HMRC issues urgent letters to 1.5million parents to avoid having £1,354 payment stopped ahead of new school year

The Sun

2 days ago

HMRC will issue urgent letters to 1.5 million parents to avoid having a £1,354 payment stopped ahead of the new school year.
Parents of children aged 16 to 19 years old should expect a reminder from the taxman to extend their Child Benefit claim.
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Child 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.
However, payments automatically stop on August 31 or after the child has turned 16 unless parents renew their claim when their child is continuing in education.
The parents of children who are furthering their education have until this date to tell HMRC or their payments will cease.
Parents can continue to 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
Your child must be accepted onto the course before they turn 19.
The payment 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.
HMRC will be delivering letters up until July, so don't worry if you have not received yours yet.
The letters will include a QR code which, when scanned, directs them straight to GOV.UK so parents can update online.
Parents can also extend their child benefit claim via GOV.UK or the HMRC app.
What Does My Tax Code Mean? A Simple Guide to Your HMRC Letter
However, it is important to remember to do this before August 31 or you could risk losing out.
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC's Director General for Customer Services, said the benefit is an "important boost" to families.
She said: "As soon as you know what your teenager is planning to do, extend your claim in minutes to guarantee your payments continue in September. Simply go to GOV.UK or the HMRC app to confirm today."
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.
What help is available for parents?
CHILDCARE can be a costly business. Here is how you can get help.
30 hours free childcare - Parents of three and four-year-olds can apply for 30 hours free childcare a week.
To qualify you must usually work at least 16 hours a week at the national living or minimum wage and earn less than £100,000 a year.
Tax credits - For children under 20, some families can get help with childcare costs.
Childcare vouchers - If your employer offers childcare vouchers you can get up to £55 a week in tax and national insurance savings.
You pay for your childcare before your tax contributions are taken out.
This scheme is open to new joiners until October 4, 2018, when it is planned that tax-free childcare will replace the vouchers.
Tax-free childcare - Available to working families and the self-employed, for every £8 you put in the government will add an extra £2.