BE QUICK
Just weeks left for thousands of parents who risk child benefit being STOPPED – move to make now to avoid losing cash
Plus, find out how to update HMRC on a change in circumstance
PARENTS whose children have turned 16 but will remain in education have only a few weeks left to let HMRC know, or they will lose their child benefit payments.
Parents who receive child benefit are given £102.40 every four weeks for the first or only child, and £67.80 every four weeks for each extra child after that.
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It means that a family with two eligible children would receive £2,212.60 a year in child benefit payments.
There is no limit to how many children a family can claim child benefit for.
Child benefit payments end automatically on August 31 in the year after your child's 16th birthday.
However, if they want to continue in education at school or college, like if they're undertaking A Levels, Scottish Highers, or the International Baccalaureate, there is a way to continue receiving money.
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But now thousands of parents could be at risk of losing £1,331 in child benefit cash, if they haven't responded to a letter from HMRC.
You should have been sent a letter in your child’s last year at school asking you to confirm their plans.
If you didn't receive one, another option is to fill out informing the taxman that your child is staying in approved education, which will protect your benefits.
If your child is aged between 18 and 20, and staying in approved education or training, a will need to be filled out.
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HMRC says: “If you fail to update your details in time, you may still be able to claim Child Benefit, but your payments might be late."
To count as approved, the education must be full-time, which HMRC describes as more than an average of 12 hours a week of supervised study or course-related work experience.
The full list of education this includes is:
- A levels or similar, for example Pre-U, International Baccalaureate
- T levels
- Scottish Highers
- NVQs and most vocational qualifications up to level 3 - excluding intermediate and advanced apprenticeships
- home education - if it started either before your child turned 16 or after 16 if they have special educational needs and disabilities
- traineeships in England
Approved training should be unpaid and can include:
- in Wales: Foundation Apprenticeships, Traineeships or the Jobs Growth Wales+ scheme
- in Scotland: the No One Left Behind programme
- in Northern Ireland: PEACE IV Children and Young People 2.1, Training for Success or Skills for Life and Work
Your child needs to be accepted onto the course before they are 19, otherwise the child benefit payments will stop.
HMRC adds that you cannot get Child Benefit if your child is studying an "advanced" course, such as a university degree or BTEC Higher National Certificate, or if a course is paid for by an employer.
You also need to alert HMRC when your child is leaving approved education by filling in a .
Payments will stop at the end of February, May 31, August 31, or November 30 (whichever comes first).
You can apply for a 20-week extension if your child registers with their local careers service or Connexions, or signs up to the army.
To qualify for the extension your child needs to be 16 or 17, work less than 24 hours a week, and not receive certain benefits.
You need to apply within three months of them leaving approved education.
How much is child benefit worth?
THERE are two child benefit rates, one for the eldest child and another for younger children.
- You get £21.15 per week for your eldest or only child (£1099.80 a year)
- You get £14 for each of your other children (£728 per year, per child)
- You get the money for each child under 16 (or under 20 if they stay in approved education or training)
- If families split up, how much you'll get for each child depends on how you claim.
- If you have 2 children and one stays with you and the other stays with your ex-partner, you’ll both get £21.15 a week for each child.
- If one parent claims for all the children, you get £21.15 for the eldest and £14 for each younger child.
- Only one household can claim for each child
Updating HMRC on changes in circumstances
If your or your child’s circumstances have altered, you will need to update HMRC or your payments might end.
For example, if you move house and don't change your details, you could lose your benefits.
You will also need to let the government know if your immigration status changes, or if you lose the right to live in the UK.
If you have pre-settled status, stop a relationship or begin a new one, or receive a prison sentence of more than eight weeks, you will need to let the taxman known.
You also need to tell HMRC if either of the children’s parents dies, or changes their name or gender.
HMRC must also be told of any changes to your child’s circumstances.
These include:
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- Your child has turned 16 or 20 if they are in education or training.
- Your child is aged 16 to 20 and leaves education or training.
- Your child is over 16 and starts working more than 24 hours per week.
- Your child gets married or forms a civil partnership.
- Your child goes missing or dies.
- Your child lives away from you for more than eight weeks in a row.
- Your child moves in with their partner on a permanent basis.
- Your child leaves the country for more than 12 weeks, unless it is part of school education or to get medical treatment.
- Your child goes to prison for more than eight weeks.
Your amount of Child Benefit could be reduced or completely stopped if you start getting payments from your local council or someone else who is looking after your children.
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