Child Benefit payments for some parents will stop this summer (2025)

The weekly payment is worth £26.05 for your first child, and £17.25 each for any additional children.

UK parents are being alerted that a weekly Government payment could cease this summer. If your child is of a certain age, you may no longer qualify for Child Benefit.

This weekly allowance amounts to £26.05 for your first child, and £17.25 each for any subsequent children. As highlighted by the Daily Record, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is anticipated to send out reminder letters to parents next month about extending Child Benefit for their teenage children if they are continuing with education or training.

This year's letters will feature a QR code which, when scanned, will direct them straight to GOV.UK to swiftly and easily update their claim online. Last year, over 1.4 million Child Benefit reconfirmation letters were dispatched across the UK to parents between May 24 and July 17.

The guidance will clarify that payments will automatically cease on August 31 on or after the child has turned 16, unless parents renew their claim where their child is continuing in education.

If their 16 to 19 year old plans to continue in approved education or training, parents can utilise the online service on GOV.UK or the HMRC app to avoid missing out. Education must be full-time (exceeding an average of 12 hours a week of supervised study or course-related work experience), reports the Mirror.

This can include:

• A levels or similar, for example, International Baccalaureate
• T levels
• Scottish Highers
• NVQs and most vocational qualifications up to level 3
• Home education - if it started either before your child turned 16 or after 16 if they have a statement of special educational needs
• Study programmes in England
• A pre-apprenticeship

Your child must be accepted onto the course before they turn 19. You cannot receive Child Benefit if your child is:

• Studying for a university degree or BTEC Higher National Certificate (an ‘advanced course’)
• on an apprenticeship (unless it’s a Foundation Apprenticeship in Wales)
• Doing a course with an employer’s agreement – for example in order to get a job with that employer, or to get skills for a job they’re already in

Approved training should be unpaid and can include:

• In Wales: Foundation Apprenticeships, Traineeships or the Jobs Growth Wales+ scheme
• In Scotland: the No One Left Behind programme
• In Northern Ireland: PEACEPLUS Youth Programme 3.2, Training for Success or Skills for Life and Work

Courses that are included in a job contract do not receive approval. If a child decides to alter their plans regarding further education or training, parents can easily notify HMRC online or via the app, and payments will be adjusted accordingly.

Parents require a Government Gateway user ID and password to utilise HMRC's online services. If they don't already have one, they can register on GOV.UK using just their National Insurance number or postcode, along with two forms of ID.

For additional information, visit gov.uk/child-benefit-16-19.

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