Child Benefit › Child Benefit for 16-19 Year Olds
Child Benefit for 16-19 Year Olds
Last updated: April 2026 · Reviewed by: Silverwings Benefits Team · Source: HMRC
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Child Benefit After Your Child Turns 16
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Child Benefit does not automatically stop the day your child turns 16 — but it does not automatically continue forever either. By default, payments stop on 31 August on or after your child's 16th birthday, unless they remain in full-time, non-advanced education or certain approved training. Many parents miss out simply because they did not know they needed to actively confirm their child's continuing education with HMRC. This page explains exactly what counts as qualifying education or training, the deadlines involved, and what happens if your child leaves education partway through the year.
The default cut-off: 31 August
Child Benefit automatically continues until 31 August on or after your child's 16th birthday, regardless of whether they leave school. After that date, it stops unless you tell HMRC your child is continuing in approved education or training.
What counts as qualifying education?
- A-levels or equivalent (e.g. International Baccalaureate)
- T Levels
- NVQs up to level 3
- home education, if started before your child turned 16
- Scottish Highers or similar in Scotland
It must be full-time (more than an average of 12 hours a week supervised study), and non-advanced (below degree level).
What counts as approved training?
Certain government-approved unpaid training schemes for young people also qualify, but ordinary apprenticeships that pay a wage usually do not, because your child is then treated as working rather than in full-time education.
HMRC needs you to actively confirm your child's continuing education — it does not happen automatically.
What if my child leaves education or training partway through?
You must tell HMRC as soon as your child leaves education or training, or starts paid work of 24 hours or more a week. Child Benefit usually continues for a short 'extension period' of up to 20 weeks if your 16 or 17 year old registers with a careers service, the armed forces careers office, or similar, and is not earning above a set limit.
How do I confirm continuing education?
HMRC normally sends a letter around your child’s 16th birthday asking you to confirm their education or training plans for the following year. Responding promptly avoids a gap in payments.
Child Benefit for 16-19 Year Olds: FAQs
My child is doing an apprenticeship — do we still get Child Benefit?
Usually not, if the apprenticeship is paid, because your child is then treated as employed rather than in full-time education. Unpaid, government-approved training schemes can be different — check the specific scheme.
What if my child fails their exams and repeats a year?
Child Benefit can usually continue if your child remains in full-time, non-advanced education, even if they are repeating a year, as long as they are still under 20.
Is there an absolute age cutoff?
Yes — Child Benefit for a child in education or training stops entirely once they turn 20, even if they are still studying.
What happens if I forget to confirm continuing education?
Payments may stop automatically after 31 August. You can usually still claim and backdate up to 3 months once you confirm your child is in qualifying education or training, so it is worth sorting out promptly rather than losing the backdating window.
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Silverwings Benefits is an independent company and is not part of HMRC or the DWP. You can claim Child Benefit yourself directly through HMRC, free of charge, at any time.