Leaflet C - Child Benefit Entitlement for School/College Leavers
Notes for Parents/Carers on Claiming Child Benefit for School/College Leavers>What happens to Child Benefit once your child leaves compulsory education at the end of Year 11?
Providing that your child does not start full time work or training, Child Benefit should be paid automatically until the September following the school leaving date.
Please note: The official school leaving date is the last Friday in June of Year 11 (this applies regardless of whether or not your child has been attending school). Your child cannot start full time work or training before this date, even if they have reached 16 years of age and received their National Insurance number.
>Can you claim Child Benefit if your child goes into full-time non-advanced further education?
Yes, you can continue to claim Child Benefit for the length of their course or up to their 19th birthday, whichever is soonest. ‘Full time non-advanced education’ means a course up to and including A-Level standard, of at least 12 hours a week, being studied at school, college or sixth form.
Please note: You cannot claim Child Benefit if your child is not living with you, and, you are no longer supporting him/her.
>What if your child is unemployed and looking for work or training?
Year 11 School Leavers - Providing that your child is registered at their local Connexions Office, you will be able to claim extended Child Benefit from September to the end of December after the official school leaving date (If your child starts work or training before then you must inform the Child Benefit Centre).
During Year 11 of your child’s education you should have received Form 298 from the Child Benefit Centre. On this form you can indicate whether your child is going on to further education or will register at the Connexions Office to look for work or training. If you have not received this form or have lost it, you can obtain a replacement from your local Benefits Agency Office/ Job Centre Plus.
6th Form/College Leavers- If your child has recently left a full time course at college you will be able to claim Child Benefit or Extended Child Benefit for a period of time beyond the leaving date. Please contact your local Benefit Agency Office / Job Centre Plus for further help.
>If you are in receipt of another Benefit for yourself, please see the information below:
You may be eligible to claim additional Benefits for your child if Child Benefit is currently in payment to you (or has been applied for). Once Child Benefit ceases to be paid to you, your child may be able to claim Jobseeker’s Allowance in their own right if still unemployed and looking for work. He/she should enquire about this at their local Connexions Office.
Other Benefits may be available in certain circumstances if your child is not available for work.
Please contact your local Benefit Agency / Job Centre Plus for further details.
If your Child Benefit has stopped but you think that you should still be getting it, please contact the Child Benefit Enquiry Line on: 08701 555540.
DISCLAIMER:
Connexions Surrey has made every attempt to ensure that the above general information is correct. However, decisions on Benefit payments is the responsibility of the Benefits Agency.
Surrey Connexions cannot be held responsible for any decisions that do not appear to be consistent with the information contained in this leaflet.
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