Child Benefit is a universal benefit in the UK, paid by HM Revenue and Customs, or HMRC, to provide financial assistance to parents and guardians who are responsible for bringing up a child.
When a child reaches the age of sixteen, the continuation of this benefit is no longer automatic and becomes dependent on the child’s circumstances.
The general rule is that payments cease when a child reaches this age unless specific criteria about their ongoing education or training are met.
While the automatic stop date is tied to a child’s sixteenth birthday, Child Benefit can continue for many teenagers who remain in certain types of education or approved training.
However, there is a clear upper age limit.
Payments for any qualifying young person cannot continue indefinitely, regardless of their circumstances, and there are fixed cut off dates related to when a course finishes.
For an eighteen year old, the main question is whether they are still engaged in an approved form of non advanced education or training that was started before their nineteenth birthday.
Does Child Benefit stop immediately when my child turns sixteen?
No, Child Benefit does not stop on the day your child turns sixteen.
The payments will automatically stop on 31 August on or after your child’s sixteenth birthday, unless you notify HMRC that they are continuing in approved education or training.
HMRC sends letters to parents in the year the child turns sixteen to ask them to confirm their child’s plans after leaving compulsory schooling.
If you confirm that your child is staying in full time approved education or training, the payments can continue.
How long can Child Benefit continue if my child is still in education?
If your child remains in approved education or training, Child Benefit can continue to be paid up until the age of twenty.
The payments will stop on the first of the following dates that falls after your child leaves or completes their approved course:
- 28 February
- 31 May
- 31 August
- 30 November
If your child turns twenty before any of these dates, the payment will stop on the day before their twentieth birthday.
If they turn twenty on one of these dates, payment will stop on that date.
The maximum age limit is the day before the young person turns twenty, regardless of their educational status.
What is considered approved education for Child Benefit purposes?
Approved education is defined by HMRC as full time, non advanced education.
Non advanced means the course is below university degree level. Examples of approved education include:
- A levels or Scottish Highers.
- International Baccalaureate.
- T Levels.
- NVQ courses up to Level 3.
- GCSE courses.
- Home education, provided it was started before the child turned sixteen, or after sixteen if they have a statement of special educational needs.
The education must generally involve more than twelve hours a week of teaching or supervised study.
You cannot claim if the course is part of a contract of employment.
Can I claim Child Benefit if my eighteen year old starts university?
No, you cannot claim Child Benefit for an eighteen year old who starts a university course, as this is considered advanced education.
Once a young person moves into education that is above Level 3, such as a university degree or Higher National Diploma, they are no longer a qualifying young person for the purposes of Child Benefit.
Payments will cease at the terminal date following the end of their non advanced course, even if they have a short gap before starting university.
What is considered approved training that allows payments to continue?
Approved training is generally defined as an unpaid scheme in the UK that is run or supported by the government or a local authority.
Examples of approved training schemes vary across the nations of the UK but include things like traineeships and some government supported youth employment programmes, provided the training is unpaid.
You cannot continue to receive Child Benefit if your eighteen year old starts an apprenticeship that is part of a contract of employment, or if they are in paid work for twenty four hours a week or more.
What do I need to tell HMRC when my child completes their course?
You have a responsibility to inform HMRC immediately if your child leaves approved education or training before the course is complete.
If the course ends as planned, the benefit will stop on the next relevant terminal date, either 28 February, 31 May, 31 August, or 30 November.
You must report this change to HMRC to ensure you do not receive an overpayment that you will later have to pay back.
Reporting changes can be done quickly and easily online via the official government website or the HMRC app.
Is there any short extension period available if my child leaves education at eighteen?
Child Benefit can be extended for up to twenty weeks, but this is only available for young people aged sixteen or seventeen who leave approved education or training and then register with a government supported careers service, such as Connexions, or sign up to join the armed forces.
This short extension period ends when the twenty weeks are up or when the young person turns eighteen, whichever comes first.
Therefore, this specific twenty week extension does not apply if your child is already eighteen when their approved education or training finishes.
