Child Benefit automatically stops on 31 August after a child turns 16 but it can be claimed for children continuing their education or training.

Parents now have one week left to tell HMRC that their 16-year-old is continuing their education or training, to continue receiving Child Benefit.

They can use the online service on GOV.UK or the HMRC app to tell HMRC about their child’s plans.

HMRC recently wrote to parents about extending their Child Benefit claim. The letter included a QR code which, when scanned, directs them to GOV.UK to update their claim online. Any changes will be applied to their Child Benefit claim immediately.

Who can still claim child benefit?

Child Benefit will continue to be paid for children who are studying full time which can include:

• A levels or similar
• International Baccalaureate
• home education – if it started before their child turned 16 or after 16 if they have special needs
• T levels
• NVQs, up to level 3
• traineeships in England

Child Benefit will also continue for children studying on one of these unpaid approved training courses:

• in Wales: Foundation Apprenticeships, Traineeships or the Jobs Growth Wales+ scheme
• in Northern Ireland: PEACE IV Children and Young People 2.1, Training for Success or Skills for Life and Work

Alice Guy, head of pensions and savings at Interactive Investor, said: “Parents should have received a letter to warn them that child benefit is stopping for their 16-year-old. But in the busyness of holidays, juggling childcare and waiting for GCSE results, it’s easy to let sorting out the paperwork slip off the to-do list.

“But not sorting out the paperwork could be an expensive mistake. Child benefit is currently worth £1,248 each year for the first child and £826 for additional children which is a huge help to parents with the rising cost of feeding and clothing teenagers.

“Although parents earning between £50,000 to £60,000 will start to lose their child benefit, it can still be worth claiming. Your pension contributions reduce your contributions as far as the taxman is concerned, so you may be entitled to keep at least some of your child benefit.”