Why does the difference matter?

It’s important to understand the difference between advanced and non-advanced education because which one your child is enrolled in can affect your benefits.

If your child is in full-time non-advanced education, you can usually continue to receive Child Benefit and the Child Element of Universal Credit until they turn 20, provided they enrolled in their course before their 19th birthday. This is also called ‘approved education and training’.

• Find out what happens to Child Benefit when your child turns 16
• Find out what happens to Universal Credit when your child turns 16

Advanced education

Advanced education courses are generally Higher Education courses that your child studies at college or university, including:

• Higher National Certificates (HNCs)
• Higher National Diplomas (HNDs)
• Undergraduate degrees, and other university-level courses

Once your child starts advanced education, they are no longer considered a dependent for these benefits, meaning Child Benefit and the Child Element of Universal Credit will stop.

Non-advanced education

Non-advanced education and training courses are generally Further Education courses that your child studies in school or at college.

These are SCQF level 6 and below including:

• Standard Grades
• National 5
• Highers
• National Qualifications (NQs)
• National Certificates (NCs)
• SVQs up to level 3
• Ordinary National Diplomas
• Non-advanced college courses
• Advanced Highers
• Modern Apprenticeships that do not form part of a contract of employment

If your child enrolled in full-time non-advanced education before their 19th birthday, you can usually continue to receive Child Benefit and the Child Element of Universal Credit until they turn 20.

An education course is full time if it involves more than 12 hours per week of teaching or supervised study/exams.

What if I still don’t know which one applies to my child?

Your child’s school or college can tell you if a course is non-advanced if you are not sure.

If you’re still feeling unsure about the type of course that your child is enrolled in, you or your child can phone us and we can talk you through your situation.

Contact OPFS on our Helpline at 0808 801 0323 between 9:30am and 4pm Monday to Friday

Or you can use our Webchat between 9:30am and 4pm Monday to Friday. If you’d prefer to email us, you can get in touch at advice@opfs.org.uk.
We will respond to your email query as quickly as we can.

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