HMRC sends Child Benefit reminders to 1.5m parents

HM Revenue and Customs is sending reminder letters to around 1.5 million UK households with teenagers aged 16 to 19, urging parents to extend their Child Benefit claims before an August 31 deadline to avoid automatic payment stoppages.

The letters, which began issuing in late April and will continue through early May, target parents whose children turned or will turn 16 this year. Payments cease automatically on or after August 31 following a child's 16th birthday unless families confirm the teenager is continuing in approved full-time non-advanced education or unpaid training, such as A-levels, T-levels, NVQs up to level three, Scottish Highers, International Baccalaureates, study programmes, pre-apprenticeships or home education under specific conditions. Eligible courses must start before the child turns 19, with benefits potentially continuing until age 20.

Parents do not need to wait for a letter and can extend claims immediately through the HMRC app or GOV.UK, where the digital service opened on April 1. The letters include a QR code linking directly to the service. Only the claimant can update the details, and no action is required if HMRC was already notified of an...