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Daily Record
14-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
HMRC sending important letters to parents urging them to take action before July
Parents of teenagers will receive a letter about their Child Benefit claim. How to apply for Tax-Free Childcare and 30 hours childcare HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is sending reminders to parents of teenagers aged between 16 and 19-years-old between now and July, urging them to extend their Child Benefit claim before a crucial deadline in August, or payments will automatically stop. Payments will end on August 31, 2025 if the online account is not updated to extend the claim. Those who need to update it include parents with teenagers continuing their education or training after their Scottish Nationals. Parents can extend their claim quickly and easily via the HMRC app or online on The letters also contain a handy QR code which takes parents straight to the digital service on Child Benefit is currently worth £26.05 per week - or £1,354.60 a year - for the eldest or only child and £17.25 per week - or £897 a year - for each additional child. More than 870,000 parents extended their Child Benefit claim for their teen last year with the majority confirming online or via the HMRC app in minutes. Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC's Director General for Customer Services, said: 'Child Benefit is an important boost to families. 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 or the HMRC app to confirm today.' Child Benefit can continue to be paid for children who are studying full time in approved non-advanced education, which includes: A levels or Scottish Highers International Baccalaureate home education - if it started before their child turned 16, or after 16 if they have a statement of special educational needs and it was assessed by the local authority T levels NVQs, up to level 3 Child Benefit will also continue for children studying on one of these unpaid approved training courses: Scotland: Employability Fund programme and No One Left Behind Wales: Foundation Apprenticeships, Traineeships or the Jobs Growth Wales+ scheme Northern Ireland: PEACEPLUS Youth Programme 3.2, Training for Success or Skills for Life and Work If a child changes their mind about further education or training, parents can simply inform HMRC online or in the app and payments will be adjusted accordingly. 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. 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. From this summer, as part of the UK Government's Plan for Change, families will 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 High Income Child Benefit Charge but those who choose to pay the charge 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. Teenagers turning 16 can take control of their Child Trust Fund savings account, which could be worth thousands of pounds, and can withdraw the money once they turn 18. Child Trust Funds were set up for every child born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011. If teenagers or their parents and guardians know who their Child Trust Fund provider is, they can contact them directly. If they don't know where their account is, they can use the free online tool on to find out who their Child Trust Fund provider is. Scottish Child Payment Scottish Child Payment is a weekly payment of £27.15 for eligible families with children up to the age of 16 - the payment is worth £108.60 every month and is only available north of the border. Combined with Child Benefit payments from HMRC, parents could be due up to £212.80 each month in additional support. Child Benefit is a separate UK-wide payment, which is also issued every four weeks and amounts to £104.20 every payment period for the eldest or only child or £69.00 for every additional child. Parents, carers and guardians can get more information about financial help on the dedicated Children and Family section on here or by calling Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222.
Daily Record
06-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Child Benefit warning to parents ahead of crucial payment deadline
Some parents will need to update their claim if their child is continuing in full-time education. How to apply for Tax-Free Childcare and 30 hours childcare HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is expected to issue reminder letters to parent over the next few weeks about extending Child Benefit for their teenage children if they are continuing their education or training after their Scottish Nationals. In May last year, more than 1.4 million Child Benefit reconfirmation letters were issued across the UK to parents between May 24 and July 17. Letters this year will include a QR code which, when scanned, directs them straight to to update their claim quickly and easily online. The guidance explains that payments will automatically stop on August 31 on or after the child has turned 16 unless parents renew their claim where their child is continuing in education. If their 16-19 year-old intends to continue in approved education or training, parents can use the online service on or the HMRC app so they do not miss out. Child Benefit can continue to be paid for children who are studying full time in approved non-advanced education, which includes: A levels or Scottish Highers International Baccalaureate home education - if it started before their child turned 16, or after 16 if they have a statement of special educational needs and it was assessed by the local authority T levels NVQs, up to level 3 Child Benefit will also continue for children studying on one of these unpaid approved training courses: Scotland: Employability Fund programme and No One Left Behind Wales: Foundation Apprenticeships, Traineeships or the Jobs Growth Wales+ scheme Northern Ireland: PEACEPLUS Youth Programme 3.2, Training for Success or Skills for Life and Work If a child changes their mind about further education or training, parents can simply inform HMRC online or in the app and payments will be adjusted accordingly. Child Benefit is now worth £26.05 for the eldest or only child and £17.25 for every additional child. HMRC has previously said the quickest way to avoid payments stopping is to update the information online or on the official app. Parents will need a Government Gateway user ID and password to use HMRC's online services. If they do not have one already, they can register on and will just need their National Insurance number or postcode, and two forms of ID. Scottish Child Payment Scottish Child Payment is a weekly payment of £27.15 for eligible families with children up to the age of 16 - the payment is worth £108.60 every month and is only available north of the border. Combined with Child Benefit payments from HMRC, parents could be due up to £212.80 each month in additional support. Child Benefit is a separate UK-wide payment, which is also issued every four weeks and amounts to £104.20 every payment period for the eldest or only child or £69.00 for every additional child. Parents, carers and guardians can get more information about financial help on the dedicated Children and Family section on here or by calling Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222.
