Around 700,000 families are at risk of losing their child benefit payments unless they act quickly, according to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). The payment can be a lifeline for some parents or carers, however, those caring for young people aged 16 - 19 could be at risk of having their money stopped.
Worth up to £21.80 a week, the payment is offered to those responsible for a child under 16, or under 20 if they are in full-time non-advanced education or approved training. However, once a young person gets to 16 that money could stop unless you take action.
HMRC says parents and carers of 16 to 19-year-olds have just one week left to confirm whether their teenager is staying in full-time education or approved training. The government department says it has written to 1.3 million parents and carers of children who are in the last year of school or education to remind them to update their Child Benefit records. However, only 600,000 families have notified HMRC so far.
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Angela MacDonald, HMRC’s Deputy Chief Executive and Second Permanent Secretary, said: “Child Benefit provides vital financial support for families and we want to make sure no-one misses out because they haven’t updated their details on time."
Child Benefit is worth £21.80 per week for a first child and £14.45 for each additional child. There’s no limit to the number of children you can claim for.
Parents and carers need to make sure they update their Child Benefit records by Wednesday, August 31, or risk seeing their payments end. Updates can be made via Child Benefit records using a Personal Tax Account on GOV.UK. Alternatively, return a completed copy of the form sent earlier in the year, or by telephone. Search ‘child benefit when your child turns 16’ on GOV.UK
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