HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has issued an urgent reminder to parents of 16 to 19-year-olds that they have just two weeks to confirm whether their child will continue in non-advanced approved education or training. If they fail to do so, they risk missing out on Child Benefit payments.
Child Benefit is a tax-free financial support from the Government for parents or guardians of a child under 16, or under 20 if they stay in approved education or training, according to the GOV.UK website. It is worth £27.05 a week – or £1,406.60 a year – for the eldest or only child, and £17.90 a week for each additional child.
Benefits of claiming
Claiming Child Benefit comes with several advantages, including the allowance paid for each child (usually received every four weeks), National Insurance credits that count towards the State Pension, and a National Insurance number for the child without them having to apply for one.
HMRC has written to 1.5 million parents ahead of the August deadline. More than 372,000 parents have already extended their Child Benefit payment digitally.
Who needs to act
The warning comes as hundreds of thousands of teenagers prepare to get their GCSE results on Thursday (August 20), before planning their next steps. Families whose teenager is remaining in non-advanced approved education or training can continue to claim Child Benefit, but only if parents take action before August 31.
Child Benefit cannot be claimed for children doing a university degree, a standard apprenticeship in England, or a course that forms part of a job contract. Action is only required if the teenager is beginning a new course or qualifying training in September. If the teenager is already partway through a course previously notified to HMRC, the department does not need to be notified.
Eligibility and next steps
HMRC categorises full-time education as more than an average of 12 hours a week of supervised study or course-related work experience, including homeschooling. The child may be able to do fewer hours if they have an illness or disability.
HMRC must be informed immediately if the child's plans change, for example if they leave education or start a paid apprenticeship, so parents are not overpaid. Additionally, if a Child Benefit claimant or their partner has an individual adjusted net income exceeding £60,000, the higher earner may need to pay the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC).
HMRC reminds parents that they can extend their claim "in minutes using the HMRC app or on GOV.UK". If you have received a letter from HMRC, you can also scan the QR code to go straight to the digital service. Payments will stop automatically for anyone who has not responded by the deadline. However, Child Benefit can be backdated for up to three months from the date the claim is made, so if you miss the deadline you should get in touch with HMRC as soon as possible.
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.
"Child Benefit continues for children in full-time, non-advanced education, including A levels, T levels, Scottish Highers, NVQs up to level 3, and certain approved training schemes. A full list of approved education routes is available on GOV.UK."
You can find out more about Child Benefit eligibility and rules on the GOV.UK website.
