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Original poster

What to do if HMRC can't find a Child Trust Fund

31 replies

franke · 31/03/2023 14:50

Long story short. DD was born just after this scheme started in 2002. DH and I can't remember anything about it, have no paperwork from the time. We left the UK in 2004 to live abroad. Dd is a British citizen if that's relevant.

Wrote to HMRC last year to ask them to find it. Received a timely reply asking on for more info which we sent last June. Received no subsequent reply from HMRC despite following up. Everything done by post because we can't get access online and dd doesn't have a NI number.

There's no phone number or email to follow this up with a human being. What can we do?

OP posts:
converseandjeans · 31/03/2023 14:56

I think we had to set ours up. Can't recall how. But ours are with Children's Mutual.

Danikm151 · 31/03/2023 14:59

I think she’ll have to apply for an NI number. If you haven’t been claiming cb as you’ve been overseas it probably won’t have been generated.

dementedpixie · 31/03/2023 15:03

I'd write to them again as that's what the website says to do if you haven't heard back within 3 weeks

The unique reference number on the CTF is the National Insurance Number so if there is a CTF there is a NI number.

dementedpixie · 31/03/2023 15:04

Or have you already written again?

Original poster
franke · 31/03/2023 15:04

@Danikm151 this is what I fear. I can't understand why, with all the info we've sent them, including birth certificate copy, old addresses etc they can't find it. And if they can't find it, why don't they just tell us? It's the radio silence I find unacceptable.

Was it possible to withdraw from the scheme at the start? Neither of us can remember doing so, but at least it would be an explanation.

OP posts:
Original poster
franke · 31/03/2023 15:07

Sorry, crossed posts. I followed up last month. I have absolutely no info about any CTF from the time, no ref number or anything. Which is why I wonder if we unknowingly withdrew or we were a clerical error and were forgotten about. My only option is to keep writing I think, but it does feel a bit like shouting into a void.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 31/03/2023 15:08

I'm sure every child was allocated the money for one. If you didn't set it up yourself then a CTF was set up on behalf of the child

So1invictus · 31/03/2023 15:09

The National Insurance number is the same as the CTF number if that's any help. We were in the same situation last year and located dd's by using her NINO. Your NINO is generated at birth but you aren't told about it until you need it (effectively,) So you could apply for a reminder of the NINO. That's what we did (we're in Italy) but because DD was registered for a while in the UK, doctor/dentist/CTF/etc, we could get a reminder of the NINO. If you didn't have any of these things, then you'd need to ask for a NINO.
I think, but may be wrong, that you did need to set it up and "accept" the money.

dementedpixie · 31/03/2023 15:11

If the parent didn't set one up then a CTF was set up for you and the details were supposed to be sent to you

So1invictus · 31/03/2023 15:12

dementedpixie · 31/03/2023 15:11

If the parent didn't set one up then a CTF was set up for you and the details were supposed to be sent to you

Ah ok. So long ago. 😂 Picking mine up from uni tomorrow 😂

Original poster
franke · 31/03/2023 15:16

Thanks for these replies, it's all really helpful. I might start from scratch again and send a new form.

@So1invictus do you know who we need to contact about the NINO?

OP posts:
Original poster
franke · 31/03/2023 15:32

OK, by NINO do you mean national insurance number? And for anyone born in the UK, registered with a GP etc., this exists automatically? So we just need to send in a form to the NI office requesting it, even though we've never been sent it in the past, right?

OP posts:
Original poster
franke · 31/03/2023 15:33

Thank you Smile

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 31/03/2023 15:34

Did you apply for child benefit when you had your child in the UK?

dementedpixie · 31/03/2023 15:35

There's a phone number for the NI place

PhoneCall to get advice if:

  • you’re between 15 years and 9 months and 20 years old and have not received a National Insurance number
  • you cannot register for a new personal tax account to view your National Insurance number or print the confirmation letter
  • you’re over 20 years old and have not got a National Insurance number Apply for a National Insurance number
HMRC will not tell you your National Insurance number over the phone. They’ll post it to you and it’ll arrive within 15 working days. Telephone: 0300 200 3500 Textphone: 0300 200 3519 Outside UK: +44 191 203 7010 Opening times: Monday to Friday: 8am to 6pm Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays.

Apply for a National Insurance number

Apply for your first National Insurance number - you must have the right to live and work in the UK.

https://www.gov.uk/apply-national-insurance-number

Cherrybl0ssm · 31/03/2023 15:36

Write to your Mp. They should help with this.
Have you had no correspondence from the trust fund you went with? By email or letter? That is a bit unusual. We also left the Uk when DC was 4 but have had various letters and emails over the year.
once your child hits 18 only they can deal with the correspondence

Cherrybl0ssm · 31/03/2023 15:36

Only someone living in the Uk at 16 gets an NI. If you are still abroad they won’t have one. You can apply but you need to be living in the Uk.

So1invictus · 31/03/2023 15:40

Cherrybl0ssm · 31/03/2023 15:36

Only someone living in the Uk at 16 gets an NI. If you are still abroad they won’t have one. You can apply but you need to be living in the Uk.

We are in Italy and DD got hers last year. Sent to us here, in Italy, after a phone call to HMRC.

So1invictus · 31/03/2023 15:42

Also, the OP's child will have a NINO as they were born in the UK. They just need to contact HMRC on the above number and a reminder will be sent out in the post. That should help with the CTF search.

Original poster
franke · 31/03/2023 15:46

45 minute wait on the phone. I think we'll fill in a form and see what happens. But since she's now over 20 she might have to reapply, which she can't because she's not in the UK 🤦🏻‍♀️

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 31/03/2023 15:49

Cherrybl0ssm · 31/03/2023 15:36

Only someone living in the Uk at 16 gets an NI. If you are still abroad they won’t have one. You can apply but you need to be living in the Uk.

This is not true. I'm sure it's allocated at birth and sent to you at 16. It's on the CTF as the Unique Reference number.

Original poster
franke · 31/03/2023 16:04

OK. I've filled out the form requesting a reminder of the NI number. Will send this with a copy f the birth certificate and go from there.

Thanks for all your help - I was feeling a bit clueless and now I have a plan.

OP posts:
Original poster
franke · 31/03/2023 16:09

dementedpixie · 31/03/2023 15:34

Did you apply for child benefit when you had your child in the UK?

Yes I did, and this was detailed in letters to them that they haven't replied to.

I think the other complication is that dd needs to pursue this herself. But it's just easier for me to do because I have some knowledge of the system. I'm doing all the work, just getting her sign letters and forms.

OP posts:
EdHelpPls · 31/03/2023 16:31

Mine was auto set up with Forrester's. I suppose it's possible all the ones auto set up were done with them. Might be worth contacting directly?