HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has issued a reminder to parents of teenagers aged 16 to 19 to extend their Child Benefit claim if their child remains in approved education or training following their GCSEs or National 5s. The benefit automatically ceases on 31 August after the child's 16th birthday unless parents confirm their teenager's plans.
Deadline and Reminder Letters
Approximately 1.5 million reminder letters will be dispatched from late April, with most arriving in early May. However, parents who already know their teenager's plans can take action immediately, as the HMRC digital service for extending claims opened on 1 April.
How to Extend
Claim extensions can be completed via the HMRC app or online at GOV.UK. The reminder letters include a QR code linking directly to the digital service, making the process quick and straightforward.
Financial Support
Child Benefit provides £27.05 per week — or £1,406.60 annually — for the eldest or only child, and £17.90 per week for each additional child. Last year, 874,000 parents extended their claims, with over half using the online or app-based methods.
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Chief Customer Officer, stated: "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."
Eligibility Criteria
Child Benefit can continue for teenagers studying full-time in non-advanced education or undertaking unpaid approved training courses. For a full list of eligible courses, visit GOV.UK.
