Warning for parents claiming child benefit ahead of key HMRC deadline or risk missing out on £1,345 a year

PARENTS claiming child benefit should be aware of a fast approaching deadline or they could risk loosing out on a £1,345 cash boost.

If you have a child aged 16 to 19 you need to extend their Child Benefit claim.

You need to extend your child benefit claim if your child is aged 16 to 19[/caption]

That is because the payments automatically stop on August 31, or after your teenager has turned 16 unless parents renew their claim when their child is continuing in education.

Parents of a child that will be furthering their education have until this date to tell HMRC or their payments will stop.

That means parents have seven days to inform the HMRC of their child’s plans.

The benefit is worth up to £1,354 a year for the first or only child, and up to £897 per a year for each additional child.

That works out at £26.05 per week for one child and £17.25 per week for each additional child, so it is important to respond to the HMRC if you want to receive the benefit in September. 

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s chief customer officer, previously warned parents to “not miss out“.

He said: “Teenagers can be expensive and Child Benefit is an important source of income for your household.”

“As soon as you know what your teen is doing in September, don’t miss out. You can extend your claim in minutes through the HMRC app or online to ensure your payments continue.”

HMRC sent letters to homes to remind parents of the change over June and July.

The letters included a QR code which, when scanned, directs them straight to GOV.UK so parents can update online. 

But if you did not receive one, you can still extend the claim via GOV.UK or the HMRC app.

You can receive the cash boost up until their child is 19, and enrolled in an apprenticeship program or the following education schemes:

• 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

But your child must be accepted onto their chosen course before they turn 19.

What is child benefit?

You get child benefit if you’re responsible for bringing up a child who is under 16 or under 20 if they are in approved education or training

The payment is used to help parents cover the costs of childcare.

It is paid at two weekly rates – £26.05 per week  for your eldest or only child and  £17.25 for any additional children.

Payments are usually made every four weeks, on a Monday or Tuesday, but sometimes are made weekly.

If you are claiming child benefit for a child under 12, you also receive National Insurance (NI) credits.

NICs count towards your State Pension so claiming the benefit can be useful if you are missing any.

The reason NICs are so important is because you need 35 NIC years to receive a full new State Pension.

You are considered a parent, or responsible for a child if you live with them and are paying at least the same amount as the Child Benefit rates to look after them – for example for food, clothes or pocket money.

It’s important to note that eligibility changes if a child goes into hospital or care and if your child starts to live with someone else.

If you’re not sure about your eligibility, you can contact the child benefit office.

You must contact the Child Benefit Office if you think you are paid too much or too little.