Child Benefit versus JSA

[chessteruk]

Hello everyone

My 19 year-old daughter left college early in July 2010. I received Child Benefit (CB) of £20.00 a week for her, but when I tried to cancel it, HMRC said that I could not. HMRC rules apparently state that CB can only be cancelled on four specific dates each year. The last "cut-off" date was in June 2010 and the next one is on 6 September 2010 (the first Monday of the month). The only exceptions are if the young person finds work, or if they start receiving JSA.

My daughter is actively seeking work now and as such we thought she would be entitled to Job Seekers Allowance (JSA). However, the Job Centre refused to let her sign-on because I am still receiving £20.00 per week CB for her.

This is a Catch-22 situation which has arisen because one benefit cannot be cancelled in favour of another it seems.

My Housing Benefit has also been reduced because my local council has classed my daughter as a non-dependant since she left college. Although, it is obvious that she depends on my supporting her from the £20.00 CB that I must receive until September (unless of course she manages to find work before then).

I can find nothing on the HMRC website stating that CB can only be cancelled on four dates in the year. I always assumed it would be cancelled from the day (or following week at the latest) that my daughter left full-time education.

I wondered if anyone else has come across this scenario, or if they would care to comment on it please. If anyone can find a relevant paragraph on HMRC's website (or elsewhere on line) then I would be grateful to see it in black and white.

Thank you.

[sara3]

I've never heard about Child Benefit only ceasing on 4 available dates!

you can report the change of circs here.. http://www.hmrc.gov.u...it/change-circs.htm#7

[lcg]

it does....when my son left college i had the same thing - it stops for each term, i think on the specific dates they mention.