Can I get Child Benefit after my child turns 16?

For parents whose child is turning 16 or is aged 16 to 19.

Applies to: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland Last checked against official sources: 6 October 2026

Yes. You can get Child Benefit until your child turns 20 if they stay in approved education or training.

They must be accepted onto the course before they turn 19, and must not get Universal Credit.
You must tell HMRC they are staying on, or payments stop on 31 August on or after their 16th birthday.
Full-time study like A levels, T levels, Scottish Highers or NVQs up to level 3 counts.
University degrees and apprenticeships do not count.
If they leave and register with a careers service, you may get a 20-week extension.

Key facts

Up to age 20 in approved study
Tell HMRC or it stops 31 August
Apprenticeships do not count
20-week extension possible

The conditions

Child Benefit can carry on until your child's 20th birthday if all of these are true:

they are in approved full-time education or approved training
they were accepted onto the course before they turned 19
they do not get Universal Credit themselves
you have told HMRC they are staying on

Only the person who claims Child Benefit can tell HMRC. HMRC may send you a letter in your child's last year at school asking about their plans.

If you do nothing, Child Benefit stops on 31 August on or after your child's 16th birthday.

Education that counts

It must be full-time and "non-advanced". Full time means more than an average of 12 hours a week of supervised study or course-related work experience. A child with an illness or disability can do fewer hours if that suits them.

Counts	Does not count
A levels, International Baccalaureate	University degree
T levels	BTEC Higher National Certificate
GCSEs	Foundation diploma or access course
Scottish Highers	HNC or HND
NVQs and most vocational courses up to level 3	Certificate of Higher Education
Home education
Study programmes in England, pre-apprenticeships

Training that counts

Unpaid "approved training" counts:

Wales: Traineeships or Jobs Growth Wales+
Scotland: the No One Left Behind programme
Northern Ireland: PEACEPLUS Youth Programme 3.2, Training for Success, or Skills for Life and Work

These do not count:

apprenticeships
a course agreed with an employer, for example to get or keep a job with them
training that is part of a job contract

Special cases

Your child finishes the course

Payments stop on the first of these dates after the course ends: end of February, 31 May, 31 August or 30 November.

Your child leaves early

Tell HMRC straight away. If you are paid money you should not get, you may have to pay it back.

A short break from study

Contact HMRC. You might still get Child Benefit during the break.

The 20-week extension

If your child leaves education or training and registers with a careers service (such as Connexions) or the Ministry of Defence, you could get Child Benefit for 20 more weeks. Your child must:

be 16 or 17
work less than 24 hours a week
not get certain benefits, such as Universal Credit

You must have been getting Child Benefit just before they left, and you must apply within 3 months of them leaving.

How much you get

The rates for 2026/27 are £27.05 a week for the eldest or only child, and £17.90 a week for each other child. They stay the same after 16.

How to check and tell HMRC

Check the course or training is on the "counts" list above.
Use HMRC's online service to say your child is staying on. If you cannot go online, contact HMRC.
Report any later change, such as leaving the course.

Related guides

Where this comes from

Get it done

This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.

Tell HMRC your child is staying on

Common questions

Does Child Benefit stop when my child is 16?

It stops on 31 August on or after their 16th birthday unless you tell HMRC they are staying in approved education or training.

Can I get Child Benefit if my child does an apprenticeship?

No. Apprenticeships and training that is part of a job do not count.

What counts as full-time education?

More than an average of 12 hours a week of supervised study or course-related work experience.

Official sources

1.Child Benefit when your child turns 16www.gov.uk/child-benefit-16-19
2.Child Benefit: what you'll getwww.gov.uk/child-benefit/what-youll-get

Checked against GOV.UK on 6 October 2026

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