Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Money matters

Find financial and money-saving discussions including debt and pension chat on our Money forum. If you're looking for ways to make your money to go further, sign up to our Moneysaver emails here.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

17 year old not going back to school. Loss of tax credit help!

266 replies

avroroad · 06/05/2020 14:37

Please go gentle on me, up until 3 years ago DH and I both worked full time. Him for over 30 years, me for just under. Now we have found ourselves sin a bit of a shitty position.

The upshot is that DS, 17, may not be returning to school but won't be going to Uni until 2021. So this means a loss of CB and my tax credits will drop - I will just have one child on my claim. I get carers allowance (for DH) and up until Covid-19 I was self employed. That income has gone for the foreseeable, mainly due to the industry which isn't going to pick up anytime soon. We are managing but I am really worried about what happens when I lose the money for DS (end of August iirc) There is nothing for him. He isn't ready to get a job, even if there were jobs available, due to being autistic. So does that leave us as we are or is there anything I could do that might make things a bit easier? UC maybe? I have been reluctant to do anything that would trigger a switch to UC because all the calculators told me (haven't looked recently - I'm baffled won't it all now) that tax credits are a better option.

This isn't a simple case of 'get a job' for me. I have a job. I have my business waiting for me when trade picks up again (realistically looking at months though) and I have heavily invested etc. My job suits my circumstances ordinarily. What I do meantime, if anything, I have no idea though.

OP posts:
Original poster
avroroad · 06/05/2020 18:58

Could you "homeschool" your DS? Schooling only needs to be for 12 hours per week to qualify.

I actually didn't consider this, it could be an option, a very real options. Thank you - it's on my list of things I am taking away from this thread.

There's websites etc he could use so you don't have to deliver the teaching thus allowing you to get back to your business when the time is right?

Now here we have the issue!The reason DS is thinking about not going back is because of the lack of teaching right now. Our kids school years have changed in Scotland (last week for us) and he is now at home having things sent to him to do. He has, and always has had, a mental block with school work and home. He needs to be in school to do the work. If the schools go back in August he may go back and be able to catch up no bother, but maybe not. He also is worried about the virus and no amount of talking will change that so depending on how that lies in August, another factor in whether he goes back or not. I didn't give the reason in my OP because it isn't really relevant, I will support his decision either way, but it is a block for home schooling I think. I mean I could try but there is no way I could teach one advanced Highers let alone 3!

Still home school is a very real option - thanks for the suggestion.

OP posts:
SciFiScream · 06/05/2020 19:00

I'm in Scotland too. The paid for solutions mean there will be teachers. It's not like the ad hoc situation we're in now.

Original poster
avroroad · 06/05/2020 19:15

Ok op if you haven't lost the will to live I have some options for you.

Thanks, I took an hour out Grin

1) tax credits are not necessarily the best option now that your children are older and you have lost household income.
2) UC is currently more generous and more flexible for self employed people, and as you have caring responsibilities you will have a work allowance before deductions for income if you do get an income from your work.

The tax credit V universal credit was my main question. It seems to have disappeared into 'he can get PIP and UC' ! I think UC might be looking better now/.

3) your son won't be entitled to benefits if he is going to be assessed as fit for work. So I would forget trying to claim anything on his behalf. It is a luxury not making him go to school or work for the next year - only you as a family can decide if you can afford it.

I won't make him go, we will manage. It was never about claiming for DS though, that was everyone else's posts.

4) as you are self employed then are you getting any funding from the gov scheme? You haven't mentioned it.

Not applied yet, i should get something though, not a lot, but something.

5) get down to Citizens Advice and have a better off calculation. You may be surprised by the result.

I'm going to contact them, thank you

OP posts:
WrongKindOfFace · 06/05/2020 19:15

I don’t think he’ll remain eligible for child benefit if homeschooling starts after age 16?

Original poster
avroroad · 06/05/2020 19:17

I'm n in Scotland too. The paid for solutions mean there will be teachers. It's not like the ad hoc situation we're in now.

Thank you. It's looking like the best option so far!

OP posts:
okiedokieme · 06/05/2020 19:24

If he's autistic and capable of university then he's also capable of work - dd is autistic and worked for McDonald's, they were really good. If he genuinely cannot work then he will need to claim universal credit in his own right - this is separate to your claim

SciFiScream · 06/05/2020 19:26

Good luck. You were looking for ideas and that was the only one I could think of. I worry that the paid for solutions might be expensive though, but perhaps it's a stop gap until August? (As per one of your updates)

Also see a PPs question about age of starting homeschooling and benefits.

You'll need good advice.

