, political rhetoric states that all young people in England should be in education until 18, but there are many who are not. It is the age old story of slipping through the net..

Had the child officially left school when 16? My neighbours child doesn't attend school but is still on the school roll. So is still entitled to child benefit.

@NuttyOrNice
The OP states since he left education..... you now have to be in education till 18, or the equivalent. The OP didn't state age.

OP..... since you have now stated he has not been in education since 16, then they aren't entitled to CB or CTC..... unless he is stated as home schooled.
I'd gather a few more fact before or if you do act on this info

@NuttyOrNice.....
Sorry, OP didn't state what age the child left education

I mean this in the nicest way possible, but what others decide to do is none of your business, and for you too know all this information they must class you as someone who is close to them.

I would be devastated to know that someone in my life has aired my personal business on a parenting site.

When people do something wrong they always get caught out, whether it be years later, but until then please carry on with your life.

Thank you again for the responses.

The child left school formally at 16. The child has not been in education or training or employment since then. There are reasons why this is very much my business, but I do not wish to discuss those at the moment. I am asking for opinions because I am confused. I had thought it was not legal to claim either CTC or CB if a child was over 16, was not in education or training or registered with a careers service. I had been advising the person claiming CB CTC that this was the case and the claim needed to end. The child is 18.

It does seem, however, that there is some confusion with respect to when a child formally leaves education and exactly how the CB CTC system works, so it is reassuring that I am not alone in this.

I have tried to access figures for young people aged 16-18 who are NEET. However, this has been difficult for me. However 808,000 young people aged 16-24 were not in education, employment or training in the year 2018.

There are a lot of reasons for this and most young people between 16 and 18 would not be able to claim benefits in their own right. My assumption was that CB and CTC would cease for these young people, thus putting more pressure on parents/guardians to ensure the YP secured some form of education or training (even if it was only figure massaging Mickey Mouse courses).

However, I know the young person in question never enrolled in or engaged in any type of education or training. Now the YP is 18 s/he could and perhaps should claim benefits, which would, at least, put the YP back into the system. If/when this happens, if the person claiming the benefit is still in receipt of it, then the discrepancy will show.

Obviously, the benefits may simply cease in September and the YP will either remain unfunded and unseen or start claiming UC or its equivalent (or better still, gain some form of employment or training). However, the very fact that this YP (and perhaps many others) can simply not engage in society for two or more years and no agency, or authority is aware of this is frightening.