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Published: 23 Feb, 2026
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If you’re asking when does Child Benefit stop in the UK, the standard rule is simple: payments usually stop on 31 August after your child turns 16. Child Benefit can continue until age 20 if your child stays in full-time, non-advanced education (such as A-levels, T-levels, or NVQs) or approved training and started the course before turning 19.
If your child leaves education or training at 16 or 17, HMRC will stop Child Benefit at the next official cut-off date, and you must report the change to avoid overpayments.
In child benefit 2026, the same core rule applies under current UK Child Benefit eligibility guidance: you must tell HMRC if your child stays in or leaves education, or payments may stop automatically. If you do not report changes, HMRC can suspend or recover overpaid child benefit.
Many parents ask: “My child turns 18 – when does Child Benefit stop?”
The answer depends on education, not just age.
Child Benefit does not automatically stop at 18. If your child remains in full-time, non-advanced education or approved training, payments can continue until:
If your child leaves education at 18, HMRC stops payments at the next official payment cut-off date (February, May, August, or November). You must inform HMRC as soon as circumstances change to avoid overpayment.
| Your Child’s Age | What Happens to Child Benefit |
| 16 | Stops automatically on 31 August unless they stay in approved education or training |
| 17 | Continues if in approved education; stops if they leave |
| 18 | Continues if still in approved education or training |
| 19 | Continues only if they started their course before turning 19 |
| 20 | Stops on their 20th birthday |
Under the current UK Child Benefit eligibility rules for child benefit 2025, education status controls the payment, not simply whether your child turns 18.
In short, if you’re wondering when does child benefit stop, check whether your 18-year-old remains in qualifying education. Age alone does not end it.
Whether child benefit continues after age 16 depends entirely on the type of education or training your child attends. If the course qualifies under UK Child Benefit eligibility rules, payments continue. If it does not, HMRC will stop payments.
HMRC defines full-time education as more than 12 hours per week of supervised study, tuition, or course-related work experience.
Non-advanced education includes:
If your child stays enrolled in one of these programmes, child benefit 2025 rules allow payments to continue until they finish the course or turn 20.
Some unpaid training programmes also qualify:
These programmes must be government-approved and unpaid.
Child Benefit stops if your child studies:
University-level study counts as advanced education, which falls outside UK Child Benefit eligibility rules.
If you’re unsure whether a course qualifies, check directly with HMRC before assuming payments will continue. Many cases of wrongly stopped child benefits happen because parents misunderstand what qualifies as approved education.
In simple terms, if the course sits below university level and your child studies more than 12 hours per week, Child Benefit usually continues. If it moves into higher education, payments stop.
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Understanding when does child benefit stop requires more than knowing your child’s age. HMRC uses fixed cut-off dates throughout the year.
If your child leaves education at 16, Child Benefit stops automatically on 31 August after their 16th birthday.
Example:
If your child turns 16 in March 2025 and does not continue into approved education, payments stop on 31 August 2025.
HMRC applies this rule across the UK under current child benefit 2025 guidance.
If your child continues education after 16 but later leaves before completing the course, payments stop at the next official quarterly cut-off date.
HMRC uses four fixed dates:
Payments stop on whichever of these dates comes first after your child leaves.
If your child leaves college in October, HMRC stops Child Benefit on 30 November.
If they leave in January, payments stop at the end of February.
This rule applies whether your child is 17, 18, or 19.
Even if your child remains in approved education, Child Benefit stops on their 20th birthday. Payments cannot continue beyond that point.
Many parents assume Child Benefit stops exactly on a birthday. It does not. HMRC uses:
If you do not inform the Child Benefit Office when your child leaves education, HMRC may continue paying temporarily and later recover the overpayment. This often leads to cases of wrongly stopped child benefits or unexpected repayment letters.
To avoid confusion, always report changes immediately.

If your child leaves education at 16 or 17 and does not move into approved training, Child Benefit stops under HMRC rules.
Most parents ask this after GCSE results:
If your child does not enrol in A-levels, NVQs, T-levels, or another qualifying course, payments stop on 31 August after their 16th birthday.
