HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will automatically stop £117.22 monthly payments to UK households claiming Child Benefit from September if they miss an important deadline. Parents of children aged 16 to 19 years-old have until Monday, August 31, to extend their Child Benefit claim if their teenager is continuing in full-time, non-advanced approved education or training in September. This includes A levels, T levels, Scottish Highers, NVQs up to level 3 and certain approved training schemes.
Payments stop automatically after deadline
The tax office has warned that those who fail to extend their claim by the August 31 deadline will see payments automatically stop, meaning no further monthly payments will be issued from September onwards. HMRC sent out approximately 1.5 million reminder letters to affected households earlier this year and is urging parents who now know their teenager's plans following GCSE results day this week to act immediately.
Child Benefit rates and eligibility
Child Benefit is worth £27.05 per week for the eldest or only child and £17.90 per week for each additional child following a 3.8% uplift on April 6, so in the 2026/27 tax year, parents with one child can get up to £1,406.60 in Child Benefit payments from HMRC per year, which amounts to around £117.22 per month on average over a 12-month period. Those with two children will get even more, and as there's no limit for the number of children you can claim for - other than the Benefit Cap - it's a cash boost that is well worth having, so parents of teenagers are urged not to miss the August 31 deadline or they'll lose out on around £117.22 per month.
Child Benefit can continue for teenagers studying full-time in non-advanced education, or on unpaid approved training courses, and according to HMRC, 874,000 parents extended their Child Benefit claim last year, with more than half doing so online or through the HMRC app. Failure to extend claims by August 31, either online via the HMRC website or through the HMRC app, will mean payments will automatically stop on this date, or after a child's 16th birthday, unless parents confirm their teenager's plans.
Official reminder and next steps
In cases where 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 (HICBC). In a reminder to parents this week, Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC's Chief Customer Officer, said: “Exam results season is a big moment for teenagers deciding their next steps, and it's the perfect time for parents to confirm those plans with us. 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 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 don't need to do anything. Claim extensions can be made on the HMRC app or online at GOV.UK. The letters sent out by HMRC also include a QR code linking directly to the digital service.
