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Original poster

Claiming Child Benefit after age 16

27 replies

Hmmph · 16/06/2023 21:28

My child has just turned 16. They will be doing A Levels in September (hopefully have got the grades!)

I have just logged into my "Government Gateway" account and it says his child benefit will end at the beginning of September.

I have googled it and the Government website (www.gov.uk/child-benefit-16-19) says:

"You'll be sent a letter in your child's last year at school asking you to confirm their plans".

I haven't received any letter!

It also says you have to fill in an online form to confirm they are staying in education.

Is this right? It seems so odd and no one seems to have ever mentioned it in real life or on Social Media or Mumsnet.

Has anyone done this?

OP posts:
Original poster
Hmmph · 16/06/2023 21:42

Thanks. So it is normal to have to do this?

Do you mind me asking if you got a letter?

OP posts:
DustyLee123 · 16/06/2023 21:43

I got a letter.

gogohmm · 16/06/2023 21:57

Got a letter for dd1, had already cancelled it by the time dd2 reached 16 due to exh's income

samsonthecat · 16/06/2023 22:19

I got a letter today.

PositiveLife · 16/06/2023 22:35

I've not had a letter but knew there's a form to fill in. I'm assuming that I can just put her first choice college down, then update it to her back up choice if she doesn't get the gcse results that she needs but it's not very clear about that

StinkerTroll · 16/06/2023 22:38

I got a letter a week ago, you can either fill in the form online (easy if you've got a log in, hell on toast if you don't - it's a complete faff to set up the login, go with the paper form of you don't already have one) or do the paper form, it's not a horrific form

dementedpixie · 16/06/2023 22:40

I got the letter for my ds last week. He was 16 last October. We don't get the money as dh earns too much but they said I still had to inform them that ds was staying in education.

I used the QR code on the letter to get to the right page of the website although I then had to log in with my government gateway details.

sweetkitty · 16/06/2023 22:42

I just allowed it to stop once they turned 16 it stopped automatically unless you told them your DC were continuing in education (mine were but we paid it back anyway so no point).

Original poster
Hmmph · 16/06/2023 22:47

Wow. This seems a palaver. Has it always been like this?!

Don't they have to be in training or education by law until 18 these days? I'd have imagined the education/training establishments would just provide a list of those enrolled and they could contact anyone missing rather than 99.9% of people having to jump through hoops..

OP posts:
Original poster
Hmmph · 16/06/2023 22:48

We only get post once a month ish so maybe I'll get my letter next delivery!

OP posts:
mastertomsmum · 16/06/2023 22:50

I got a letter at this point and as the parent of an oldest in year, I just received a new one for the over 18 bit

toobusytothink · 16/06/2023 22:55

Yep got my letter last week. Logged into gov website and filled in form. But you prob don’t have to wait to get the letter.

Floraltears · 16/06/2023 23:00

I was wondering the same, so thanks for starting this thread. I haven’t had a letter yet, but hoping it arrives soon so I can get it sorted.

Floraltears · 16/06/2023 23:04

Actually, I’ve just found the form on government gateway so can fill it in online.

Changingmynameyetagain · 16/06/2023 23:07

I got my letter last week too.

Sarahtm35 · 16/06/2023 23:09

Hmmph · 16/06/2023 22:47

Wow. This seems a palaver. Has it always been like this?!

Don't they have to be in training or education by law until 18 these days? I'd have imagined the education/training establishments would just provide a list of those enrolled and they could contact anyone missing rather than 99.9% of people having to jump through hoops..

Trouble is so many start off at college but then drop out. My daughter was the only student left on her course , most of her friends who are 17 are working and not in college and their parents haven’t been pulled up on it.

dementedpixie · 16/06/2023 23:11

Can you not fill in the details without a letter?

dementedpixie · 16/06/2023 23:12

I'm in Scotland so they can leave school at 16 so I suppose they need to allow for all eventualities throughout the UK.

Northernsoullover · 16/06/2023 23:12

I'm so shit with my personal affairs that I didn't do anything. CB duly stopped in September, I phoned them and said 'he's still in school' and it was reinstated and backdated. I assume they check but I didn't fill in any forms. I'd ring on Monday if I were you

dementedpixie · 16/06/2023 23:15

I'd fill in the online form whether you have had a letter or not

youwerentthere · 16/06/2023 23:18

Why do you get monthly post?? (NosyBlush)

Original poster
Hmmph · 17/06/2023 08:24

I will complete online. I was just shocked at the rubbish system!

The postal system seems to have fallen over here - staff shortages apparently - so we rarely get post. It's not actually monthly, probably more like weekly/fortnightly but not even on a regular day! It's a real pain when you need important post like hospital appointment letters...

OP posts:
flagpie · 17/06/2023 08:32

Hmmph · 16/06/2023 22:47

Wow. This seems a palaver. Has it always been like this?!

Don't they have to be in training or education by law until 18 these days? I'd have imagined the education/training establishments would just provide a list of those enrolled and they could contact anyone missing rather than 99.9% of people having to jump through hoops..

Mine is home educated so no one to tell CB that she is still in education when the time comes, other than me of course.

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