HMRC has confirmed that Child Benefit payments worth up to £1,406 a year can be restarted for households who get in touch, after many claims were automatically stopped due to a simple oversight. The warning comes as families with teenagers who have turned 16 and are continuing in approved education or training must notify HMRC to avoid an interruption in their payments.
Who is affected and what to do
Child Benefit is a tax-free financial support payment from the Government for parents or guardians of a child under 16, or under 20 if they stay in approved education or training. Families whose teenager remains in non-advanced approved education or training after reaching 16 can continue to claim, but many parents needed to have taken action before Monday, August 31, to prevent their payments from being paused.
On Tuesday, September 1, HMRC stated: "To keep receiving payments until they turn 20, make sure you tell HMRC if they're staying in full-time education or approved training." The department also reassured those who missed the deadline: "Forgot to let us know your kids are continuing education in the back-to-school rush? Don’t worry! Your Child Benefit claim will have stopped, but you can apply to restart it in just a couple of minutes."
How to restart a claim
Parents can apply for a Child Benefit extension using the HMRC app or online. The process takes only a few minutes, according to HMRC. Anyone responsible for bringing up a child under 16 is eligible, as are those with children under 20 in approved education or training. Claims can be made immediately after registering a birth or when a child comes to live with you, and they can be backdated by up to three months.
Additional benefits and state pension impact
HMRC figures show that over 30% of new parents miss out on Child Benefit by not claiming during their child's first year. Claiming Child Benefit can also boost your State Pension, according to Martin Lewis's team at Money Saving Expert. If you or your partner are not working, or earn less than £129 a week, claiming Child Benefit lets you earn National Insurance (NI) credits, which are required to receive the full State Pension.
