- As teenagers get their exam results, parents are urged to
renew their Child Benefit claim by 31 August for payments to
continue in September.
- Parents can quickly and easily extend their Child Benefit
claim via the HMRC app or online to
guarantee their payments.
- Record numbers of parents of 16 to 19-year-olds staying in
education or training have extended their Child Benefit online.
With GCSE results due this week HM Revenue and Customs
(HMRC) is urging
parents who know their teenager's plans in September to extend
their claim now to continue to receive Child Benefit.
More than 509,000 parents of teenagers, who are staying in
full-time education or approved training, have already extended
their Child Benefit claim. A record-breaking 67% have done it
online to guarantee their payments will continue in September.
Parents need to extend their claim by 31 August or payments will
automatically stop.
Child Benefit is worth £26.05 per week - or £1,354.60 a year -
for the eldest or only child and £17.25 per week - or £897 a year
- for each additional child.
HMRC has written
to 1.5 million eligible parents reminding them to extend their
Child Benefit claim for their 16 to 19-year-old.
The quickest and easiest way to ensure payments continue is to
extend via the HMRC app or online
through the digital service.
Parents can also scan the QR code in their reminder letter which
will take them straight to the digital service.
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC's Chief Customer Officer,
said:
Teenagers can be expensive and Child Benefit is an important
source of income for your household. As soon as you know what
your teen is doing in September, don't miss out. You can extend
your claim in minutes through the HMRC app or online to ensure
your payments continue.
Child Benefit can continue to be paid for young people who are
studying full time in non-advanced education as well as unpaid
approved training courses. Visit GOV.UK for a full list
of approved courses.
If either the claimant or their partner has an individual income
of between £60,000 and £80,000, the higher earner will be subject
to the High Income Child Benefit Charge. For families who fall
into this category, the online Child Benefit tax
calculator provides an estimate of how much benefit they
will receive and what the charge may be.
As part of the government's Plan for Change, many families will
soon have the option to use a new digital service to pay the
charge directly through their PAYE tax code instead of filing a
Self Assessment tax return.
The new service will cut red tape for eligible employed parents
who are liable to the charge. Those who choose to pay through
their Self Assessment can continue to do so.
Families who have previously opted out of Child Benefit payments
can opt back in and restart their
payments quickly and easily online or via
the HMRC app.
Further Information
More information on Child Benefit for 16-19 year
olds.
Eligible customers don't need to wait for the letter to extend
their claim. The service is in the HMRC app and online for all
eligible customers.
Customers can update their Child Benefit claim via
the HMRC app and via GOV.UK.
Claimants who are unable to use online services can call or write
to us using the contact details in their renewal letter.
Parents cannot claim Child Benefit if their child is taking a
course that is part of a job contract.
From 1 September, eligibility to extend Child Benefit for 16 to
19-year-olds will include teenagers who are home educated and
those who are unable to attend college (for a minimum number of
12 hours) due to illness or disability.
Parents can view and manage their claim quickly and easily online
or on the HMRC app. This includes
viewing payment information and proof of their claim, adding
additional children and updating their details.
HMRC uses QR
codes in letters and correspondence. The QR code will always take
you to GOV.UK or the HMRC app. When you are
logged into your HMRC account, we may use QR
codes to redirect you to another page. If we're using QR codes in
communications you'll be able to see them on the genuine HMRC contacts page. To
help fight phishing scams, send any suspicious emails containing
QR codes to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk then
delete them.
