HMRC has commenced sending letters to parents warning them about the risk of losing Child Benefit payments totaling £1,406.60 per year. Starting from May 8, these reminder letters have been sent to families with children aged 16 to 19, encouraging them to confirm their teenager’s ongoing education or training status.
Parents must verify their teenager’s plans by August 31 to continue receiving Child Benefit. Qualifying education and training include A-levels, T-levels, NVQs up to Level 3, and other full-time courses. Families whose children are already enrolled and known to HMRC do not need to respond.
Child Benefit pays £27.05 per week for the eldest or only child and £17.90 per week for each additional child. This translates to £1,406.60 annually for one child and £2,337.40 for two children.
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Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Chief Customer Officer, emphasized that parents can extend their Child Benefit claims before receiving the letter by using the HMRC app or GOV.UK website. She urges families to take swift action to avoid any interruption in payments.
HMRC reminded parents that Child Benefit will automatically stop on August 31 following a child’s 16th birthday unless they confirm plans regarding further education or training. Approximately 1.5 million reminder letters have been dispatched since late April, with most arriving in May.
Last year, over 874,000 parents extended their claims online or via the app, representing more than half of all claimants nationwide. Parents are encouraged to secure this valuable financial support as soon as possible.