HMRC is reminding parents of 16-19-year-olds to extend their Child Benefit claim if their teenager is staying in certain types of education or training after their GCSEs or National 5s. The payments, worth up to £179 a month, will automatically stop on 31 August unless parents confirm their teenager's plans.
How to Extend Your Claim
HMRC's digital service for extending Child Benefit opened on 1 April, so those who already know their teenager's plans can act immediately. Claim extensions can be made on the HMRC app or online at GOV.UK. Around 1.5 million reminder letters will be sent from late April, with most landing on doorsteps in early May. The letters also include a QR code linking directly to the digital service.
Payment Details
Child Benefit is worth £27.05 a week – or £1,406.60 a year – for the eldest or only child and £17.90 a week for each additional child. This means a family with two children can receive £44.95 a week, or £179 a month. Last year, 874,000 parents extended their claim, with more than half doing so online or through the HMRC app.
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC's Chief Customer Officer, said: "Child Benefit is a real financial boost for families, so if your teenager already knows they're staying in education or training after their GCSEs or National 5s, you don't need to wait for our letter. You can extend your Child Benefit claim today in minutes via the HMRC app or online at GOV.UK."
Eligible Education and Training
Child Benefit payments can continue for children who are undertaking full-time study in approved non-advanced education, which includes:
- A levels or Scottish Highers
- International Baccalaureate
- Home education (if started before the child turned 16, or after 16 if they have a statement of special educational needs assessed by the local authority)
- T levels and NVQs up to level 3
Child Benefit will likewise continue for children enrolled on one of these unpaid approved training courses:
- Scotland: Employability Fund programme and No One Left Behind
- Wales: Foundation Apprenticeships, Traineeships or the Jobs Growth Wales+ scheme
- Northern Ireland: PEACEPLUS Youth Programme 3.2, Training for Success or Skills for Life and Work
