Parents of teenagers in Scotland are being urged to take action before the end of this month to prevent Child Benefit payments stopping automatically. Families with children aged 16 to 19 who are continuing in approved education or training may need to extend their Child Benefit claim by August 31 to ensure payments continue.
Scotland's national advice service, Advice Direct Scotland, has issued the new warning with just days remaining before the deadline, highlighting that families with two eligible children could miss out on £2,337.40 over a full year.
Who needs to act
Child Benefit is currently worth £27.05 per week for an eldest or only child and £17.90 for each additional child. Payments normally stop after a young person turns 16 unless they remain in qualifying education or approved training.
Parents whose teenager is starting a new course or eligible training in September need to tell HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) about their plans. However, families whose child is already partway through a course which has previously been reported to HMRC do not need to contact the department again.
What counts as qualifying education
Child Benefit can continue until a young person reaches 20 in certain circumstances if they remain in approved non-advanced education or training. Qualifying full-time education includes Scottish Highers and A levels, International Baccalaureate, T levels, NVQs up to level 3, and certain home education.
In Scotland, qualifying unpaid approved training can include the No One Left Behind programme and Employability Fund programmes. Parents should tell HMRC if their child's circumstances change, including if they leave education or start a paid apprenticeship. Child Benefit cannot normally continue if the young person goes to university or begins another form of advanced education.
How much is at stake
The current weekly Child Benefit rates are £27.05 for an eldest or only child and £17.90 for each additional child. Over a full year, this is worth up to £1,406.60 for an eldest or only child and £930.80 for every additional eligible child. This means a household with two qualifying children could receive £2,337.40 over 52 weeks.
Advice Direct Scotland said the payments can provide important support at a time when household budgets continue to face pressure.
Craig Tobin, head of business development and impact at Advice Direct Scotland, said: "With the school holidays ending and children returning to school, parents across Scotland have their hands full, but it is vital that no one who could qualify misses out on this financial support."
"Child Benefit provides a lifeline for many households, particularly as budgets are under pressure from the increasing cost of living and energy prices. Our message to parents is not to delay, but to act now. Extending your Child Benefit claim is easy, and it could put thousands of pounds in your pocket."
How to extend a claim
Parents can update their child's education or training details online through GOV.UK or using the HMRC app. Those who received a letter from HMRC can also use the QR code contained in the correspondence to access the online service. Parents unable to use the digital services can contact HMRC using the details provided in their letter.
HMRC previously said around 1.5 million parents had been contacted this year reminding them to extend their claim where necessary, with more than 372,000 having already done so digitally. The deadline for parents who need to notify HMRC about their teenager's continuing education or training is August 31.
Advice Direct Scotland also provides free help through its taxadvice.scot service for people who are unsure about extending a Child Benefit claim. The organisation is one of 12 voluntary and community groups selected by HMRC to provide tailored benefits and tax support across the UK, and the only organisation providing the service in Scotland. People seeking support can contact the service on 0800 756 3381.
