Child Benefit payments could stop this summer – here’s what parents need to do
HMRC will stop some Child Benefit payments from 31 August unless renewed for older teens still in full-time education
Thousands of UK families could see their Child Benefit payments automatically stop this summer – unless they take urgent action.
With the end of the school year approaching, HMRC is reminding parents of teenagers who’ve just turned or are turning 16 that they must renew their Child Benefit claim if their child is continuing in full-time education or approved training after their GCSEs.
Who is affected?
The automatic stop applies to families with a child who has turned 16, or will turn 16 before 31 August 2025.
Once a child reaches this age, Child Benefit payments will stop at the end of August unless the parent or guardian confirms their child is still in eligible education or training.
According to HMRC, more than 1.4 million letters will be sent to families across the UK between May and mid-July as a reminder to renew.
These letters will include a QR code that links directly to the GOV.UK website where families can quickly update their details online.
A spokesperson for HMRC said: “Parents need to act now to ensure they continue receiving Child Benefit payments. The fastest way to do this is online using their Government Gateway account.”
What counts as ‘approved’ education or training?
To continue getting Child Benefit for a 16 to 19-year-old, the young person must be enrolled in one of the following types of education or training, which must be unpaid and full-time (at least 12 hours a week):
- A levels or Scottish Highers
- International Baccalaureate
- T levels
- NVQs or other vocational qualifications up to level 3
- Home education – if it began before the child turned 16, or started after with a statement of special educational needs
- Study programmes in England, such as pre-apprenticeship courses
- Specific training schemes, depending on where you live:
- Wales: Foundation Apprenticeships, Traineeships, or Jobs Growth Wales+
- Scotland: No One Left Behind programme or the Employability Fund
- Northern Ireland: PEACEPLUS Youth Programme, Training for Success or Skills for Life and Work
You cannot continue to claim if your teen is:
- Starting a university degree or Higher National Certificate
- On a paid apprenticeship (except for some Foundation Apprenticeships in Wales)
- On a course that’s part of a job offer or employer agreement
How to renew your Child Benefit
If your teen is continuing in eligible education or training, you can update your claim using the HMRC app or online at GOV.UK. You’ll need a Government Gateway user ID and password. If you haven’t set one up yet, it only takes a few minutes – you’ll need your National Insurance number or postcode and two forms of ID.
If your child changes their mind or drops out of their course, you can simply inform HMRC through the app or website, and payments will stop accordingly.
What’s the current Child Benefit rate?
For the 2024/2025 tax year, Child Benefit is worth:
- £26.05 per week for your first (or only) child
- £17.25 per week for each additional child
These payments are usually made every four weeks, directly into your bank account. Over the course of a year, that’s worth up to £1,354.60 for one child – a vital bit of extra income for many families.
What to do next
- Look out for a letter from HMRC between May and July
- Scan the QR code or go to GOV.UK to update your child’s education status
- Set up a Government Gateway account if you don’t have one
- Don’t delay – payments will stop automatically from 31 August if you don’t act
For more information on Child Benefit eligibility and how to renew, visit gov.uk
Read more:
Authors
Ruairidh is the Digital Lead on MadeForMums. He works with a team of fantastically talented content creators and subject-matter experts on MadeForMums.