HMRC Sends 1.5m Child Benefit Reminder Letters

HM Revenue and Customs is urging parents of teenagers aged 16 to 19 to extend their Child Benefit claims to avoid automatic suspension of payments, as reminder letters begin landing on doorsteps across the UK.

The agency plans to send approximately 1.5 million letters starting late April, with most arriving in early May. Payments stop automatically on August 31 on or after a child's 16th birthday unless parents confirm that their teenager will continue in approved full-time non-advanced education or unpaid training courses following GCSEs or National 5s. The online service for extensions opened on April 1, allowing families to act immediately via the HMRC app or GOV.UK website. Letters include a QR code linking directly to the service.

Child Benefit provides 27.05 pounds weekly, or 1,406.60 pounds annually, for the eldest or only child, and 17.90 pounds weekly for each additional child. Last year, 874,000 parents extended claims, with more than half using digital methods.

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC's chief customer officer, said: "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...