Thousands of family’s risk losing £1,300 because they didn’t tick a box

It’s easy to overlook, but missing one simple task could leave thousands of families out of pocket from 1 September.

If your teen is turning 16 this summer and is staying in school or training, you’ve got until 31 August to update HMRC. If you don’t, your child benefit payments will stop automatically. That’s £26 a week or more than £1,300 a year you could miss out on.

Don’t miss out – one in five parents could be affected

Last year, 870,000 parents extended their Child Benefit, but experts warn that many more could miss out if they don’t act quickly. The key is remembering to reconfirm your claim when your child finishes GCSEs, even if they’re continuing with A-levels, BTECs, or college.

It’s quick and easy to fix

It only takes a few minutes to sort out. You can do it online or through the HMRC app. Already received the letter? Simply scan the QR code to go straight to the form.

Myrtle Lloyd from HMRC says: “As soon as you know what your teenager is doing next, extend your claim in minutes to guarantee your payments continue.”

What counts and what doesn’t

You’ll still get Child Benefit if your teen is:

• In full-time non-advanced education (A-levels, T-levels, or BTECs)
• On an approved unpaid training course

You won’t get it if your child starts work or takes on a paid apprenticeship.

What else should parents know?

If you’ve opted out of child benefit before, you can start getting payments again anytime through the HMRC app or online.

Also, if your child is about to turn 16, they’ll gain control of their Child Trust Fund, which could be worth thousands. If you're unsure who their provider is or how much it’s worth, use the free tracker here.

There’s more about child benefit in our guide: Child benefit: How much is it & how does it work?