Child benefit/CSA over 18 years old.
Discussion
JumboBeef said:
Would you be as happy just to hand that over with no proof or even questioning why your child is still stuck at college doing a course for 16 and 17 years olds when she's 18/19/20 and wants to travel?
If it helps, I am paying my ex for my 15 year old daughter so I have total sympathy for your position, albeit I do know she is properly benefitting from the money and I see her frequently. Regardless, you have some 'proof' in that your daughters mother is still eligible for CB, therefore you are required to continue paying maintenance under the CMS rules, and any challenge through the CMS would therefore be fruitless. Its sad, but its tough.Be prepared to continue paying for your daughters upkeep (whether you think that it goes to her or not) until she is 20. In the meantime keep trying to make contact with her (facebook, by letter, etc) so at least when she's grown up a little and realises that your not the total ogre that your ex has portrayed you as, you can show her that your motive was contact, and not simply saving a few grand.
JumboBeef said:
Bottom line: fathers always in the wrong and must pay, mothers have sun shining out of their arses and are always the innocent party. Always.
Not true. I completely agree that many women seem to be willing to use their children as pawns, which is abhorrent but it is not every woman and not every man is a shining example of paternal devotion trying to do the right thing and pay for his child. You are having a really awful time and I wish I could say something to help, but I really have nothing, but please do not assume all women are scheming b
hes. Some of us are lovely. 
I have had a really tough time and some of it I could have alleviated by taking him to court but I decided the stress on me, and indirectly on my son, was a price I wasn't willing to pay. I support my son completely (with help from my OH) and any money my ex does pay goes in a bank account to fund my son through university.
Retroman said:
I've never understood why people at 18 who are still in full time education were entitled to child benefit. Or their mother / father i should say.
My son will be 18 in February and still in his last year at school. He doesn't suddenly stop costing money to keep so why should they not still be paid? Just to clarify, I don't receive any benefits for him.
Kateg28 said:
JumboBeef said:
Bottom line: fathers always in the wrong and must pay, mothers have sun shining out of their arses and are always the innocent party. Always.
Not true. I completely agree that many women seem to be willing to use their children as pawns, which is abhorrent but it is not every woman and not every man is a shining example of paternal devotion trying to do the right thing and pay for his child. You are having a really awful time and I wish I could say something to help, but I really have nothing, but please do not assume all women are scheming b
hes. Some of us are lovely. I have had a really tough time and some of it I could have alleviated by taking him to court but I decided the stress on me, and indirectly on my son, was a price I wasn't willing to pay. I support my son completely (with help from my OH) and any money my ex does pay goes in a bank account to fund my son through university.
Retroman said:
I've never understood why people at 18 who are still in full time education were entitled to child benefit. Or their mother / fathe i should say.
My son will be 18 in February and still in his last year at school. He doesn't suddenly stop costing money to keep so why should they not still be paid? Just to clarify, I don't receive any benefits for him.
I know some/most divorced mothers are fine hard working parents. The CSA just isn't interested in chasing them for funds like they do with fathers though.
Up until recently I worked for Child Benefit/Tax Credits. Depending on the course she is taking (some are excluded) and the amount of hours she is doing she will be eligible to receive them.
Do you know what qualification her courses result in and the hours she does per week?
If she has left, depending on when the benefit is paid for up to a further 3 months, the cut offs are December, March, June, September so if she leaves it's paid upto which ever cut off.
There is another provision to extend that but as she's 18 that wouldn't apply.
Although I've left it was something I dealt with repeatedly every day and the rules are still the same.
If you know the course/qualification and hours I can give you a bit more advice but there is a way to put a stop to it.
Do you know what qualification her courses result in and the hours she does per week?
If she has left, depending on when the benefit is paid for up to a further 3 months, the cut offs are December, March, June, September so if she leaves it's paid upto which ever cut off.
There is another provision to extend that but as she's 18 that wouldn't apply.
Although I've left it was something I dealt with repeatedly every day and the rules are still the same.
If you know the course/qualification and hours I can give you a bit more advice but there is a way to put a stop to it.
jimmycrackcorn said:
Up until recently I worked for Child Benefit/Tax Credits. Depending on the course she is taking (some are excluded) and the amount of hours she is doing she will be eligible to receive them.
Do you know what qualification her courses result in and the hours she does per week?
If she has left, depending on when the benefit is paid for up to a further 3 months, the cut offs are December, March, June, September so if she leaves it's paid upto which ever cut off.
There is another provision to extend that but as she's 18 that wouldn't apply.
