When does child benefit stop?

You could stop getting child benefit because of changes in your or your child’s circumstances.

Your child turns 16

For most families, child benefit payments will end on 31 August after your child turns 16, unless they stay in approved education or training.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) will send you a letter ahead of your child’s 16^th birthday asking you to let them know what they’re doing next.

If you don’t respond, your payments will stop, so don’t ignore it.

Child benefit can continue until your child turns 20, but only if they stay in approved full-time education or training.

Once your child finishes their course or leaves education or training, your payments will end - even if they’re under 20.

You could also stop getting child benefit if they switch to a course that’s not approved or they may drop out early.

Let HMRC know as soon as your child leaves their course or training.

Otherwise, you might get more money than you should and be expected to repay it later on.

Your child starts working

You can still get child benefit if your child starts working part-time while still in full-time approved education or training.

For example, your child might get a Saturday job while they’re at sixth-form college.

But if they leave education and start working full-time, your child benefit will stop - even if they’re under 20.

By full-time work, we mean working more than 24 hours a week and not being in approved education or training.

You or your partner earns over £60,000

If you or your partner have an income of over £60,000 a year, you can still claim child benefit.

But you may have to pay some of it back.

To avoid this, you can opt out of receiving payments.

Even if you opt out, it’s a good idea to still register, as claiming child benefit can help you get national insurance (NI) credits.

You usually need at least 35 years of NI credits to get the full state pension.

So if you’re in a couple and one of you is earning less than £123 a week, this could be really helpful in the long run.

It also makes sure that your child automatically gets a national insurance number when they turn 16.

And if you’re caring for a child whose parents have died, it could unlock other support such as guardian’s allowance.

Changes in your family or household situation

Your personal circumstances can change over time and some of these will affect your child benefit.

You must let HMRC know if any of the following happens.

You separate or divorce

Only one person can claim the benefit for each child, so a separation or divorce could affect who gets the payments

You move in with a new partner 

If a new partner is earning over £60,000, you’ll be subject to the different rules for high earners.

Your child no longer lives with you

For example, they might move in with another family member or live independently.

You go abroad for more than 8 weeks in a row

Being abroad for eight consecutive weeks can stop your child benefit entitlement, unless you’re overseas for medical treatment or military service. 

If you want to keep getting child benefit after your child turns 16:

• They must be in approved education or training
• the course must start before they turn 19

Approved education includes: 

• A-levels or similar, for example International Baccalaureate
• T levels
• NVQs and most vocational qualifications up to level 3
• home education - if it started before your child turned 16 or after 16 if they have a statement of special educational needs
• study programmes in England
• a pre-apprenticeship

Education must be full-time.

That means at least 12 hours a week of supervised study or course-related work experience.

You won’t get child benefit if your child is:

• studying for a university degree or higher education course
• on most apprenticeships
• training as part of a job or employer agreement

You may want or need to cancel child benefit.

For example, your child might no longer be eligible, or your income has gone up to more than £60,000 a year and you want to avoid paying money back.

So if you’re the person who’s getting child benefit, either log into your HMRC online account or call them directly on 0300 200 3100 to cancel it.