Child benefit

mikeblue

Hello lovely people! I've recently been requesting to send details of my children for a child benefit review. I have 3 kids whom are 8,3 and 1. My oldest is homeschooled by my father who was a teacher for over 35 years. Documents required by child benefit are; doctors letters for all 3, my oldest school details, and 4 months bank statements. I called up and said my son is home schooled so I wouldn't be able to provide details but I would be able to provide everything else! The lady over the phone told me my oldest needs to be in school and i have a 2 weeks to provide details or my child benefit will come to an end. Can anyone shed some light on this matter please as I don't think that's actually correct.

Tia

OverlyAnxious

Hi,

You are still entitled to child benefit when your child is being educated at home.

Has this come directly from the Child Benefit office or another department?

mikeblue

Hi @OverlyAnxious the child benefit office told me that when I rang up yesterday to inquire. I don't know if they are telling the truth because I did some reading up last night and apparently its up to me and its also up to me if I wanted to inform the local authority or not- could you clarify if that's right or wrong. Thanks

MW123

@mikeblue

The advice given to you that your child must be in school was incorrect. Education is compulsory for every child, but attending school is not. Parents have the legal right to educate their children at home, provided the education is suitable for the child’s age, ability, and aptitude. Take a look at this link I found it might be helpful to you.

https://www.educationotherwise.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Fact-sheet-child-benefit-2-compressed_1.pdf

Apologies, I couldn't copy the link for you to open, but it comes from Education Otherwise and provides detailed information about homeschooling and child benefit.

OverlyAnxious

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1006601#Comment_1006601

Hi, I am surprised by that. As far as I'm aware you do not need to inform the local authority. That is backed up by link in the post above as well. I have tried to find the exact wording on the governments website to link across here but they don't mention this situation at all with regards to Child Benefit unfortunately.

If you can register your child as being home-schooled that may save some hassle. Though as the call handler seemed to think the child needed to be in school then I suggest they are just wrong in this case and you would be better off calling the CBO again, to get a different call handler.

I'm not aware of how much information these call handlers have. The ones for Universal Credit are well known for giving out poor advice based on limited training.

mikeblue

Hi again all. I requesting a doctors letter saying the kids live with me and they are registered at our GP. My doctor has strangely just wrote that I am his patient and confirms that the kids live with me but didnt write that the kids are also registered there. Would that be sufficient for the child benefit office?

tia to all.

mikeblue

Screenshot_20250330_222553_Photo Editor.jpg

mikeblue

I've posted a pic of the letter he sent above. For obvious reasons ive blocked out personally information. Thanks again all

anisty

I'd be surprised if they accept that, tbh but you can try it.

I guess the name of the Practice is is the right hand corner and you have blanked it out?

It really is quite a shocking one as the secretary would have done this and to written a formal statement in incorrect format looks bad.

It looks worse on your photo because obviously there is no official practice name on it. But even with the Practice name it is very unprofessional in format.

I am guessing your GP does not have English as a first language and that is why it is written strangely. But, with his secretary not having corrected the mistakes in form, it does look very amateur!

You can only try it and see!

anisty

And what doctor writes anything on a Sunday!!! (Just noticed the date)

mikeblue

Hiya, yes I scrubbed out the name of the practice and personal info. The doctor uploaded onto my nhs app last night, I'm calling this morning but now I can't get an appointment until the 8th of April. English isn't the doctors or receptionists first language. Im on my way there now to see if they'll help or understand me better, face to face.

anisty

Good luck!! It is a difficult one if they have no native English speakers - but i would've thought such Practices would have templates to follow for official correspondances so at least it looks genuine!

The benefit people would likely phone the practice to confirm if a letter like this is genuine. Hopefully they speak English better than they write it!

mikeblue

What a absolute hideous morning!! I've been asked to pay £30 for new letter ontop of the £30 ive already paid. I got a bit shirty and I got threatened with the police being called. All I wanted was a letter informing the child benefit office that my 3 kids are registered. Can't make this s%@t up, honestly.

anisty

Unfortunately, it is normal to pay because that is not covered by the NHS - you have to get these kinds of letters done privately (i mean private charges apply)

However, you do need to complain about that first effort - it really did look as if you'd made that one up yourself, it was so bad!

I'd advise you to put in a strongly worded complaint about that one, pointing out that it was sub standard and not fit for purpose.

I sincerely hope their 2nd effort looks the part - i'd be interested to see what they come up with next, actually. Pop it on here when you get it, wiill you?