If your child already continued education past 16 but later drops out at 17, HMRC stops payments at the next quarterly cut-off date (February, May, August, or November).
You must inform HMRC as soon as your child leaves education or training. Only the person claiming Child Benefit can report the change.
You can:
If you delay reporting, HMRC may continue paying temporarily and later demand repayment. Many cases of wrongly stopped child benefits actually begin with delayed reporting.
If your child is 16 or 17 and leaves education, you may qualify for a 20-week extension (explained in the next section). However, strict conditions apply.
If you want to know how to stop Child Benefit properly, report the change immediately through the official Gov.uk system rather than waiting for HMRC to act automatically.
When it comes to when does child benefit stop, leaving education without approved training triggers the stop, not simply age alone.
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If your child leaves approved education or training at 16 or 17, you may still receive child benefit for up to 20 weeks, but only if you meet strict conditions.
HMRC calls this a Child Benefit extension.
Your child must:
You must apply within 3 months of your child leaving education or training.
If you miss that window, HMRC will not grant the extension.
The extension ends at the earliest of:
This extension does not override the main age limit. Even under extension rules, payments cannot continue beyond age 20.
Many parents search “when does child benefit stop” after their child leaves school at 16 and assume payments end immediately. In some cases, the extension allows temporary continuation, but only if you act quickly.
If you need to apply, contact the Child Benefit Office directly or use the official HMRC online service. Do not assume the extension applies automatically; HMRC requires action from you.

If your child leaves approved education or training, you must tell HMRC immediately. Only the person claiming child benefit can report the change.
Many parents search how to cancel Child Benefit online or how to stop Child Benefit when circumstances change. You have three main options.
Use the official Gov.uk cancel Child Benefit service through your personal tax account. This allows you to:
This method reduces the risk of overpayment and avoids delays.
You can also contact the Child Benefit Office directly by phone or post.
Have ready:
If you search for the child benefit contact number, always use the official GOV.UK website to avoid incorrect listings.
Report changes immediately if your child:
If you delay reporting, HMRC may continue paying and later request repayment. Many cases labelled as wrongly stopped child benefits actually involve delayed notifications or incomplete updates.
If you’re unsure when does child benefit stop, do not guess. Confirm your child’s education status first, then notify HMRC promptly. Acting early protects you from repayment demands and prevents sudden payment suspensions.
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Sometimes HMRC stops child benefit even though your child still qualifies. Parents often discover this after payments suddenly disappear or after receiving a letter.
Before assuming an error, check three common triggers:
If your child still meets UK Child Benefit eligibility rules, you can challenge the decision.
Check:
If the answer is yes, payments should normally continue.
Call the official child benefit contact number or use your online account to report that your child remains in qualifying education.
Have ready:
If HMRC stopped payments incorrectly, they can reinstate them and issue backdated payments.
Sometimes HMRC stops payments because they suspect a change but lack confirmation. If you delay responding, the system may automatically suspend payments.
Many cases described as wrongly stopped child benefits result from incomplete information rather than actual ineligibility. Acting quickly usually resolves the issue.
If your child left education earlier and you did not report it, HMRC may request repayment. In this case, you can discuss repayment arrangements with the Child Benefit Office.
If you’re unsure when does child benefit stop, always verify your child’s education status first. Clear communication with HMRC prevents both unexpected suspensions and repayment demands.
Many parents ask not only when does child benefit stop, but also how much they receive before it ends.
Under child benefit 2026 rates:
If you claim child benefit for 3 children, you receive:
Payments usually go directly into your bank account every 4 weeks (or weekly if you qualify).
These figures reflect the latest confirmed child benefit rates, including the recent child benefit increase 2025 adjustment.
Child Benefit is not means-tested. However, if you or your partner earns over £50,000 per year, the High Income Child Benefit Charge may apply.
Even if the charge applies, many families still claim to protect National Insurance credits.
Parents frequently search for:
At present, no confirmed rule changes alter the age or education eligibility structure. If HMRC introduces updates later in 2025, they will publish them through official GOV.UK channels.
Always rely on official guidance rather than social media claims.
