Benefit rights when kids return to education
My eldest child left school in the summer, but, with everything that has been going, on he has been unable to find a job. He has now started a full time course at college. My Tax Credits were cut at the end of July. Can I get any help now he is back in education?
Whether you can claim tax credits for your eldest will depend on two things: the level of the course he is doing; and, whether your tax credits award stopped altogether, or was just reduced when your eldest was removed from your claim.
The education needs to be “nonadvanced”, so you should check with the college to confirm that his course is not above SVQ levels 1-3.
Your child will be treated as a qualifying young person if the course is “nonadvanced” and you could potentially reapply for child benefit for him and have your tax credits increased if they had not stopped.
If your tax credits had stopped, you will likely have to claim Universal Credit.
However, there are exceptions which mean some people can remain on “legacy benefits” (like tax credits) so you should seek further advice from us before submitting a Universal Credit claim to make sure you are not left short.
I recently found out that an ex-partner of mine had a child shortly after we split up. She is saying the child isn’t mine and I am not on the birth certificate, but I think it is very likely that I am the father, and want to be involved in the child’s upbringing. How can I prove the child is mine?
There are two common tests to discover family relationship: a blood test or a DNA test.
A blood test cannot prove you are the parent, but it can exclude you if you are not a match. DNA tests are now much more common and can prove parentage with near certainty.
If the mother is unwilling to consent to the child being tested, you may have to pursue a court order for parental responsibilities and rights.
As part of this process a court may order that a test is carried out.
The court doesn’t have to order that a test is carried out if it is not in the interests of the child, but generally take the view that it is best for the truth to be known.
As the person applying to the court for a test, you would need to pay the costs of a test being carried out.
You should consult a solicitor about this process, and also consider that if you are granted parental rights and responsibilities you will likely have a duty to pay maintenance for this child.
I put three items into a local dry cleaner but they only had two ready for me when I went back in. I now have the other item back, but it was damaged. When I approached the drycleaner they offered me a voucher which I wasn’t happy with. What are my rights?
Traders, including dry cleaners, have a responsibility of care under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
You can complain and ask them to either cover the cost of the repair, or pay to replace the item if a repair isn’t possible.
If they have to pay you to replace the item, the most the dry cleaners need to offer you is the value of the item when it was left with them, not necessary the cost of it new.
You should be prepared to provide evidence of how much it originally cost, and negotiate a refund amount with them.
If your complaint gets nowhere, you will have other options including going to any trade association the shop are members of ( like the UK Fashion and Textile Association), or consider court or pre-court action if the value of your item was high.
Speak to us for help with these options if the dry cleaners aren’t being helpful.