Child Benefit extension period
Child Benefit can continue to be paid for up to 20 weeks from the date the young person leaves full-time further education or approved training if the young person:
- is under age 18 and
- they have registered for work, education or training with the Careers Service, or Connexions Service (in Northern Ireland, the Department for Employment and Learning or an Education and Library Board),or any corresponding body in another European Union member state, or
- they have applied to join the armed forces and are awaiting placement from the Ministry of Defence, and
- they are not working for 24 hours or more a week for which payment is received or expected and
- the extension period for that person has not expired and
- immediately before the extension period begins the customer was entitled to Child Benefit for the young person and
- the customer has made a written request for the extension within 3 months of the end of education or training.
Registration for training with the training provider does not qualify a young person for the extension of Child Benefit. They must also be registered for work, education or training with the Department for Employment and Learning or an Education and Library Board.
We can pay Child Benefit from the Monday following the end of their full-time education or training.
How long will the extension period last?
Child Benefit will end
- at the end of the 20 week period, or
- when the young person reaches age 18
However we will stop paying Child Benefit before this date if the young person
- starts working
- starts a course which is not an approved training course
- starts a course of higher education
- is awarded Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Incapacity benefit or tax credits in their own right.
You must tell us straight away if any of the above changes happen.
