Child Benefit error means hundreds of families are owed £2,600 from HMRC
Hundreds of families could be in line for payouts from HMRC following a major Child Benefit error.
It is estimated that around 500 families missed out on Child Benefit they were entitled to. You could be owed money if you were the parent of a child aged between 16 to 19 who continued their education or training outside of regular schools between April 2014 and August 2025.
The correction exercise is expected to cost £1million, with families potentially owed £2,600 each. HMRC expects to have issued all the payouts by October 2026.
New amendments to Child Benefit regulations will take effect from September 2025 to correct the error. This will remove the requirement that if education is provided outside a school or college, it must have begun before the person turned 16.
'Full time' education can also be less than 12 hours a week if that is the maximum that a person can study due to illness or disability.
An HMRC spokesperson said: "About seven million families received child benefit last year. We have identified that a very small number, about 500 over 10 years, may not have been paid their correct entitlement. We are working with stakeholders to help reach them and will share details on how they can claim soon."
Child Benefit is worth £26.05 a week for your first child, then £17.25 for any additional child. You can claim Child Benefit if you're responsible for a child under the age of 16, or if they are under the age of 20 and still in approved education or training.
If they are continuing with education or training after the age of 16, then you need to notify HMRC and update your benefit claim. This is because your Child Benefit will automatically stop on August 31 on or after your child's 16th birthday.
You also need to let HMRC know if your child leaves their approved education or training before the course is complete. Approved education or training can include A-Levels, NVQs or even home education, but it does not include university or BTEC qualifications.
Child Benefit is claimed by more than seven million families. It is paid every four weeks, on a Monday or Tuesday, by HMRC. In order to be eligible for Child Benefit, your child normally has to live with you, or you pay at least the same amount as Child Benefit toward looking after them.
If you, or your partner, are on a high income, then you may have to pay back some of your Child Benefit. If either you earn over £60,000, you have to pay back 1% of your Child Benefit for every £200 you earn over £60,000.
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