Don’t lose out on Child Benefit!
Parents of children aged between 16 and 19 years of age and continuing their education or training after their GCSEs can extend the Child Benefit they receive.
HMRC are currently sending extension reminder letters to over one million families. The letter will include a QR code that will take you to a page on GOV.UK that will allow you to easily update your claim.
If HMRC feels this may be relevant to you, you should receive this letter by 17th July. If you have not received a letter by then, you can also make the claim via GOV.UK yourself or by using the HMRC App. You’ll need to search for ‘Child Benefit when your child turns 16’ and have a Government Gateway user ID and password to do so.
Child Benefit can be worth £1,331 a year for your first or only child, and up to £881 a year for each additional child. Payments will automatically stop on 31st August after the child has turned 16 unless the parents take action to renew their claim.
When can you extend your claim?
Payments can be extended if your child is studying full time in approved non-advanced education. This includes:
- A levels or Scottish Highers;
- International Baccalaureate;
- Home education – generally only if started before the child turned 16, unless you have a statement of special educational needs that was assessed by your local authority;
- T levels; and
- NVQs, up to level 3.
The following unpaid approved training courses also qualify for extending your claim:
- Wales: Foundation Apprenticeships, Traineeships or the Jobs Growth+ Wales scheme;
- Northern Ireland: PEACEPLUS Youth Programme 3.2, Training for Success or Skills for Life and Work; and
- Scotland: Employability Fund programme and No One Left Behind.
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