Only the person who is claiming Child Benefit can tell HMRC.
Quick facts
- Staying in education
- Until 20, if you tell HMRC
- Stops automatically
- 31 August after 16
- In care
- May stop after 8 weeks
- Hospital
- May stop after 12 weeks
- Living with someone else
- 8 weeks, longer if you pay upkeep
Staying in education or training after 16
You can get Child Benefit until your child turns 20 if they’re in certain types of education or training and they are accepted onto the course before they turn 19 and do not get Universal Credit.
Your Child Benefit automatically stops on 31 August on or after your child’s 16th birthday if:
- they leave education or training
- you do not tell HMRC that they’re staying in education or training
- they’re staying in a type of education or training where you cannot get Child Benefit
You can get Child Benefit if your child is in full time non-advanced education, such as A levels, T levels, GCSEs or most vocational qualifications up to level 3. Full time is more than an average of 12 hours a week of supervised study or course-related work experience.
You cannot get Child Benefit if your child is studying for a university degree.
Hospital, care or residential accommodation
Your Child Benefit payments might be affected if your child goes into care for more than 8 weeks, or hospital or ‘residential accommodation’ for more than 12 weeks.
If the child goes back into hospital within 28 days of leaving it, the total time they spent in hospital will still count towards the 12 week limit.
There are exceptions, for example for children in care if they spend at least 24 hours a week at home, and for children in a UK hospital or residential accommodation if you regularly spend money on them.
If your child lives with someone else
You’ll usually get Child Benefit for 8 weeks after your child goes to live with someone else (for example a friend or relative), if nobody else claims.
You could continue to get payments for more than 8 weeks if you contribute to your child’s upkeep by the same amount or more than the Child Benefit payment.
Upkeep includes clothes, presents, food and pocket money and financial contributions to provide your child with somewhere to live.
Only one person can get Child Benefit for a child.
The main guide
For rates and how to claim, see Child Benefit. If your child is in care because a parent has died, see Guardian’s Allowance.
Common questions
Does Child Benefit stop at 16?
It stops on 31 August after 16 unless you tell HMRC your child is staying in approved education or training. It can then continue until 20.
Does university count?
No. You cannot get Child Benefit if your child is studying for a university degree.
What if my child is in hospital?
Payments might be affected after 12 weeks in hospital, unless you regularly spend money on them.
My child lives with a relative. Can I keep it?
For 8 weeks, and longer if you pay at least the Child Benefit amount towards their upkeep.