Flintshire parents urged to extend Child Benefit before August deadline
Parents of teenagers in Flintshire staying in education or training after GCSEs have until 31 August to extend their Child Benefit claim, or risk losing up to £1,406 a year.
HM Revenue and Customs will start sending around 1.5 million reminder letters to parents of 16 to 19 year olds in the UK from late April, with most expected to arrive from 8 May.
The payment is worth £27.05 a week, or £1,406.60 a year, for the eldest or only child, and £17.90 a week for each additional child.
It will stop automatically on 31 August on or after a child’s 16th birthday unless parents confirm their teenager’s plans.
The reminder applies to parents whose children are starting a new course or qualifying training in September, including at Coleg Cambria’s Deeside campus or in sixth forms at Flintshire schools.
Parents already part way through a course previously notified to HMRC do not need to act.
The digital service to extend a claim opened on 1 April and can be used through the HMRC app or at GOV.UK.
The letters being sent next month include a QR code linking directly to the service.
Last year, 874,000 parents extended their claim, and more than half did so online or through the HMRC app.
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Chief Customer Officer, said: “Child Benefit is a real financial boost for families, so if your teenager already knows they’re staying in education or training after their GCSEs or National 5s, you don’t need to wait for our letter.”
She added: “You can extend your Child Benefit claim today in minutes via the HMRC app or online at GOV.UK.”
Child Benefit can continue for teenagers in full time education below university level, or on unpaid approved training courses.
Full time education means more than an average of 12 hours a week of supervised study or course-related work experience, including home schooling.
A claim cannot be made if a teenager’s course is part of a job contract.
Parents on higher incomes may be liable for the High Income Child Benefit Charge if either they or their partner has an individual income of between £60,000 and £80,000.
The full list of eligible courses and a Child Benefit tax calculator are available at GOV.UK.
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