If you’re a parent of a 16 to 19-year-old who’s staying in full-time education or training, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is reminding families to extend their Child Benefit claim by 31 August to avoid the payments stopping altogether.
Why it matters
Child Benefit is worth up to £1,354.60 per year for your first child and £897 for each additional child. It’s a welcome boost for many families, but it won’t continue automatically once your child turns 16. Unless you confirm they’re still in approved education or training, payments will stop at the end of August following their 16th birthday.
With many teens finishing GCSEs this summer, now is the time to get this sorted.
How to extend your claim
It’s quick and easy to extend your Child Benefit online or via the HMRC app. If you’re eligible, you don’t need to wait for anything from HMRC, you can do it today. Alternatively, HMRC is sending out reminder letters between May and July that include a QR code to take you straight to the right page on GOV.UK.
What counts as approved education or training?
You’ll still qualify if your child is studying full-time in non-advanced education (like A-levels, NVQs up to level 3 or home education), or attending approved unpaid training. It doesn’t count if the course is part of a job contract.
Are you an employer? Here’s what to keep in mind
If you employ parents of older teenagers, this reminder might be helpful to share. It’s also worth being aware of changes coming for those affected by the High-Income Child Benefit Charge.
From this summer, families can now opt to pay this charge through their PAYE tax code instead of filing a Self Assessment return, a move designed to cut paperwork. This might reduce admin for some of your employees. You’ll just need to look out for any updates to their tax code for payroll processing.
What about families who opted out of Child Benefit?
If someone in your team previously opted out because of the High-Income Charge, it’s now easier to opt back in if circumstances have changed. They can restart payments through the HMRC app or website.
The information provided in this blog is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. As far as we are aware, the content is accurate at time of publication. Torgersens assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions in the content or for any actions taken based on the information provided.
