Extend Child Benefit

Extend Child Benefit for your teen this Summer

HMRC are sending more than 1.4m child benefit reconfirmation letters to parents from the end of May reminding them to extend child benefit for their teenagers if they are continuing their education or training after their GCSEs or Scottish Nationals.

The letters will include a QR code which directs parents to GOV.UK to update their claim quickly and easily online (or via the HMRC app) if their 16-19-year-old intends to continue in approved education or training.

Child Benefit is worth up to £1,331 a year for the first or only child, and up to £881 a year for each additional child. Payments will automatically stop on 31 August on or after the child has turned 16 unless parents renew their claim where their child is continuing in education.

Child benefit can continue to be paid for 16-19-year-olds who are studying full time in approved non-advanced education which includes:

• A levels or Scottish Highers;
• International Baccalaureate;
• home education if it started before their child turned 16 or after 16 if they have a statement of special educational needs and it was assessed by the local authority;
• T levels; and
• NVQs up to level 3.

Child benefit will also continue for children studying on one of these unpaid approved training courses:

• in Wales: foundation apprenticeships; traineeships; or the Jobs Growth Wales+ scheme;
• in Northern Ireland: PEACEPLUS Youth Programme 3.2; Training for Success; or Skills for Life and Work; and
• in Scotland: Employability Fund programme; and No One Left Behind.

(HMRC Press Release 21-05-2024)

.

.

.

end