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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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 report changes

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Contact the Tax Credit Office

If you need more help you can call the Tax Credit Helpline which is open from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm every day except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. The numbers you can ring are:

tel 0845 300 3900
textphone 0845 300 3909 – if you are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment

If you’re calling from overseas you can also contact the Tax Credit Office on Tel + 44 289 053 8192.

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