Extended Child Benefit for school/college leavers
Your child benefit will stop when you get a job or training, but until you do...
Can I claim any money when I leave school or college?
In most circumstances the answer is NO as young people aged 16 and 17 years just leaving education are generally not entitled to claim Job Seekers Allowance as their parents should be in receipt of or still able to claim Child Benefit.
I'm not staying in education, when will my child benefit be stopped?
When you turn 16, your payments will normally carry on until 31 August. If your birthday is 31 August, your payments will stop then. If you do stay on, but leave education at any time during Year 12 or 13 payments will normally carry on for a few weeks.
But if one of the following happens, your payments will stop straight away:
- you start paid work for 24 hours a week or more
- you start getting certain benefits, such as Income Support in your own right
My Child Benefit has stopped. What should my parents and I do next?
If you are looking for work or training your parents can apply to receive Extended Child Benefit. To qualify for this you must be registered with Connexions.
How do I register with Connexions?
You need to visit your local Connexions centre after the last Friday in June of the school year you reach 16 to discuss your plans with a Connexions adviser. They will ‘register’ that you are seeking Connexions help in finding a job or training place and this allows your parents to apply for Extended Child Benefit.
You can get Extended Child Benefit for 20 weeks from the date you left full time education or training. If you turn 18 during this extension period you will stop receiving benefit on the Monday after your 18th birthday. If your 18th birthday is on a Monday then you will stop receiving benefit on this day.
It is your parents' responsibility to apply for Extended Child Benefit. There is a time limit of three months from when you left education or approved training to apply.
What happens when I start a job or training?
Your parents should tell the Child Benefit Office when you start a job or training – the Child Benefit or Extended Child Benefit will then finish. They would then no longer be able to claim Child Benefit for you. You should also inform Connexions so that your record can be updated.
If I lose my job or training, what happens?
Your parents can usually apply to reclaim Extended Child Benefit for you as long as it is still less than 20 weeks after leaving education, but you must register (seek Connexions help in finding a job or training place) again at the Connexions centre. If this is refused it is best to check with the Connexions centre and Jobcentre Plus to see if there are any other benefits that you may be able to claim.
When the Child Benefit extension period is up, can I claim any other benefit?
This depends on your individual circumstances and it is best to ask at your local Connexions centre where someone may be able to advise you. However it is a decision that will be made by the staff at your local Jobcentre Plus office.
Contacting the Child Benefit Office
Child Benefit Office
PO Box 1
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE88 1AA
Telephone 0845 302 1444
Textphone 0845 302 1474
To ask a question about child benefit go to the HM Revenue & Customs website: Child benefit enquiry form
