When does Family Allowance stop in the UK?
“Family Allowance” is the former name commonly used for Child Benefit. Under GOV.UK rules applying in the 2026/27 tax year, entitlement normally stops on 31 August on or after the child’s 16th birthday.
Payments can continue while a young person under 20 remains in approved education or training. Child Benefit cannot continue once they reach 20, and it may end sooner if their course, work or living arrangements no longer meet HMRC’s conditions.
| Young person’s situation | What normally happens | Action for the claimant |
|---|---|---|
| Under 16 and the claimant remains responsible for them | Child Benefit normally continues | Report relevant family or care changes to HMRC |
| Turns 16 and does not continue in approved education or training | Usually stops on 31 August on or after their 16th birthday | Confirm their plans when HMRC asks |
| Under 20 in approved education or training | Can continue while the qualifying conditions are met | Tell HMRC about the course and any later change |
| Leaves an approved course | Usually ends on an HMRC terminal date after the change | Report the leaving date immediately |
| Reaches age 20 | Entitlement cannot continue beyond the age limit | Check the final payment date shown by HMRC |
These rules are administered by HM Revenue and Customs. If Child Benefit ending will reduce your household income, use SupportFund’s benefits calculator guidance to check whether another form of support may be available.
Which education or training keeps Child Benefit going?
GOV.UK says Child Benefit can continue for a young person under 20 in approved, non-advanced education or approved unpaid training. The course must meet HMRC’s rules; simply remaining registered with a school or college is not always enough.
Examples recognised by GOV.UK include:
- A levels, Scottish Highers and equivalent school-level qualifications.
- NVQs and other vocational qualifications up to the qualifying level specified by HMRC.
- Home education in eligible circumstances, including rules concerning when it began.
- Certain approved unpaid training programmes, which differ across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
A university degree, Higher National Certificate or other advanced course does not normally qualify. An apprenticeship also does not normally preserve Child Benefit because it is treated as paid employment rather than approved unpaid training, according to GOV.UK.
Warning: Do not assume every college course qualifies. Ask HMRC to confirm the course status before relying on continued payments, especially where the young person receives wages, studies part-time or combines education with substantial paid work.
What happens when a young person leaves their course?
Tell the Child Benefit Office as soon as the young person leaves approved education or training. GOV.UK states that Child Benefit will usually continue only until the next applicable terminal date: the last day of February, 31 May, 31 August or 30 November.
The relevant date depends on when the course ends or the qualifying change occurs. HMRC’s decision notice should identify the final entitlement period, which may differ from the date the last bank payment reaches you.
A young person who temporarily stops attending because of illness may still qualify in some circumstances. Interruptions, course transfers and planned breaks should be reported so that HMRC can decide whether approved education has genuinely ended.
Practical tip: Keep the college’s leaving letter, course timetable and any evidence of illness or transfer. These documents can help if HMRC asks why education was interrupted or calculates an overpayment.
If the loss of Child Benefit creates an immediate shortfall, explore emergency household support options. In England, the former Household Support Fund is historic and was replaced from April 2026 by the Crisis and Resilience Fund; local delivery and eligibility are set by the relevant authority.
Can Child Benefit continue after education ends?
GOV.UK allows a potential Child Benefit extension of up to 20 weeks for some 16- or 17-year-olds who leave approved education or training. This is not automatic, and the young person must satisfy HMRC’s registration and activity conditions.
Depending on where the family lives, the young person may need to register with an eligible careers service, local authority support service or the armed forces. GOV.UK says the extension request must normally be made within 3 months of leaving education or training.
HMRC can refuse or end the extension where the qualifying conditions are not met. Contact the Child Benefit Office promptly rather than waiting for the next payment, because late notification can result in money having to be repaid.
Other reasons Family Allowance may stop or change
Age is not the only factor. GOV.UK requires claimants to report changes affecting who is responsible for the child, where the child lives and whether the young person has started work, an apprenticeship or benefits in their own right.
- The child or young person permanently leaves the claimant’s household.
- Another person becomes responsible for the child or makes a competing claim.
- The young person starts paid work that falls outside HMRC’s permitted circumstances.
- The young person begins an apprenticeship or advanced education.
- The child enters local authority care or moves abroad, subject to specific exceptions.
- The claimant asks HMRC to stop payments, including because of the High Income Child Benefit Charge.
Opting out of payments because of the High Income Child Benefit Charge is different from ending the underlying claim. HMRC advises that keeping the claim open can protect National Insurance credits where the claimant is eligible, even if payments are not received.
Child Benefit ending can also affect the household budget alongside Universal Credit, although the two schemes follow different rules. Review Universal Credit entitlement and change-reporting guidance and report relevant changes separately to the DWP.
Rates and rules can change: confirm current Child Benefit information on GOV.UK before making financial decisions or acting on this guidance.