Tax credit reduction

[sunrayscome]

I have just received a letter advising tax credits have gone down from £57 to £5 a week due to my daughter turning 16 in August
She is staying on in full time education
Spoke to tax credits and had some garbled explaination that the computer does not calculate until she starts education in September - insinuating she leaves school soon and may get a job?! But I still have a child that needs a roof over her head, clothes and food - what are we supposed to do between now and September ?

I think there are some crossed wires here. Tax credits should continue until August.

Sorry I think I have misread. She turns 16 in august; that won't be the reason for the reduction then. Your entitlement doesn't change when they are 15

Yeah I had the same last year. Said they would drop the September after year 11. Then got another letter in august saying they were continuing at the normal level as she was going into further education

It does mention an over payment of £159 also but states the above payments reflect that your child will be over 16
Why do over payments happen also - it is their error I have made an honest claim about the hours I work - no child care and then they slam over payments on

It's the overpayment.

I had to fill in a form to state that my child would be continuing in full-time education from September.
This affected both child benefit and tax credits.
The relevant forms may be available on-line.

@crochetcrazy1978
Thank you - so confusing and a horrid shock especially when you rely on them to budget each week

Thank you - yes I have updated tax credits and child benefit that she will continue in education - looks like the dramatic reduction is this blooming over payment

It’s the overpayment they are clawing them all back around this time of year. You can ring the hardship line but they will just delay taking the payments for a few months. They tend to go for getting it back within 10 payments.

Also you knew how old your child is what would you do if she wasn’t staying on in education but struggling to find work?

[quote sunrayscome]@crochetcrazy1978
Thank you - so confusing and a horrid shock especially when you rely on them to budget each week[/quote]
Oh totally I panicked when I got the letter last year

I am a single parent - never had any maintenance so if she was not staying on in education I don't know what I would have done to be honest - just my wage coming in - all very worrying