Parents have just two days to tell HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) that their 16-19-year-old is continuing education or training, or their Child Benefit payments will stop. The deadline is Monday, August 31.
Support continues for teenagers in full-time, non-advanced education, such as A levels, T levels, Scottish Highers, and NVQs up to level 3, or approved training schemes. Parents must update their details before the deadline to keep receiving benefit payments.
How to extend your claim
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s chief customer officer, said: "Child Benefit is a vital source of support for many families and we don’t want anyone to miss out. It only takes a few minutes using the HMRC app or GOV.UK, so make sure you’re receiving the payments you’re entitled to."
Parents can extend their claims in minutes using the HMRC app or on GOV.UK. Those who received a letter from HMRC can also scan the QR code to go straight to the digital service. Payments will stop automatically for anyone who hasn’t responded by the deadline.
Who has responded so far
HMRC has written to around 1.5 million parents this year, reminding them to extend their claims. However, only 372,000 parents have responded to do so.
Child Benefit is currently worth up to £1,406.60 a year for the eldest or only child, and up to £930.80 a year for each additional child.
Qualifying education and training
Qualifying full-time non-advanced education includes A levels or similar, for example, the International Baccalaureate, T levels, GCSEs, Scottish Highers, NVQs and most vocational qualifications up to level 3, home education, study programmes in England, and a pre-apprenticeship.
Qualifying unpaid approved training courses include, in Wales: Foundation Apprenticeships, Traineeships or the Jobs Growth Wales+ scheme; in Scotland: the No One Left Behind programme; in Northern Ireland: PEACEPLUS Youth Programme 3.2, Training for Success or Skills for Life and Work.
High Income Child Benefit Charge
If a Child Benefit claimant or their partner has an individual adjusted net income of more than £60,000, the higher earner may need to pay the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC).
Use the Child Benefit tax calculator on GOV.UK to find out how much HICBC to pay. Eligible parents can pay via their PAYE tax code using the HICBC digital service or via Self Assessment.
