HMRC has issued a warning to parents of teenagers who receive Child Benefit. The government revenue service says payments may stop unless people take immediate action.
Parents with children aged 16 who are continuing in education or starting approved training need to update their details by August 31 to keep their claims going. Currently, 7.62 million UK households claim Child Benefit – which provides £26.05 weekly or £1,354.60 annually for the eldest or only child and £17.25 weekly or £897 annually for each additional child.
Typically, you qualify if you’re responsible for someone under 16, but you can keep claiming until your child is 20. When your child turns 16, however, you need to inform the government to continue receiving benefits.
The Mirror reports that the August deadline is for indicating your intention to carry on with the benefit. The rules state that you can keep getting Child Benefit if your child engages in “approved” education or training for more than 12 hours a week.
This includes studying for A levels, T levels, Scottish Highers, NVQs, or similar qualifications, as well as traineeships. Eligibility for home-schooled children remains if such an arrangement started before they turned 16 or if your child has special educational needs or disabilities.
However, eligibility ceases if your child enrols in an advanced course, such as a university degree, BTEC Higher National Certificate, intermediate/advanced apprenticeship, or an employer-funded course. Parents of 16 year old children claiming Child Benefit are urged to act swiftly and update their benefit information before August 31 to avoid losing their claim.
If your child is 16 and continuing in approved education, you must notify HMRC before the deadline. Once your child completes approved education or training, Child Benefit payments will stop at the end of February, May 31, August 31, or November 30, whichever comes first.
HMRC is currently sending letters to thousands of families, asking them to take action. These letters will be dispatched until the end of July.
Parents can extend their Child Benefit claims using the HMRC app or online via GOV.UK. The letters also include a QR code that directs parents to the digital service on GOV.UK..
According to HMRC, updating your Child Benefit claim takes only “minutes.” Last year, more than 870,000 parents renewed their Child Benefit claims for their teenagers, with most doing so online.
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said: “Child Benefit is an important boost to families. As soon as you know what your teenager is planning to do, extend your claim in minutes to guarantee your payments continue in September. Simply go to GOV.UK or the HMRC app to confirm today.”