Keep Your Child Benefit on Track

Raising a child comes with many expenses – and the Government’s Child Benefit is one way to help with those costs. Whether you’re a new parent or your child is turning 16 soon, here’s everything you need to know about Child Benefit in 2026.

Child Benefit doesn’t stop automatically when your child turns 16 — but you must take action to continue receiving it.

Here’s what you need to do:

• Around your child’s 16th birthday, HMRC will send you a letter.

• You’ll need to confirm if your child is staying in approved full-time education or unpaid training.

• To avoid disruption in payments, respond by 31 August following their 16th birthday

For more information on Child Benefit when your child turns 16, click the relevant buttons below to find out more or get started

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What is Child Benefit?

Child Benefit is a regular payment from the Government to support people responsible for children. It’s available if you’re responsible for a child who is:

• Under 16 years old, or

• Under 20 years old if they’re in approved full-time education or unpaid training

Approved education includes things like A-levels, T Levels, NVQs (up to Level 3), and some unpaid government training schemes.