CHILD benefit could be stopped for thousands of parents within just weeks.
Some parents and guardians will have to update their personal details on the government’s website before midnight on May 31 to ensure their child benefit payments will continue in June.
Those affected include anyone with a child aged 16 who had been in further education or training, but has now left, and anyone who has reached that age but is continuing their full-time education.
The gov.uk site says Child Benefit payments will continue until the first of four specified dates throughout the year is reached after their 16th birthday, with the next one being May 31.
HM Revenue and Customs (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.”
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Anyone who is responsible for bringing up a child under the age of 16 or a young person below the age of 20, if they are still carrying on with their full-time education or on an approved training scheme, is eligible for the payments.
The amount of Child Benefit and Guardian’s Allowance rose on April 6 in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation figure of 6.7 per cent.
A family with one child will get as much as £1,331 covering the 2024-25 financial year, a rise of £83.20 over the 12 months and up to £881 this year per additional child, an increase of £54.60.
Parents will get £102.40 every four weeks, equating to £25.60 per week, for the first or only child and £67.80 every four weeks for each additional child.
There is no limit to how many children a family can claim.
Child Benefit pay rates 2024/25:
- Eldest or only child: £25.60, up from £24.00
- Additional children: £16.95, up from £15.90
Guardian's Allowance rates 2024/25:
- From April 2024: £21.75, a rise from £20.40
If you claim child benefit you need to watch out for the High Income Child Benefit Charge though
But new rules which also come in this weekend mean that fewer people are affected.
Before, you would lose all child benefits when you earn over £60,000.
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Plus, anyone earning over £50,000 had to pay back a portion of the money.
But that has now increased to £80,000 and £60,000 respectively.
Read more on how the change affects you.
Four reasons why Child Benefit could stop
There are four reasons why the amount you get in Child Benefit could change or stop completely.
You did not update your details on time
After a child turns 16, Child Benefit will stop automatically on May 31, unless the HMRC is told your child is continuing in full-time education or training – or even that they are joining the armed forces or a government-backed careers programme.
If your child stays in education or training but then leaves, you will continue to get Child Benefit until whichever date after their 16th birthday comes first:
- the last day in February - when full-time non-advanced education or approved training finishes in December, January or February
- May 31 - when full-time non-advanced education or approved training finishes in March, April or May
- August 31 - when the young person is in Scotland taking a ‘higher certificate’ or ‘advanced higher certificate’ and entered for exams that finish before the end of May
- November 30 - when full-time non-advanced education or approved training finishes in September, October or November
If you fail to update your details in time, you may still be able to claim Child Benefit, but your payments might be late.
A change in circumstances
You must inform HMRC of any changes to your circumstances as soon as possible, as this can affect how much Child Benefit you are entitled to and some changes could mean you get more money.
These include changes to your:
- family life, such as getting married
- child’s life, including leaving education or training
A change in your child’s circumstances
The HMRC must be told of any changes to your child’s circumstances.
These include:
- 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 might be reduced or completely stopped if you start getting payments from your local council or someone else who is looking after your children.
If you receive other benefits, you may get less Child Benefit due to the benefit cap.
Further details about Child Benefit can be found on the gov.uk website here.
