Parents are being urged to review their child’s benefit claims in the wake of GCSE results day. Hundreds of thousands of students received their grades last week, with many now deciding on their next steps.
While some may opt for higher education, others may have different plans. Depending on your child’s next move, you could risk losing your child benefit claim, even if they remain eligible.
The benefit provides £25.60 for the eldest child and an extra £16.95 for any other children, amounting to £1,331.20 annually for the oldest child alone. However, parents of 16 to 19-year-olds continuing onto approved education or training, such as A Levels, must extend their claim or forfeit the potential extra thousands they could receive.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has already issued a warning to 1.5 million this summer, reminding them that they have until August 31 to extend their claim or miss out on future payments.
Extending your child benefit claim
Extending your child benefit claim is relatively straightforward and quick.
If your child is staying in approved education, you can inform HMRC through its online services. For the online service, you will need a Government Gateway user ID and password.
If you don’t have one, you can create one.
What happens when your child leaves education or training
If your child is aged 18 to 20 and remains in approved education, you will need to notify HMRC via a CH297 form which can be completed online. When your child departs from education or training, your payments will persist until the earliest of the following dates: The end of February, May 31, August 31, or November 30.
You may still be eligible for an extension if your child exits education and training and either registers with their local careers service, Connexions (or a comparable organisation in Northern Ireland, the European Union, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein), or enlists in the armed forces.
