Help with costs if your child is 16 to 19 this summer
Find out how your benefits could change if your child is aged 16 to 19 this summer.
- Published
- 25/06/2026
Summer can be an expensive time for families. It can feel even harder if your child is turning 16 and leaving school, starting college, starting work, or beginning an apprenticeship.
What your child does next can affect your benefits
You will need to tell:
- HMRC, if you get Child Benefit
- Universal Credit, if you get Universal Credit
- your local council, if you get Council Tax Reduction or other local support
If you don't report a change, you could be overpaid. If this happens, you might have to pay the money back.
What happens when my child turns 16?
When your child turns 16, your benefits do not always stop straight away.
If your child has left education or training and is not planning to return, your Child Benefit will usually stop on 31 August after they turn 16.
If they finish a course, payments stop at the next official end date: 28/29 February, 31 May, 31 August or 30 November.
If your child stays in approved education or training after they turn 16, you'll keep getting benefits. This usually means full-time, non-advanced education or approved training. This can include:
- GCSEs
- A Levels, AS Levels or T Levels
- Scottish Highers
- NVQs, SVQs and other vocational qualifications up to level 3
- some study programmes or traineeships
- some approved training schemes
Not all courses or training count. Apprenticeships and training linked to a job contract usually do not count. Visit the GOV.UK website for more information on eligible courses for Child Benefit.
Child Benefit
After your child turns 16, HMRC may send you a letter asking what your child plans to do next.
You should reply as soon as you can. You can also tell HMRC online, or through the HMRC app.
Your Child Benefit will usually stop on 31 August after your child turns 16 if:
- they leave education or training
- you do not tell HMRC they are staying in approved education or training
- their course or training does not qualify
Universal Credit
If you get Universal Credit, your monthly payment may change after 31 August when your child turns 16.
You can usually keep getting the child element in Universal Credit if your child is aged 16 to 19 and is in full-time non-advanced education or approved training.
You should report any changes in your online Universal Credit account if your child:
- leaves education or training
- starts a new course
- changes course
- starts work
- starts an apprenticeship
- moves out of the family home
What your child does next will have an impact on the other parts of your Universal Credit payment, including the housing costs element and your Work Allowance (if you have one).
Visit our Universal Credit - Managing your UC claim guide for more information.
Council Tax and local support
Your child's age and education can affect some types of local support, including Council Tax Reduction. If your child is leaving education or approved training, they will no longer be ignored for Council Tax purposes.
You should contact your local council and let them know of any changes of circumstance.
It might also have an impact on your access to certain local welfare support schemes.
What if my child is 18 or 19?
You may still be able to get Child Benefit and the child element of Universal Credit for your 18 or 19 year old if they count as a qualifying young person. This usually means they are in full-time, non-advanced education or approved training.
- For Child Benefit, they must usually have started or been accepted onto their course or training before they turn 19. Child Benefit can continue until they turn 20, as long as they meet the rules.
- For Universal Credit, they must usually have started or been accepted onto their course or training before they turn 19. The child element can usually continue until 31 August after their 19th birthday.
If your child is 18 or over and not in education or training, they may be able to claim Universal Credit themselves. However this could affect your benefits and Council Tax Reduction. We recommend speaking to a trained welfare benefits adviser to see how this could impact your income.
Other help with costs
Your child may be able to get extra support if they stay in education or training.
This could include:
- Education Maintenance Allowance in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland
- help from their school, college or training provider
- help with travel costs
- grants or local support
- young carer support, if they care for someone
Visit our Young person (aged 16-18) area for more information.
Common situations
Click on the sections below for some common situations for parents with children aged 16 to 19.
You should tell HMRC if you get Child Benefit.
Your Child Benefit will usually stop on 31 August after your child turns 16, if they aren't staying on in approved education or training.
If you get Universal Credit, report the change in your Universal Credit account. Your child amount will usually stop if your child is no longer in full-time non-advanced education or approved training.
You should also check whether any other support will change, such as help with Council Tax.
You may be able to keep getting Child Benefit and the child amount in Universal Credit if your child is starting another approved non-advanced course.
You should tell HMRC about the new course.
If you get Universal Credit, report the new course in your Universal Credit account. You may need to give the course start date, end date and details of the course.
Yes. You should tell HMRC that your child is staying in approved education or training.
If you don't tell HMRC, your Child Benefit may stop on 31 August after you child turns 16.
If you get Universal Credit, you should also report that your child is staying in education or training in your Universal Credit account.
Your benefits may stop or go down.
If your child starts a paid apprenticeship, Child Benefit and the child amount in Universal Credit will usually stop.
However, there are some exceptions. For example, some types of unpaid approved training may still count for Child Benefit. This includes:
- Foundation Apprenticeships, Traineeships or Jobs Growth Wales+ scheme in Wales
- No One Left Behind programme, in Scotland
- PEACEPLUS Youth Programme 3.2 and Training for Success or Skills for Life and Work, in Northern Ireland
You should speak to a trained welfare benefits adviser before your child starts, especially if your household relies on Child Benefit or Universal Credit.