Although I've left it was something I dealt with repeatedly every day and the rules are still the same.
If you know the course/qualification and hours I can give you a bit more advice but there is a way to put a stop to it.
Don't keep us hanging like that... tell all. Do you know what qualification her courses result in and the hours she does per week?
If she has left, depending on when the benefit is paid for up to a further 3 months, the cut offs are December, March, June, September so if she leaves it's paid upto which ever cut off.
There is another provision to extend that but as she's 18 that wouldn't apply.
Although I've left it was something I dealt with repeatedly every day and the rules are still the same.
If you know the course/qualification and hours I can give you a bit more advice but there is a way to put a stop to it.
I am in a similar position with my 17 year old son who is being 'home educated', who is doing bugger all apart from 2 hours maths tuition a week, since she took him out of school 4 years ago.
She is getting CB because she has lied about him having a home education. CSA did not care, said as long she was getting CB then I had keep paying her. I would have to report her for benefit fraud.
She is getting CB because she has lied about him having a home education. CSA did not care, said as long she was getting CB then I had keep paying her. I would have to report her for benefit fraud.
There is a couple of ways to report it, because now Tax Credits and Child benefit are still separate Tax Credits continue if Child benefit does.
Home schooling is a pain in the arse, well it was for us anyway, they have to do the equivalent on average of more than 12 hours PW.
Average of more than 12hrs pw is classed as being in full time education.
Apprenticeships are not allowed in general (there's 4 off the top of my head that are but they are rare), this is because they are being paid whilst learning and are therefore classed as being employed.
If it were me in a situation where I knew my child didn't qualify there are 6 things I would do to ensure it was dealt with.
Email both Tax Credits and Child benefit.
Call both Tax Credits and Child Benefit.
Write both Tax Credits and Child Benefit.
It might be a lot of fking around but if you want it dealt with this covers all bases.
You do not need to identify yourself you can remain anonymous, however the only way the person would know is if it ever went to court (I don't recall this ever happening though).
Personally if you have a connection such as being a anonymous parent I always felt it was potentially more genuine if they gave their details.
You will need obviously your childs details, name, date of birth and address.
You ideally would need to provide where that child attends education, the course and the hours. If you don't have all that don't worry it can still be investigated.
You ideally would need to provide the person who claims the benefit for the child name, address, date of birth (national insurance number if you know it).
State clearly without ranting and going off course why you believe the child does not qualify for Child Benefit/Tax Credits and that as a result you would like their claim to be looked into.
When calling you need to tell the adviser you wish to report fraud and headline your email/letter with the line - Reporting of potential fraud.
If you want to know anything else or need any help just let me know, I will warn you it isn't the quickest process and may take a couple of months to be dealt with but it will be looked into.
Home schooling is a pain in the arse, well it was for us anyway, they have to do the equivalent on average of more than 12 hours PW.
Average of more than 12hrs pw is classed as being in full time education.
Apprenticeships are not allowed in general (there's 4 off the top of my head that are but they are rare), this is because they are being paid whilst learning and are therefore classed as being employed.
If it were me in a situation where I knew my child didn't qualify there are 6 things I would do to ensure it was dealt with.
Email both Tax Credits and Child benefit.
Call both Tax Credits and Child Benefit.
Write both Tax Credits and Child Benefit.
It might be a lot of f
king around but if you want it dealt with this covers all bases.You do not need to identify yourself you can remain anonymous, however the only way the person would know is if it ever went to court (I don't recall this ever happening though).
Personally if you have a connection such as being a anonymous parent I always felt it was potentially more genuine if they gave their details.
You will need obviously your childs details, name, date of birth and address.
You ideally would need to provide where that child attends education, the course and the hours. If you don't have all that don't worry it can still be investigated.
You ideally would need to provide the person who claims the benefit for the child name, address, date of birth (national insurance number if you know it).
State clearly without ranting and going off course why you believe the child does not qualify for Child Benefit/Tax Credits and that as a result you would like their claim to be looked into.
When calling you need to tell the adviser you wish to report fraud and headline your email/letter with the line - Reporting of potential fraud.
If you want to know anything else or need any help just let me know, I will warn you it isn't the quickest process and may take a couple of months to be dealt with but it will be looked into.
jimmycrackcorn said:
There is a couple of ways to report it, because now Tax Credits and Child benefit are still separate Tax Credits continue if Child benefit does.
Home schooling is a pain in the arse, well it was for us anyway, they have to do the equivalent on average of more than 12 hours PW.