Parents also confuse Child Benefit with child tax credit.
Child Tax Credit has largely been replaced by Universal Credit for new claims. Its stop dates depend on different eligibility rules and do not follow the same 16–20 education framework as Child Benefit.
If you receive both benefits, check each separately.
Understanding how much you receive helps you plan for the point when payments end.
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Many parents confuse when does child maintenance stop with when does child benefit stop. They follow different legal rules.
Child Benefit:
Education status controls payment, not simply age.
Child maintenance usually stops:
If a court order or Child Maintenance Service (CMS) arrangement exists, the exact end date depends on:
Maintenance does not always follow the same administrative stop dates as Child Benefit.
Parents also search when does child Tax Credit stop. These rules differ again.
Child Tax Credit (now largely replaced by Universal Credit) usually stops:
However, eligibility rules differ from Child Benefit, and reporting requirements fall under Universal Credit systems rather than the Child Benefit Office.
You can stop receiving Child Benefit while maintenance continues — or vice versa — depending on circumstances.
If you’re planning ahead, always check:
If you need a clear answer to when does child benefit stop, use this checklist:
In short, education status controls child benefit, not just age.
If your child approaches 16, 18, or 20, confirm whether their course qualifies under current child benefit 2025 rules and inform HMRC promptly. Acting early prevents unexpected stops, repayment demands, or confusion about eligibility.
Child Benefit does not stop randomly. It stops because of age, education status, or reporting gaps. Most payment problems happen when families assume the system will update itself automatically.
If your child turns 16, 18, or 20 soon, take control early. Confirm whether their course qualifies. Check the quarterly stop dates. Report changes immediately. Keep records of communication with HMRC.
When you understand exactly when does child benefit stop, you avoid overpayments, sudden suspensions, and financial surprises.
Clarity protects your household income. Preparation prevents repayment letters. Accurate reporting keeps your payments running smoothly under current child benefit 2025 rules.
If you searched “when does child benefit stop,” “my child turns 18 when does Child Benefit stop,” “how to cancel Child Benefit online,” or “wrongly stopped child benefits,” you are likely managing a financial transition while supporting a young person moving into adulthood.
Clear, accurate information matters. Misreporting education status, misunderstanding quarterly stop dates, or confusing Child Benefit with child maintenance or child tax credit can lead to overpayments, repayment demands, or avoidable stress.
Care Sync Experts supports families and regulated care providers across the UK with:
Whether you are managing your household finances or leading a regulated care service supporting families through transition periods, we help you replace confusion with clarity and structured compliance.
Get in touch with Care Sync Experts today and ensure your family support systems remain accurate, compliant, and financially secure.
You can receive child benefit from birth until:
– 31 August, after your child turns 16, unless they stay in approved education or training
– Up to age 20, if they remain in full-time, non-advanced education or approved training and started the course before turning 19
– Payments never continue beyond the child’s 20th birthday under standard rules.
HMRC usually stops Child Benefit for one of these reasons:
– Your child turned 16 and did not continue into approved education
– HMRC did not receive confirmation that your child stayed in education
– Your child left their course
– Your household became affected by the High Income Child Benefit Charge, and payments were voluntarily stopped
– You moved abroad without updating HMRC
If payments stopped unexpectedly, contact the Child Benefit Office and confirm your child’s current education status. Many suspensions occur because HMRC did not receive updated information.
Yes. There is no limit on the number of children you can receive Child Benefit for.
Under current child benefit rates:
– Eldest child: £25.60 per week
– Each additional child (including a 3rd child): £16.95 per week
If you have three children, you receive:
– £25.60 for the first child
– £16.95 for the second
– £16.95 for the third
Child Benefit differs from certain other benefits that apply a two-child limit. Child Benefit pays for every eligible child.
Yes, but only for a limited period.
You can backdate a new Child Benefit claim for up to 3 months from the date HMRC receives your application. You cannot normally claim beyond that period unless exceptional circumstances apply.
If you believe HMRC stopped your payments incorrectly and you remained eligible, contact the Child Benefit Office promptly. They may reinstate and backdate payments if you can prove continuous eligibility.

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