Tell HMRC Child Staying in Education: Parents Must Extend Child Benefit by 31 August 2026

Parents whose children are aged 16 to 19 and continuing in qualifying education or approved training need to tell HMRC their child is staying in education or training by 31 August 2026 to continue receiving Child Benefit. HMRC says Child Benefit can automatically stop on 31 August if parents do not confirm their child’s plans. The update can be made online through GOV.UK or the HMRC app. 

Introduction

Parents of teenagers continuing their education after age 16 have an important Child Benefit deadline to keep in mind. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is reminding parents to tell HMRC their child is staying in education or approved training by 31 August 2026 if they want their Child Benefit to continue.

HMRC issued a reminder on 17 August 2026, warning that parents of 16- to 19-year-olds could miss out on Child Benefit if they fail to confirm their teenager’s education or training plans. The reminder comes as young people receive GCSE results and decide whether to continue into sixth form, college or other qualifying education.

The rules are particularly relevant because Child Benefit normally continues beyond a child’s 16th birthday only when the young person meets specific education or training conditions. Parents therefore need to make sure HMRC has the correct information.

What Happened?

HMRC has urged parents to extend their Child Benefit claim where their teenager is continuing in qualifying education or approved training after turning 16.

The government said parents have until 31 August 2026 to confirm their child’s plans. If they do not tell HMRC that their child is staying in qualifying education or training, Child Benefit can automatically stop on 31 August on or after the child’s 16th birthday.

HMRC said the quickest way to provide the information is through its online service or the HMRC app.

The reminder is especially timely because GCSE results were released on 20 August 2026, meaning many teenagers are now deciding whether to remain in education, move to a different course or begin another form of training.

Key Details

The main points for parents are:

• Deadline: 31 August 2026 for parents being reminded to extend Child Benefit.
• Who needs to act: The person who currently claims Child Benefit for the child.
• Age group: Generally, children can qualify beyond age 16 if they remain in approved education or training and meet the relevant conditions.
• How to update: Parents can use the HMRC online service or the HMRC app.
• What happens if no update is made: Child Benefit can automatically stop from 31 August on or after the child’s 16th birthday.
• Maximum age: Child Benefit can generally continue until the child turns 20 if the qualifying conditions are met.

HMRC says only the person claiming Child Benefit can tell the department about the child’s education or training plans.

What Education Qualifies for Child Benefit?

Not every course qualifies.

HMRC says a child can generally remain eligible when they are undertaking full-time non-advanced education. This can include qualifications and programmes such as A levels, T levels, GCSEs, Scottish Highers, certain vocational qualifications up to level 3, study programmes in England and some pre-apprenticeship programmes.

Full-time education is generally defined as more than an average of 12 hours a week of supervised study or course-related work experience.

For a 19-year-old, HMRC guidance says the young person must have been accepted onto the qualifying course before turning 19.

Parents should check the specific course rather than assuming that every form of post-16 education qualifies.

What Education Does Not Qualify?

There are important exclusions.

Child Benefit generally cannot continue where the young person is studying an advanced course such as a university degree or a Higher National Certificate. HMRC also lists certain other higher-level qualifications as outside the qualifying education rules.

Apprenticeships are also generally excluded, although HMRC identifies a specific exception for Foundation Apprenticeships in Wales. Training provided as part of a job or under an employer’s agreement may also not qualify.

This means parents should check the exact education or training arrangement before assuming that Child Benefit will continue.

How to Tell HMRC Child Staying in Education

The process is relatively straightforward for parents who are already claiming Child Benefit.

HMRC provides an online service specifically for telling the Child Benefit Office that a child is staying in approved education or training.

Parents need to sign in using their HMRC credentials. If they do not already have the necessary sign-in details, HMRC says they can create them.

The information must be provided by the person who receives the Child Benefit claim.

Tell HMRC your child is staying in education or training

Background: Why Child Benefit Changes at 16

Child Benefit is normally available for children under 16. However, eligibility can continue when a young person remains in approved education or training.

The transition around age 16 is therefore important. HMRC has previously sent parents letters asking them to confirm whether their child plans to remain in education or training.

In April 2026, HMRC said around 1.5 million parents of 16- to 19-year-olds would receive reminder letters about extending their Child Benefit claims.

The August reminder is particularly relevant to families whose children have recently completed GCSEs or equivalent qualifications and are moving into further education.

What Officials Said

HMRC's August 2026 announcement specifically urged parents of 16- to 19-year-olds to check their teenager's plans and extend Child Benefit where the child is continuing in qualifying education or approved training. HMRC said parents could complete the process in minutes through the HMRC app or GOV.UK.

The department's official guidance also makes clear that only the Child Benefit claimant can report the child's education or training status.

These requirements are important because failing to report a change can result in Child Benefit being stopped or, in other circumstances, payments being made when the claimant is no longer entitled to them.

Why This Matters for Parents

For eligible families, confirming education status is important because Child Benefit can continue while a qualifying young person remains in approved education or training.

The practical issue is the deadline. Parents who assume payments will continue automatically could discover that their Child Benefit has stopped because HMRC did not receive confirmation of the teenager’s plans.

HMRC also says parents should report changes if their child later leaves education or training before completing the course. This helps prevent incorrect payments and potential overpayments that may have to be repaid.

Parents should therefore treat the 31 August deadline as a reminder to check both their child's education status and the information held by HMRC.

What Happens Next?

Parents whose children are continuing in qualifying education or approved training should submit the information to HMRC before the deadline.

If a child later changes course, leaves education or takes a temporary break, parents may need to contact HMRC or report the change. HMRC says temporary interruptions can sometimes be covered, depending on the circumstances.

When qualifying education or training ends, Child Benefit does not necessarily stop on the exact final day of the course. HMRC uses specific terminal dates: the end of February, May, August or November, whichever applies first under the rules.

Parents should therefore keep HMRC informed whenever their teenager's circumstances change.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What does “tell HMRC child staying in education” mean?

It means the person claiming Child Benefit must inform HMRC that their child is continuing in qualifying education or approved training after age 16. This allows HMRC to assess whether Child Benefit can continue.

2. What is the deadline to tell HMRC in 2026?

For the current HMRC reminder, parents have until 31 August 2026 to confirm that their 16- to 19-year-old is continuing in qualifying education or approved training.

3. Can Child Benefit continue after a child turns 16?

Yes. Child Benefit can normally continue until the child turns 20 if they remain in qualifying education or approved training and meet the relevant conditions.

4. Who can tell HMRC about the child’s education?

Only the person who is claiming Child Benefit for the child can provide the information to HMRC.

5. Can I tell HMRC online?

Yes. HMRC provides an online service for parents to report that their child is staying in approved education or training. The department also says the HMRC app can be used to extend a claim.

6. Does university qualify for Child Benefit?

Generally, no. HMRC says university degree courses are advanced education and do not normally qualify for Child Benefit under the post-16 education rules.

7. What if my child leaves education before finishing the course?

You should tell HMRC. Failing to report a change can result in an overpayment, which may need to be repaid. In certain circumstances, a 16- or 17-year-old may qualify for a 20-week extension after leaving education or training if the relevant conditions are met.

8. Can Child Benefit continue until age 20?

It can, provided the young person continues to meet the relevant conditions and is in qualifying education or training. The course must also meet HMRC's rules, including the requirements concerning when the young person was accepted onto the course.

Source note: This article is based primarily on current HMRC and GOV.UK guidance and HMRC's 17 August 2026 reminder. Rules can vary according to the child's exact course, training arrangement and circumstances.