HM Revenue and Customs has issued a warning to parents whose children received GCSE results today, saying that failure to update their Child Benefit claim by August 31 could result in losing up to £1,406 a year. The monthly payment at risk is £117.21.
In a post on X, HMRC said: “Has your child recently received their #GCSE results? If they’re staying in education or training next year, you’ll need to update your Child Benefit claim on the HMRC app or online by 31 August. Don’t miss out on up to £1,406 a year.”
Who Needs to Act and What Payments Are at Stake
Officials said anyone with children who are getting results this month with GCSEs, A Levels, and National 5, Highers, and Advanced Highers in Scotland may need to take action. Currently, those eligible receive £27.05 a week for their first child and £17.90 a week for each additional child. For the 2026/2027 tax year, parents will receive £1,406.52 a year for their eldest or only child, and £930.80 a year for each additional child. So if they have two children eligible, that amounts to £2,337.40. If one child is staying in education after getting their results and people fail to take action by the end of August, they will be effectively losing £117.21 a month.
People can claim Child Benefit if they are responsible for the child, the child is under 16 years old, or under 20 years old and still in full-time non-advanced education or training. About 1.5 million parents of 16-19 year-olds received reminder letters earlier this year. Child Benefit will automatically stop on 31 August on or after a child’s 16th birthday unless parents confirm their teenager’s plans.
How to Extend the Claim and Eligible Courses
HMRC said: “You must tell HM Revenue and Customs about their education or training. Only the person who is claiming Child Benefit can do this. You may be sent a letter in your child’s last year at school asking you to tell HMRC about your child’s plans. Your Child Benefit automatically stops on 31 August on or after your child’s 16th birthday if: they leave education or training, you do not tell HMRC that they’re staying in education or training, or they’re staying in a type of education or training where you cannot get Child Benefit.”
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.”
Child Benefit can continue for teenagers studying full time in non-advanced education, or on unpaid approved training courses. Non-advanced education includes A levels or similar, T levels, GCSEs, Scottish Highers, NVQs and most vocational qualifications up to level 3, home education, study programmes in England, and a pre-apprenticeship. You cannot get Child Benefit if your child is studying for a university degree, BTEC Higher National Certificate, pre-degree course, Higher National Certificate or Higher National Diploma, or Certificate of Higher Education.
High Income Charge and Additional Details
If a Child Benefit claimant or their partner has an individual income of between £60,000 and £80,000, the higher earner may be liable for the High Income Child Benefit Charge. Parents can pay the charge through their PAYE tax code using the HICBC digital service, or through Self Assessment. HMRC added: “Parents only need to act if their teenager is starting a new course or qualifying training in September. Those already partway through a course previously notified to HMRC do not need to contact us. Full-time education means more than an average of 12 hours a week of supervised study or course-related work experience. This includes home schooling. If a child has an illness or disability, they may be able to do fewer hours where this is appropriate for them.”
