In this section:
- New baby - what tax credits are you entitled to?
- Tax credits when your partner leaves or a new partner moves in
- Your child reaches 16 - are you still entitled to tax credits?
- Tax credits if you or a member of the family goes into hospital
- Tax credits if you or a member of the family goes into custody
Your child reaches 16 - are you still entitled to tax credits?
When your child reaches 16 you can only get tax credits for them if they're staying on at school or college, or starting an approved training course.
You need to tell us your child's plans or we'll stop their tax credits payments on 31 August after their 16th birthday. You also need to tell us if they stop their studies or training.
If your child is aged 16 to 19 and in full-time education
If your child is aged 16 but under the age of 20, you can claim tax credits for them as long as they're in full-time education.
Usually this will be in a school or college, studying for qualifications like:
- A levels
- Scottish Highers
- NVQ at Level 3
If they're starting an advanced course at higher education level, such as a degree, you won't be able to claim for them.
'Full-time' means they're taught or supervised for 12 hours or more a week.
If your child is aged 16 to 19 and on a training course
If your child is over 16 but under the age of 20, you can claim tax credits for them as long as they're on an approved training course. Approved courses:
- don't pay wages
- teach the skills your child needs to do a job
For a training course to be approved it should be one of the following:
- England - Entry to Employment or Programme Led Apprenticeships
- Scotland - Get Ready for Work, Skillseekers or Modern Apprenticeships
- Wales - Foundation Modern Apprenticeships, Skillbuild or Skillbuild+
- Northern Ireland - Access or Training for Success: Professional and Technical Training
If your child is 16 or 17 and registered with a careers or Connexions service
You may still be able to get tax credits for 20 weeks for a child aged 16 or 17, even if they're not at school or taking an approved training course.
You will need to let us know within three months if your child leaves full-time education and registers for work or training with:
- the local careers or Connexions service if you live in England
- the local careers service if you live in Scotland or Wales
- the Department for Employment and Learning if you live in Northern Ireland
To find out if you qualify, call the Tax Credit Helpline on Tel 0845 300 3900 or textphone 0845 300 3909.
If your child has started work or is claiming benefits
If your child gets a job or claims benefits, we'll keep on paying tax credits for them until 31 August after their 16th birthday. After that, we'll stop their payments.
Keeping the Tax Credit Office up to date
It's important you tell us if your child is:
- staying on at school or college
- starting an approved training course
If you don't, we'll only pay tax credits for them until 31 August after their 16th birthday.
If your child leaves school or training
You must let us know within one month if your child leaves full-time education or approved training. If you don't we might keep on paying you tax credits that you shouldn't get. If we've overpaid you, you'll usually have to pay the money back. We may also charge you a penalty.
Tax credits: how and when to tell us about changes
Contact us
You can contact our Tax Credit Helpline on Tel 0845 300 3900 or textphone 0845 300 3909 (open from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm, seven days a week except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day).
More useful links
Find out about repaying overpaid tax credits
Check what happens to Child Benefit if your child is 16 or over
