HMRC has issued a reminder to households receiving Child Benefit as a deadline later this year looms. Child Benefit is a form of tax-free financial support from the Government for parents or guardians of a child under 16 or under 20 if they stay in approved education or training.
The benefit is worth £27.05 a week – or £1,406.60 a year – for the eldest or only child and £17.90 a week for each additional child. Claiming it comes with a number of benefits, including:
- the aforementioned allowance paid to you for each child (you’ll usually get it every four weeks)
- National Insurance credits which count towards your State Pension
- a National Insurance number for your child without them having to apply for one
And while only one person can get Child Benefit for a child, there’s no limit on how many children you can claim for.
However, though the benefit is guaranteed for eligible under-16s, it’s subject to conditions after that point, as many younger people will leave education.
Parents with teenagers in certain types of education or training after their GCSEs or National 5s, therefore, need to opt in the year their child turns 16 to continue receiving the benefit.
In a reminder issued by the tax office, HMRC flagged that around 1.5 million parents of 16-19 year-olds are to receive reminder letters in the coming weeks.
Child Benefit will automatically cease from August 31 following a child’s 16th birthday unless parents confirm their teenager’s plans.
The UK tax authority said letters would be sent from late April, with most landing on doorsteps in early May, so you may have already received it.
But it noted that parents don’t need to wait for their letter, as HMRC’s digital service for extending opened on April 1, meaning they can act today if they already know their teenager’s plans.
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Chief Customer Officer, said: “Child Benefit is a real financial boost for families, so if your teenager already knows they’re staying in education or training after their GCSEs or National 5s, you don’t need to wait for our letter.
“You can extend your Child Benefit claim today in minutes via the HMRC app or online at GOV.UK.”
More information about eligibility and how it works can be found on the UK Government website.