Average of more than 12hrs pw is classed as being in full time education.
Apprenticeships are not allowed in general (there's 4 off the top of my head that are but they are rare), this is because they are being paid whilst learning and are therefore classed as being employed.
If it were me in a situation where I knew my child didn't qualify there are 6 things I would do to ensure it was dealt with.
Email both Tax Credits and Child benefit.
Call both Tax Credits and Child Benefit.
Write both Tax Credits and Child Benefit.
It might be a lot of fking around but if you want it dealt with this covers all bases.
You do not need to identify yourself you can remain anonymous, however the only way the person would know is if it ever went to court (I don't recall this ever happening though).
Personally if you have a connection such as being a anonymous parent I always felt it was potentially more genuine if they gave their details.
You will need obviously your childs details, name, date of birth and address.
You ideally would need to provide where that child attends education, the course and the hours. If you don't have all that don't worry it can still be investigated.
You ideally would need to provide the person who claims the benefit for the child name, address, date of birth (national insurance number if you know it).
State clearly without ranting and going off course why you believe the child does not qualify for Child Benefit/Tax Credits and that as a result you would like their claim to be looked into.
When calling you need to tell the adviser you wish to report fraud and headline your email/letter with the line - Reporting of potential fraud.
If you want to know anything else or need any help just let me know, I will warn you it isn't the quickest process and may take a couple of months to be dealt with but it will be looked into.
Home schooling is a pain in the arse, well it was for us anyway, they have to do the equivalent on average of more than 12 hours PW.
Average of more than 12hrs pw is classed as being in full time education.
Apprenticeships are not allowed in general (there's 4 off the top of my head that are but they are rare), this is because they are being paid whilst learning and are therefore classed as being employed.
If it were me in a situation where I knew my child didn't qualify there are 6 things I would do to ensure it was dealt with.
Email both Tax Credits and Child benefit.
Call both Tax Credits and Child Benefit.
Write both Tax Credits and Child Benefit.
It might be a lot of f
king around but if you want it dealt with this covers all bases.You do not need to identify yourself you can remain anonymous, however the only way the person would know is if it ever went to court (I don't recall this ever happening though).
Personally if you have a connection such as being a anonymous parent I always felt it was potentially more genuine if they gave their details.
You will need obviously your childs details, name, date of birth and address.
You ideally would need to provide where that child attends education, the course and the hours. If you don't have all that don't worry it can still be investigated.
You ideally would need to provide the person who claims the benefit for the child name, address, date of birth (national insurance number if you know it).
State clearly without ranting and going off course why you believe the child does not qualify for Child Benefit/Tax Credits and that as a result you would like their claim to be looked into.
When calling you need to tell the adviser you wish to report fraud and headline your email/letter with the line - Reporting of potential fraud.
If you want to know anything else or need any help just let me know, I will warn you it isn't the quickest process and may take a couple of months to be dealt with but it will be looked into.
And this is why Pistonheads is such a good community, well done that man!
I think you know already but you don't have PR anymore, she's an adult.
I would suggest her plan was to not be in education this year but if she hasn't got a job since leaving, doing further learning at college makes sense, both career wise and finically for her.
The advice you have been given about creating a fake emergency to see if she is there or not is morally not brilliant but is likely to get the result you want.
However it's a moot point really as if they are receiving child benefit you are paying because that's the rules.
Tell me to wind my neck in if you want but I think you need to belt up, you are not the one that's the victim in this. If you had realised that earlier you might not be in the predicament you are now with your daughter.
You picked your ex
You created your daughter
Your daughter has had to deal with her dysfunctional parents all her life and the sooner you realise you are part of the problem the sooner things will get better. You have lost out on large chunks of her life growing up and if you continue to behave the way you are you will get to miss out on your grandchildren's childhood too.
I would suggest her plan was to not be in education this year but if she hasn't got a job since leaving, doing further learning at college makes sense, both career wise and finically for her.
The advice you have been given about creating a fake emergency to see if she is there or not is morally not brilliant but is likely to get the result you want.
However it's a moot point really as if they are receiving child benefit you are paying because that's the rules.
Tell me to wind my neck in if you want but I think you need to belt up, you are not the one that's the victim in this. If you had realised that earlier you might not be in the predicament you are now with your daughter.
You picked your ex
You created your daughter
Your daughter has had to deal with her dysfunctional parents all her life and the sooner you realise you are part of the problem the sooner things will get better. You have lost out on large chunks of her life growing up and if you continue to behave the way you are you will get to miss out on your grandchildren's childhood too.
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