UC Child Element and starting new college course next year

brenj63

Hi,

My 17 year old autistic nephew struggled at college and left his course in April. Consequently his UC child element, disabled child element plus Child Benefit were all stopped because he's no longer in education or training. Luckily he qualified for PIP which was a financial life-saver for his single parent Dad.

My nephew is now considering the possibility of attempting to attend college again to do a special needs (SEND) course. The course doesn't start until September next year. He would be able to enrol for it very soon but what happens about UC child element etc? Would any benefits only become payable again once he starts the course next September ?

Thanks

Rachel_Scope

Hi, sorry no-one has been able to answer your question. I've just had a look for you and found some information which may help https://www.scope.org.uk/advice-and-support/qualifying-young-person . There is a chance that the benefits could continue if you claim Child Benefit or Housing Benefit, this is known as an Extension Period.

Frannydozy

Hi, Child Benefit and the other benefits you mentioned are payable if your child is home educated. This normally needs to start before the age of 16 but can be older if the child has special educational needs. Your sibling could state that your nephew is being educated at home and the benefits will start up again. Home educated children don't need to follow a curriculum or anything.

brenj63

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1081137#Comment_1081137

Thank you for the reply.

I think my brother looked into the possibility of home educating my nephew not long after he refused to go back to college but was told by the Child Benefit office that my nephew needed to already have an EHCP which he hadn't got. I don't know why he hadn't got an EHCP as he was under SENCO throughout primary and secondary school

Frannydozy

My children were at school but didn't have EHCPs and I have them home educated and claim child benefit etc for them as over 16s. I did start home edding them before age 16 though. Maybe a home education group on Facebook would have more info. Hope you get somewhere with it all, it's difficult being a single parent of SEN kids x

brenj63

I've just discovered that there has been a change in the rules which came into effect on 1 September 2025.

A parent is now eligible for Child Benefit if they start to home educate a post-16 child without the child needing an EHCP.

I need to check this out but I would assume that if you were eligible for CB then you would then become eligible for UC child element and also the disabled child element where applicable