Deadline to extend Child Benefit for 16 to 19-year-olds in education or training

Parents have until 31 August 2026 to extend their Child Benefit claim for 16 to 19-year-olds who are continuing in non-advanced approved education or training, HM Revenue & Customs said on 17 August 2026¹. Payments stop automatically for anyone who has not responded by that deadline¹. HMRC has written to approximately 1.5 million parents this year reminding them to extend, and more than 372,000 have already done so digitally¹.

Child Benefit is worth up to £1,406.60 a year for the eldest or only child and up to £930.80 a year for each additional child¹. One Parent Families Scotland gives the weekly rates as £27.05 for a first or only child and £17.90 for second and subsequent children². When Child Benefit stops for an eldest child, the higher rate is paid for the child next in line².

The payment continues for children in full-time, non-advanced education, including A levels, T levels, Scottish Highers, NVQs up to level 3 and certain approved training schemes¹. It cannot be claimed for a university degree, a standard apprenticeship in England, or a course that forms part of a job contract¹. Full-time education means more than an average of 12 hours a week of supervised study or course-related work experience, including home schooling; a child with an illness or disability may be able to do fewer hours where appropriate¹. OPFS describes approved education and training as full-time and non-advanced, started before the age of 19².

Parents only need to act if their teenager is starting a new course or qualifying training in September; those already partway through a course previously notified to HMRC do not need to contact it¹. Parents whose child's plans change, for example if they leave education or start a paid apprenticeship, must tell HMRC straight away to avoid being overpaid¹. OPFS says Child Benefit stops at the end of February, 31 May, 31 August or 30 November, whichever comes first, when a child leaves approved education, starts getting Universal Credit, starts paid work of 24 or more hours a week, starts a higher education course, or reaches 20².

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC's Chief Customer Officer, said:

Where a claimant or their partner has an individual adjusted net income of more than £60,000, the higher earner may need to pay the High Income Child Benefit Charge, through their PAYE tax code using the HICBC digital service or through Self Assessment¹.

Why it matters for households

For families with a teenager staying on at school or college, the claim is not automatic: the payment stops on 31 August after a child's 16th birthday unless HMRC is told the child is continuing in approved education². The extension keeps the payment running until the child turns 20, subject to the stopping points above². Parents can extend using the HMRC app or GOV.UK, or by post or phone using the details in their letter¹. Further detail on which courses count is in our guide to Child Benefit after 16, and on rates and the high income charge in Child Benefit: who can claim, how much and the high income charge.

Separately, OPFS sets out a Child Benefit Extension Period for parents of 16 and 17-year-olds who have left education: up to 20 weeks of continued payment where the child is signed up to join the Armed Forces or registered with their local careers service, works less than 24 hours a week and is not receiving certain benefits². Applications must be made within three months of the child leaving education or training, and the extension ends when the period runs out or the child turns 18, whichever comes first². A temporary break from education can be ignored for up to six months, and longer where the break is due to physical or mental ill health².

What happens next

The deadline is 31 August 2026¹. Parents who cannot use the app or GOV.UK can extend by post or phone using the details in their letter¹. HMRC's Child Benefit Helpline is 0300 200 3100, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, with a textphone on 0300 200 3103². OPFS also lists the Skills Development Scotland Helpline on 0800 917 8000 for finding a local careers service office².