page last updated on 10 November, 2005

Child Benefit

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Child Benefit (CB)

In some circumstances the situation with respect to this benefit is unclear. These notes are the outcome of the experiences of various home educators as I understand them. If you have experienced problems or have indeed not had problems claiming for children over the age of 16 then I would like to here about it. Thank you.

For those of you reading this who are not from the UK, Child Benefit is a universal government benefit paid to all families in the UK with children under the age of 16 and all families with children between 16 and 18 if they are in continuous full time education regardless of income. It amounts at the time of writing (2001) to a payment of around £10 per week for the first child and around £8 for each other child. It is paid either weekly, over the counter, at local post offices or directly into your bank account once every 4 weeks.

Home Education does not in any way effect your rights to receive CB if your child is under 16.

If your child is between 16 and 18 the situation is a little more complex as people have been treated differently.

It should be possible for you as a home educator to continue to claim when your child reaches the age of 16. However there are several circumstances where this might present you with some difficulties.

If your child enters any kind of work experience or outside training or even educational course at a collage etc. your child's education may be deemed to have been broken and the CB office will probably cease payments. If you can argue that you were still educating at home and that the course was part of that education you may be able to get it reinstated.

The CB office have some leeway with respect to such claims and if you persist then you have some chance of making a successful claim. There are people on the UK-HOME-ED mailing list who have some experience of this. I suggest that if you are having such problems you should join the list where you can ask for further information. You can find out how to join the list here

If the situation becomes more clear I will update this page.