Extend child benefit for for 16-19 year olds in education before deadline

Parents and guardians have less than two weeks to extend their Child Benefit claims if their 16 to 19-year-old is continuing in education or training.

The deadline of 31 August looms, and failing to update you claim will result in the automatic cessation of payments.

This week marks a critical period for hundreds of thousands of teenagers as they receive their GCSE results on Thursday, 22 August 2024.

Many of these young people will be making decisions about their future, with some opting to continue their education or enter approved training programmes.

For parents, this means that Child Benefit payments could continue, provided they take action now.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is urging parents to update their Child Benefit claims if their child is continuing in full-time education or participating in an approved training course

Child Benefit is worth up to £1,331 a year for the first or only child, and up to £881 a year for every additional child.

To make sure they do not miss out, parents can extend their Child Benefit claim online or via the HMRC app.

Over 270,000 parents have extended their claim digitally so far, with the changes applied to their record without the need to wait on the phone.

Parents should keep their claim details up to date, even if they’ve opted not to receive Child Benefit payments due to the High Income Child Benefit Charge.

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said: “Child Benefit is an important financial support for many households and we don’t want to see any eligible family miss out.

“You can extend your claim quickly and easily online or via the HMRC app, just search ‘Child Benefit when your child turns 16’ on GOV.UK.”

Child Benefit can continue to be paid for children who are studying full time in non-advanced education, which includes:

•  A levels or Scottish Highers
• International Baccalaureate
• Home education – if it started before their child turned 16, or after 16 if they have a statement of special educational needs and it was assessed by the local authority
• T levels
• NVQs, up to level 3.

Child Benefit will also continue for children studying on one of these unpaid approved training courses, such as the Foundation Apprenticeships, Traineeships or the Jobs Growth Wales+ scheme

Victoria Benson, CEO of Gingerbread, the charity for single parent families, said: “Child Benefit is valuable to families and particularly single parent families, who are forced to make ends meet on a single income.

“It’s really important, with the 31 August deadline fast approaching, that parents whose children are going into further education and training extend their claim as soon as possible to avoid missing out on this crucial financial help.”

Parents who want to opt back into receiving Child Benefit payments, can do this quickly and easily online on GOV.UK or in the HMRC app.

If a child changes their mind about further education or training, parents can simply inform HMRC online or via the HMRC app and payments will be adjusted accordingly. Parents can check the status of their claims at any time by viewing their proof of entitlement in the app or online.

Parents will need a Government Gateway user ID and password to use HMRC’s online services. If they do not have one already, they can register on GOV.UK and will just need their National Insurance number or postcode, and 2 forms of ID.