Don't Lose Out - Extend Child Benefit For Your 16 To 19 Year Old

21st May 2024

How to claim Child Benefit if your child is continuing in further education after their GCSEs.

More than a million parents will receive reminders from this week to extend Child Benefit for their teenagers if they are continuing their education or training after their GCSEs.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is sending more than 1.4 million Child Benefit reconfirmation letters to parents between 24 May and 17 July. The letters will include a QR code which, when scanned, directs them straight to GOV.UK to update their claim quickly and easily online.

Child Benefit is worth up to £1,331 a year for the first or only child, and up to £881 a year for each additional child. Payments will automatically stop on 31 August on or after the child has turned 16 unless parents renew their claim where their child is continuing in education.

If their 16 to 19 year-old intends to continue in approved education or training, parents can use the online service on GOV.UK or the HMRC app so they do not miss out.

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC's Director General for Customer Services, said:

Child Benefit is an important financial support for many families, so make sure you don't miss out on any payments if your teenager intends to continue approved education or training. You can quickly and easily extend your claim online or via the HMRC app, just search ‘Child Benefit when your child turns 16' on GOV.UK.

Parents have until 31 August to take action or their payments will automatically stop. Letting HMRC know digitally that a child is continuing in education is the quickest way to get it sorted, with no need to contact us by phone or post.

If a customer has not received their letter by 17 July, there is no need to worry - if eligible, they can still extend their Child Benefit claim via GOV.UK or the HMRC app.

Child Benefit can continue to be paid for children who are studying full time in approved 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:

in Wales: Foundation Apprenticeships, Traineeships or the Jobs Growth Wales+ scheme
in Northern Ireland: PEACEPLUS Youth Programme 3.2, Training for Success or Skills for Life and Work
in Scotland: Employability Fund programme and No One Left Behind
If a child changes their mind about further education or training, parents can simply inform HMRC online or in the HMRC app and payments will be adjusted accordingly.

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.

Child Benefit when your child turns 16
Your Child Benefit stops on 31 August on or after your child’s 16th birthday if they leave education or training.

Child Benefit continues if your child stays in approved education or training, but you must tell HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

You’ll be sent a letter in your child’s last year at school asking you to confirm their plans.

Only the person who is claiming Child Benefit can update HMRC about their child’s plans.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

Approved education
Education must be full-time (more than an average of 12 hours a week of supervised study or course-related work experience). This can include:

A levels or similar, for example Pre-U, International Baccalaureate
T levels
Scottish Highers
NVQs and most vocational qualifications up to level 3 - excluding intermediate and advanced apprenticeships
home education - if it started either before your child turned 16 or after 16 if they have special educational needs and disabilities
traineeships in England
Your child must be accepted onto the course before they turn 19.

You cannot get Child Benefit if your child is studying an ‘advanced’ course, such as a university degree or BTEC Higher National Certificate, or if a course is paid for by an employer.

If your child is staying in approved education
If your child is aged 16 or 17 and staying in approved education, tell HMRC using the online service.

You’ll need your Government Gateway user ID and password. If you do not have a Government Gateway account, you can create one.

Start now at https://www.access.service.gov.uk/login/signin/creds