Overview

• Child Benefit has ended this month for many families after automatic stoppages when a child turns 16 or leaves full-time education.
• Payments can continue until age 20 only if the young person is on an approved course such as A levels, T Levels, NVQs or specified training and HMRC is informed in time.
• HMRC typically sends letters in a child’s final school year asking about next steps, and failing to respond can halt payments even if the child is still studying.
• Households on Universal Credit may also see their award reduced when a child turns 16 or leaves education, creating a significant loss of income.
• Savings rules can further cut Universal Credit, with deductions above £6,000 and no entitlement at £16,000, and non-cash assets like a second property, inheritance and crypto can be counted.