HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has issued a warning to UK households claiming Child Benefit over £1,406 payments. The tax office has told parents of 16 to 19-year-olds starting further education or approved training courses that they must extend their Child Benefit claim by the end of August or payments will stop automatically.
Deadline for extending claims
The warning comes as hundreds of thousands of teenagers are due to receive their GCSE exam results this Thursday (August 20), after which they can start planning their next steps. For families whose teenager is choosing to stay in non-advanced approved education or training, Child Benefit payments can continue – but only if claims are extended by August 31.
According to HMRC, it takes just minutes to extend Child Benefit claims using the HMRC app or on GOV.UK, and more than 372,000 parents have already done so ahead of the looming deadline. Those who received a letter from HMRC earlier this year can also scan the QR code or go straight to the digital service, but payments will stop automatically for anyone who hasn’t responded by the deadline.
Payment rates and eligibility
Child Benefit is worth £27.05 per week for the eldest or only child in the 2026 to 2027 tax year, meaning claimants can get up to £1,406.60 in total per year. For those with more than one child, the benefit is paid at a rate of £17.90 per week, or up to £930.80 per year, for each additional child. So those who miss the deadline to extend their claim will miss out on a minimum of £1,406.60 per year from HMRC to help with childcare costs.
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.”
Education requirements and further guidance
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. The 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.
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.”
In the event a child’s plans change and they decide to leave education or start a paid apprenticeship, HMRC must be informed straight away to avoid claimants being overpaid. In cases where a Child Benefit claimant or their partner has an individual adjusted net income of more than £60,000, the higher earner may be subject to pay the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC). This can be paid through your PAYE tax code using the HICBC digital service, or through Self Assessment.
