Guides › Public Services › Child Benefit for 16 to 19 Year Olds: Extend It or It Stops
Child Benefit for 16 to 19 Year Olds: Extend It or It Stops
If your child is 16 to 19 and staying in approved full-time education or training, such as A levels, Scottish Highers, T levels or NVQs up to level 3, you need to extend your Child Benefit claim or payments stop after 31 August. You can do it online or in the HMRC app, or by post or phone. University courses do not count.
At A Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
Extending Child Benefit
Who Should Extend
Parents of 16 to 19 year olds continuing approved education or training. If you do not extend, payments stop after 31 August. source
What Counts
Full-time non-advanced education such as A levels, Scottish Highers, the International Baccalaureate, T levels, NVQs up to level 3 and qualifying home education, plus some unpaid training schemes. University and degree courses are not included. A course that is part of a job contract does not count. source
How
Online through GOV.UK or the HMRC app, or by post or phone if you cannot. Tell HMRC if your child changes their mind about studying. Keep your details up to date even if you opted out of payments because of the High Income Child Benefit Charge. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- 31 AugustExtend the claimAfter your child's 16th birthday
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 5
Check your child's course is approved education or training.
Step 2 of 5
Extend online or in the HMRC app.
Step 3 of 5
Tell HMRC if they leave the course.
Step 4 of 5
Check payments continue in September.
Step 5 of 5
Keep your claim even if you opted out of payments.
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
HMRC
Contact HMRC through your personal tax account, the HMRC app or the phone and post details on GOV.UK.
Good to Know
Small things that make your complaint stronger.
Staying registered protects National Insurance credits even if you do not take the payments.
Want Help?
If you would like one of our team to look at your problem, our initial case review is free. We cannot guarantee any outcome and we do not give legal advice.
Lead reviewer
Luke Marley
Founder and Lead Reviewer
Luke founded CPUK in 2026 after seeing how hard it is for ordinary people to get problems with companies put right. He oversees our guides and checks them against official sources.
Research by Katie Burt, Co-founder and Operations Lead (17 years in the care sector, including managing services for vulnerable adults), and the CPUK Research Team. Researched with AI-assisted research tools, then checked and corrected by our team.
Last checked: 16 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.
Sources and official links
- gov.uk/government/news/extend-child-benefit-for-your-teen-by-31-august Checked 16 October 2026