Child Benefit After 16
Rates checked 3 November 2026 for tax year 2026/27. Always confirm current rates and rules on GOV.UK before acting. This is an independent guide, NOT GOV.UK, NOT HMRC.
The 31 August rule
Payments normally stop on 31 August on or after the young person's 16th birthday, unless HMRC has been told they are staying in approved education or training. If they continue, Child Benefit can continue until age 20, provided the course is full-time, non-advanced, and approved, and the young person is not claiming Universal Credit in their own right.
What counts, and what does not
Usually counts
Full-time, non-advanced approved education or training, for example A-levels and similar courses, as listed by GOV.UK and HMRC.
Usually does not count
University degrees, standard apprenticeships in England, and courses that form part of a job contract generally do not count as qualifying education. Always check the GOV.UK 16 to 19 rules for your case.
Who must act
If a new course starts in September and HMRC has not been told, the claimant must tell HMRC, otherwise payments can stop. If the same course was already reported, no new action is usually needed.
The separate 20-week extension
A separate 20-week extension can apply for 16 and 17 year olds who have left approved education or training and registered with a careers service, in limited circumstances. Do not confuse it with the ongoing-study extension above. Terminal dates after a course ends (end of February, 31 May, 31 August, or 30 November, depending on when the course ends) are a different rule again, check GOV.UK for your course end date.