There are homeschooling groups on Facebook you might be able to ask questions and get better answers there.

okiedokieme · 06/05/2020 19:27

Ps my dd did get pip, still managed to work. We told her university or work, she wasn't sitting around for a year

Original poster
avroroad · 06/05/2020 19:29

If he's autistic and capable of university then he's also capable of work

Yes it's absolutely that simple. Silly me.

OP posts:
TabbyStar · 06/05/2020 19:30

You need to already have been home educating before your DC was 16 to qualify for it to be approved education for benefits www.gov.uk/child-tax-credit-when-child-reaches-16

Original poster
avroroad · 06/05/2020 19:30

If he genuinely cannot work then he will need to claim universal credit in his own right - this is separate to your claim

He cannot work right now. He does not have to claim anything. I was asking about my claim.

OP posts:
Original poster
avroroad · 06/05/2020 19:32

Ps my dd did get pip, still managed to work.

Great. My DS won't get PIP.

We told her university or work, she wasn't sitting around for a year

Again, that's great. I'm not laying that rule. I'm sure I have mentioned that already?

OP posts:
Original poster
avroroad · 06/05/2020 19:34

You need to already have been home educating before your DC was 16 to qualify for it to be approved education for benefits

Thanks for that, I did think it was sounds too easy ! Still home schooling is an option all the same.

OP posts:
Oblomov20 · 06/05/2020 19:34

PIP?
Yeah right. New criteria include purpose compared to the old DLA.
Can you make a meal, can you walk 50 metres?
Zero points on two sections then!

JanMeyer · 06/05/2020 19:34

If he's autistic and capable of university then he's also capable of work

That's a big assumption you're making there, just because your autistic kid could work in McDonald's doesn't mean others can. Being capable of going to uni doesn't automatically make a person capable of work. Having a normal IQ is no guarantee of that fact. Uni and work are two very different things.
And some autistic people are capable of working but only in very specific jobs. I knew quite a few very smart autistic people who despite having a degree couldn't cope working in somewhere like McDonald's. It's not nearly as simplistic as you make it out to be.

ChipotleBlessing · 06/05/2020 19:37

Have you explained to him that him not going to school will have an impact on the family finances? I think, without putting pressure on him, even a very immature 17 year old is capable of understanding that and taking it into account in their decision making.

TabbyStar · 06/05/2020 19:37

BTW my DD may leave college at 17 because of her mental health. Before this she would have had a job, but who knows now, I will lose CB and I suspect her dad will stop paying maintenance (I've only just got him to pay a decent amount after 15 years!) as she's not in f/t education. It's a difficult age, they're not adults but they're not children either. I'm also SE and not entitled to any Govt help.

Abouttoblow · 06/05/2020 19:38

Hi OP. I work with young people in situations like your son. There are government funded supported training programmes available, such as the Employabilty Fund. If he participates in one of these he would be paid a training allowance (£55 pw) and your CB/tax credits would remain in place.

Original poster
avroroad · 06/05/2020 19:42

Have you explained to him that him not going to school will have an impact on the family finances?

No. It's not relevant. I want him to make his decision based on what is right for him. I will support either way, it will just be harder if he doesn't go back and I was wondering if maybe a switch in benefits might help that.

I think, without putting pressure on him, even a very immature 17 year old is capable of understanding that and taking it into account in their decision making.

He is not a very immature 17 year old? He is more than able to understand, however my finances are not something I want him to factor in to his decision.

OP posts:
Original poster
avroroad · 06/05/2020 19:43

@Abouttoblow

Thanks, I will add that to the list of things to check out

OP posts:
Original poster
avroroad · 06/05/2020 19:46

@TabbyStar

I'm sorry. It's hard for them trying to find their way in the current climate. DS1 left school at 18 last year, picked up a job in May after exams and is just completing his HNC. Unfortunately there is zero to no chance of him getting a job in that field now. So part time retail remains!

OP posts:
DianaT1969 · 06/05/2020 19:46

If he is good at computer programming, designing logos, illustrations, Photoshop etc he could make money on freelancer sites such as Upwork or People per Hour. There is very little interaction with clients and clients would never know he is 17.
There are free courses on Open University which he might enjoy and will help him when he needs to pad out his CV.

Iwalkinmyclothing · 06/05/2020 19:47

You may be able to claim child benefit for an extended period: www.gov.uk/government/publications/child-benefit-apply-for-extension-ch299

Abouttoblow · 06/05/2020 19:49

Referrals are done through the Careers Adviser. Although the programmes aren't running at the moment all careers staff are still working. Google your local Skills Development Scotland centre and give them a ring. They'll be able to tell you about the provision in your local authority area. Most of these programmes are very flexible and some can tailor specific courses to young people's needs. Good luck!