Child benefit: 5 questions answered ahead of August 31 deadline

HMRC is sending letters to 1.5million parents to remind them to act ahead of the August 31 deadline in order to keep their child benefit payments. 

The benefit, which is managed by HMRC, helps with the cost of raising a child and is claimed by more than 6.9million families in the UK.

Recent updates to the high income child benefit charge (HICBC) have also changed how some parents can pay, with eligible employees now able to pay the charge automatically through their PAYE tax code.

Here Which? answers five key questions on how child benefit works, what the August deadline means for your household, and how to fix things if you miss it.

1. How much child benefit will I get?

Child benefit is a payment from HMRC to help with the cost of raising a child. You can claim it if you have parental responsibility for someone under 16, or under 20 if they’re still in full-time education or approved training.

The current rates are:

• oldest child:  £27.05 per week (£1,406.60 a year)
• additional children: £17.90 per week (£930.80 a year)

You’ll also get National Insurance credits towards your state pension, and your child will automatically get a National Insurance number at 16.

• Find out more: child benefit rates and calculator 2025-26 

2. What is the August deadline?

You can carry on claiming child benefit after your child turns 16 if they stay in education or approved training – but you need to let HMRC know.

When your child turns 16, HMRC will send you a letter asking you to confirm their plans. You have until midnight on 31 August to respond and keep your payments going.

Under the rules, you continue to be eligible for child benefit if your child is undertaking ‘approved’ education or training for more than 12 hours a week. 

This can include:

• A levels or similar for example International Baccalaureate
• T levels
• Scottish Highers
• NVQs and most vocational qualifications up to level 3
• study programmes in England
• a pre-apprenticeship.

Home education can also count if it started before your child was 16, or after 16 if they have special educational needs or disabilities.

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.

You can’t claim if your child is doing higher education, such as a university degree, a BTEC Higher National Certificate, an intermediate or advanced apprenticeship, or a course paid for by an employer. Child benefit also can't be claimed if the course is part of a job contract. 

Parents only need to act if their teenager is starting a new course or qualifying training in September. Those already partway through a course previously notified to HMRC do not need to do anything. 

• Find out more: tax-free childcare explained

3. How do I tell HMRC about my child’s education or training? 

You do not need to wait until you receive a letter to act. You can update your information either: 

• online through your Government Gateway account
• via the HMRC app
• by phone on 0300 200 3100
• by post to: HMRC Child Benefit Office, PO Box 1, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE88 1AA.

Last year, 874,000 parents extended their claim, with more than half doing so online or through the HMRC app. The letters also include a QR code linking directly to HMRC's digital service.

This QR code will always direct you to GOV.UK or the HMRC app. If this is not the case, you should report it to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk.

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4. What if my child leaves approved education or training early?

When you confirm your child’s education or training, you’ll give HMRC an expected end date. If they leave earlier than planned, you’ll need to let HMRC know to avoid overpayments. 

Payments will continue until the next ‘terminal date’, but will stop immediately if your child starts working 24 or more hours a week.

If your child doesn’t continue in approved education or training after their 16th birthday, your payments will end. But you can claim again if they return before turning 19. Payments will start from when you contact HMRC, or up to three months earlier if backdating applies.

• Find out more: how to save money on school uniforms 

5. What happens if I miss the August 31 deadline?

If you miss 31 August, your child benefit will stop automatically. 

• If you contact HMRC within three months: your claim can be backdated so there’s no break in payments. You’ll just need to provide details of your child’s education or training – HMRC will already have your previous claim on file.
• If you contact HMRC after three months: you’ll need to make a new claim. You can still backdate it by up to three months, but there will be a gap in payments.

Find out more: benefits and discounts available to parents

What you need to know about the HICBC

Last year, HMRC launched a digital service allowing parents to pay the high income child benefit charge through their PAYE tax code.

If you or your partner earns over £60,000, the highest earner must pay the charge. It applies regardless of which parent receives the payments, as long as you live in the same household.

The charge is tapered at 1% for every £200 earned over £60,000 until the benefit is fully repaid once income reaches £80,000.

Previously, parents had to either stop their child benefit payments or register for self-assessment by 5 October to pay back what they owed, even if they had no other reason to file a tax return.

How the new PAYE option works

Now, eligible employees can choose to pay the charge automatically through PAYE instead.

If you are an employee, you can sign up on GOV.UK by 31 January 2027 to pay the charge for the current tax year (2025-26) through your tax code.

If you currently pay through self-assessment, you’ll need to deregister before signing up for the HICBC digital service. You can also continue paying through self-assessment if you prefer.

Once you’ve opted into the new service, HMRC will deduct the charge automatically from your salary or pension through your tax code.

Your repayments should start from your next pay period after you opt in, with the charge spread across the remaining months of the tax year ending on 5 April.

If HMRC is collecting charges for two tax years at the same time, your monthly deductions may temporarily be higher. This can happen if unpaid charges from the previous year are collected alongside the current year’s payments.