From September 1, eligibility to extend Child Benefit for 16 to 19-year-olds will include teenagers who are home educated and those who are unable to attend college (for a minimum number of 12 hours) due to illness or disability.
Parents can view and manage their claim quickly and easily online or on the HMRC app. This includes viewing payment information and proof of their claim, adding additional children and updating their details.
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Chief Customer Officer, says: “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.”
The deadline to extend Child Benefit claims for 16-19 year olds is August 31, so parents are being urged to apply soon, or payments will be delayed.
Can I claim Child Benefit if I earn over the threshold?
If either the claimant or their partner has an individual income of between £60,000 and £80,000, the higher earner will be subject to the High Income Child Benefit Charge.
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For families who fall into this category, the online Child Benefit tax calculator provides an estimate of how much benefit they will receive and what the charge may be.
As part of the government’s Plan for Change, many families will soon have the option to use a new digital service to pay the charge directly through their PAYE tax code instead of filing a Self Assessment tax return.
The new service will cut red tape for eligible employed parents who are liable to the charge. Those who choose to pay through their Self Assessment can continue to do so. Families who have previously opted out of Child Benefit payments can opt back in and restart their payments quickly and easily online or via the HMRC app.
