Parents of 16–19-year-olds: confirm your child’s continued education or training by 31 August 2025 to keep Child Benefit payments going. Only parents or guardians who are responsible for eligible children can apply for the Child Benefit extension. Last year, over 870,000 families updated HMRC, most online. It only takes a few minutes and helps avoid missed payments. If your child is still in approved education or training, the extension applies to children who remain in these eligible settings, so act now to stay on track. You can find more information about eligibility and how to apply on GOV.UK.

Inform HMRC About Circumstances Changes

Taxpayers entitled to the child benefit should be aware that HMRC usually stop paying child benefit on the 31 August following a child’s 16th Birthday. If your circumstances change, such as your child leaving education or training, you must inform HMRC to ensure your claim remains accurate. Under qualifying circumstances, the child benefit payment can continue until a child reaches their 20th birthday if they stay in approved education or training. You must confirm this to HMRC, or payments will stop. If you do not update HMRC, your Child Benefit may be cancelled. Changes in circumstances can also affect other benefits such as tax credits.

Approved education must be full-time, with more than 12 hours per week of supervised study or course-related work experience. Approved education includes A levels, T levels, Scottish Highers, NVQs up to Level 3, home education (if started before 16 or after 16 with special educational needs), study programmes in England, and pre-apprenticeships. Your child must start the course before they turn 19. Additional allowance is available for children who are disabled.

Child Benefit cannot be claimed if your child is:

• Studying for a university degree or BTEC Higher National Certificate (advanced course).
• On an apprenticeship (unless it’s a Foundation Apprenticeship in Wales).
• Undertaking a course with an employer’s agreement (e.g., to secure a job or gain skills for an existing job).

Approved training should be unpaid and can include:

• Wales: Foundation Apprenticeships, Traineeships, or the Jobs Growth Wales+ scheme.
• Scotland: The No One Left Behind programme.
• Northern Ireland: PEACEPLUS Youth Programme 3.2, Training for Success, or Skills for Life and Work.

Courses that are part of a job contract are not approved.

Child Benefit Processing

HMRC sends a letter in your child’s last year at school asking you to confirm their plans. The letters include a QR code which, when scanned, directs them straight to GOV.UK to update their claim quickly and easily online. This can also be done on the HMRC app. Claiming Child Benefit provides national insurance credits, which count towards your state pension.

Parents have until 31 August 2025 to tell HMRC that their 16-year-old is continuing their education or training, in order to continue receiving Child Benefit. No child benefit is payable after a young person reaches the age of 20 years.

Child Benefit is not means-tested and is not affected by your savings, but there is a limit on the total amount of benefits you can receive (benefit cap). The government sets the policy for Child Benefit and related benefits, and these benefits help families with the costs of raising children.

Financial Support for Continued Childcare Costs

Child Benefit is a type of non-means-tested benefit and is paid as a regular allowance to help cover the cost of bringing up children. How many children you have directly affects the total amount of money your family receives, as payments increase with each additional child.

Child Benefit is paid at a weekly rate of £26.05 for the only or eldest child, and £17.25 for each additional child. However, families where either parent or partner earns over £60,000 a year may be affected by the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC). This means they may have to pay back some or all of the benefit through their income tax return. For some families, the charge can effectively halve the amount of Child Benefit they receive. If income exceeds £80,000, the full amount of Child Benefit must be repaid. Reductions in Child Benefit payments can impact a family’s ability to be present for their children and manage household costs. Families can still choose to receive the benefit and pay the charge or opt out of receiving payments to avoid the charge altogether.