Urgent warning to millions of parents to make key check – or lose out on £1,407 a year free cash

MILLIONS of parents are being urged to make a simple check now ahead of a key deadline or risk losing out on £1,407 a year. Parents of 16 to 19-year-olds have just one week left to inform HM Revenue and Customs whether their child will continue in education or training or lose their child benefit payments. Child benefit is paid to anyone who is responsible for raising a child to help with the cost of doing so. Now GCSE results are in, your child should have decided on their next steps, which makes it the perfect time to act. Sign up for the Money newsletter Thank you! Meanwhile, with the deadline to extend your payment on August 31, there’s only a handful of days left to take action. HMRC has already written to 1.5 million parents to remind them to extend their claim before the deadline. Child benefit is worth up to £1,406.60 a year for the eldest or only child, and up to £930.80 a year for each additional child. You need to act if your child has just turned 16 and is: Staying on in full-time education (more than 12 hours of supervised study/work a week) such as A Levels, T Levels, NVQs up to Level 3, Scottish Highers, or the International Baccalaureate. Starting approved training, such as traineeships in England, Foundation Apprenticeships in Wales, No One Left Behind in Scotland, or Skills for Life and Work in Northern Ireland. Being home-educated, as long as it started before they turned 16, or later if they have special needs. You can extend your claim in minutes using the HMRC app or by visiting the GOV.UK website. Most read in Money If you receive a letter from HMRC then you can also scan the QR code, which will take you straight to the digital service. If you don’t respond by the deadline then your payments will stop. Comment now