Parents and carers who claim child benefit for youngsters aged 16 have just hours left to update HMRC or risk losing their payments.
If your child is between the age of 16 and 20, you may still be able to claim child benefit if they remain in approved full-time education or unpaid training.
But you need to tell HMRC if this is the case by the end of today (August 31) or your payments will stop.
Hundreds of thousands of teenagers will be getting ready to start the next important phase in their lives after picking up their GCSE results earlier this month, or Scottish National Certificates.
Approved education that will still entitle you to child benefit include A-levels, NVQs and home education.
Or if they are going into training, you may still be able to receive child benefit if this is unpaid.
This includes apprenticeships and traineeships, but not training that is part of a job contract.
Once you have updated HMRC, you won’t need to reconfirm your child's plans each year – unless their situation changes - as the typical end date of their course or training will be taking into account.
If your child decides to go into work, then you will no longer be eligible for child benefit.
There are 7.21million families getting child benefit, and 12.52million individual children, according to government figures.
Have you had issues claiming child benefit? Let us know: mirror.money.saving@mirror.co.uk
What is child benefit?
Child benefit is a monthly payment for parents or carers who are responsible for a young adult.
It is well worth checking if you’re eligible, as recent figures by Turn2Us show 503,000 families are missing out on unclaimed child benefit payments worth a collective £775million.
You can claim the full amount of child benefit if you or your partner earn less than £50,000 per year.
This is worth £21.15 a week for your first child, then any other child you have qualifies for £14 a week each.
If two people look after a child, only one person can claim child benefit.
Being responsible for a child usually means they live with you, or you pay at least the same amount as child benefit towards looking after them - for example, for food, clothes or pocket money.
Child benefit is applicable to children who are fostered and adopted, and in certain circumstances where you're looking after a child for a friend or relative.
If you or your partner earn over £50,000, you can still claim child benefit but you may be liable for a tax charge, known as the "High Income Child Benefit Charge".
For every £100 you receive above £50,000, you need to pay back 1% of the maximum amount of child benefit you're entitled to.
Earn over £60,000 and you'll need to pay back 100% of your child benefit.
How do I update HMRC?
You need to let HMRC know about your 16-year-old staying in education or training, or your payments will stop.
This could be done online by visiting Gov.uk and updating your records via the Government Gateway .
Or you can return the 297b form that HMRC sent you in your reminder letter.
