Parents of teenagers are getting a heads up from HMRC about a potential hiccup in their payments. Child benefit payments might come to a halt for some families if they don’t take action ASAP. According to the taxman, parents who are claiming Child Benefit for teenagers aged 16 and still in school or training need to get their info updated by August 31 if they want to keep getting those sweet, sweet payments.
What is Child Benefit, you ask? Well, it’s a little something claimed by 7.62 million households in the UK, giving them £26.05 per week for the eldest or only child and £17.25 per week for each additional kiddo. So basically, it’s a nice chunk of change that can really help out with the cost of raising kids. Normally, you can get this benefit if you’re taking care of someone under 16, but the good news is that you can keep claiming it until your child hits 20. But once they hit 16, you gotta let the government know if you want to keep the money train rolling.
The rules say that you can still get Child Benefit if your child is doing some “approved” education or training for at least 12 hours a week. This includes stuff like A levels, T levels, Scottish Highers, NVQs, or other similar qualifications. If you’re homeschooling before your kid turns 16 or if they have special needs or disabilities, you’re also in the clear. But if your child is doing something fancy like a university degree, a Higher National Certificate, an apprenticeship, or a course paid for by their employer, then you might have to say goodbye to those payments. So, parents of 16-year-olds, make sure you update your info before August 31 if you don’t want to lose out on that extra cash.
HMRC is sending out letters to remind families to get on top of this. They’ll keep sending them out until the end of July, so keep an eye on your mailbox. If you want to extend your Child Benefit claim, you can do it online using the HMRC app or through GOV.UK. The letters even have a fancy QR code that’ll take you right to the digital service on the government website. HMRC says it only takes a few “minutes” to update your claim, so don’t put it off. Last year, more than 870,000 parents renewed their Child Benefit claims for their teenagers, with most doing it online. Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, says, “Child Benefit is a big help for families. Once you know what your teenager is up to, extend your claim in minutes to make sure you keep getting paid in September. Just hop on over to GOV.UK or the HMRC app to confirm today.”