HMRC to subject ‘funds will cease’ warning to 1.5m mother and father this month

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is writing to 1.5 million parents to remind them to extend their child benefit for teenagers staying in education or training after their GCSEs, or payments will stop on 31 August

View Image

HM Revenue & Customs is sending letters to 1.5 million parents, reminding them to extend their child benefit if their teenager is continuing in education or training post-GCSEs. The benefit automatically ceases on August 31 following a child’s 16th birthday unless parents inform HMRC of their plans.

HMRC issued a reminder on Tuesday (April 28). Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Chief Customer Officer, stated: “Child benefit is a real financial boost for families, so if your teenager already knows they’re staying in education or training after their GCSEs or National 5s, you don’t need to wait for our letter. You can extend your child benefit claim today in minutes via the HMRC app or online at GOV.UK.”

Child benefit equates to £27.05 per week, or £1,406.60 annually, for the eldest child. For each subsequent child, the benefit amounts to £17.90 per week. In 2025, a total of 874,000 parents extended their claim, according to HMRC.

Young people in full-time education who are not undertaking university or pre-degree courses, such as foundation diplomas, are eligible for child benefit, reports the Express.

Courses that meet the criteria include A-Levels, T-Levels, Scottish Highers, GCSEs, NVQs and pre-apprenticeships. Those that do not qualify include BTEC Higher National Certificates, university degrees, HNCs, HNDs and CertHE’s. If a child is participating in unpaid “approved training”, they can also receive child benefit.

This encompasses Foundation Apprenticeships, Traineeships or the Jobs Growth Wales+ programme in Wales; the No One Left Behind programme in Scotland and PEACEPLUS Youth Programme 3.2, Training for Success or Skills for Life and Work in Northern Ireland.

A child is not eligible for the benefit if he or she is undertaking an apprenticeship, except for the Foundation Apprenticeships in Wales. Training programmes as part of an employment contract and a course with an arrangement with an employer also render a child ineligible.

If a child withdraws from their course before completion, HMRC must be informed to prevent overpayments. Parents should respond to the letter if their teenager is beginning a new course or qualifying training in September.

Those already midway through a course which HMRC has previously been notified about do not need to contact them.

Full-time education means more than an average of 12 hours per week of supervised study or course-related work experience. It encompasses home schooling. If a child is unwell or has a disability, they may be able to complete fewer hours.

or the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.