To think that if they want them to stay in education then the child benefits should be extended??!!

[Holeymoley1]

The Irish government/ education system is starting to promote leaving your child start school later (age 5+) for many reasons.

So...my DS will start school at age 5yr 4months.
This means that my DS will be in primary school until age 13...start secondary school at 13.4 (or thereabouts)and finish secondary at age 19! (I’m pretty sure I’ve calculated this right!!😂😬)

I know it’s only a year and a half but child benefits stop at age 18! Aibu to think they could keep it going if they are still in education!!

In Scotland it's normal to start at 5yrs. I was 5yrs 8months, did 7yrs at primary school, and started high school aged 12yrs 8 months, did 6years of high school and was aged 18yrs and a few months when I left.
(I wasn't the oldest in the year).

im sure they don't stop(unless its changed) i Got it for mine untll they left "school"(6th form college and sn school)

so sorry. missed the irish bit. so ignore my post.

I don’t know about Ireland but in the UK child benefit can go up to 19 in some circumstances, such as still being at school.

Yep it stops on 18th birthday... 🤣🤣

@Wheresthebiffer2 that’s interesting that Scotland do it too!! Some of My dh’s family live in the U.K. and find it odd that he is not in school yet! They must not be aware that Scotland is the same! No DS will not be the oldest in his school year either!! And the youngest starting with him will be 1yr 3mths younger because you can start them at 4 if you wish...but not many do tbh.

Oooh @daisypond maybe it’s the same here!! I’ll have to phone and ask!! It doesn’t say on the government website!

Child benefit doesn’t stop at 16.
At 16 you will receive a letter asking if your child is continualing is full time approved education ie sixth form or college. If the answer is yes you can receive cb up to 19

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/646538/Child_Benefit_information_for_young_people_aged_16_or_over.pdf

I thought that school ended at 14/15? I think I was 15 and a few months when I left.

But Irish child benefit is a lot more than in the UK and it’s the same amount per child. 140 euros a month per child. Not £20 a week for child one and £13 for other children, as the UK.

@daisypond why does that matter? We have to spend a most of it on school books!! 700k to start my DN in her 1st year of state secondary school

Just that different countries prioritise different things. They’ve decided to give a lot in child benefit but for a very slightly shorter time.

When my DC1 started uni in 2017 I got his CB until his 19th birthday. When DC2 started uni in 2019 it had changed and was stopped on his 18th birthday.

@SciFiRules if either of my dc left school at 14 they wouldn’t have any school exams completed. Not many children here leave at 15...in fact I don’t know anyone that has. That’s just my experience though.

You are very lucky in Ireland to receive huge child benefits AND university education is much cheaper than in the UK with lower fees and most students being able to live at home or with relatives- consider yourself lucky!

I'm sure you don't mean 700k, 😉. School is very expensive in Ireland hence the high CB. Twins get 210 each though.

@ShiveringCoyote 🤣🤣🤣🙈 yes €700...imagine!!

For non Irish educated we have Primary school until 13ish and then secondary school until 18ish. Two state exams, Junior Cert in 3rd year (around 16 year old) and Leaving Cert in 6th year. 4th year or Transition year is optional in many schools and offers a break from traditional classes with short courses, vocational courses and work experience.

Leaving Cert or Leaving Cert Applied are exams for college or Uni. Leaving Cert Applied is more practically based continuous assessment.

It was a while ago but I was under 16 at the time as I still occaisinally has ID issues for cigarettes. My two are only just staring school so I've never thought about when they will leave.

I think it might be a bit early to start worrying about it.
If they're only just starting this then they've got 14 or so years to change the age child benefit stops at before the first kids affected by this leave school :)

I bet they will change the benefits, because otherwise some families will be unable to afford to keep their young people in school until school leaving age and there will be dropouts as the teens have to work to pay their own way.

It's a long time away though. Lots of things will undoubtedly change in that time. The entire benefits system might have been overhauled!