HMRC warning as parents to have child benefit stopped in September

Parents are being urged to check their benefit status after HMRC confirmed Child Benefit payments will stop for thousands of households this month, leaving some with nothing - a money expert has warned.

"Child Benefit automatically ends when a child turns 16 or finishes full time education and that can catch families off guard" said Joe Smithies, money expert at PennyPlan. "If parents do not update HMRC with their child’s plans, payments stop abruptly leaving households facing a sudden gap in income."

Smithies said families can keep receiving support if their child stays in education. "The payments can continue until the child is 20 but only if they go on to approved courses like A Levels T Levels NVQs or certain training programmes. The key is making sure HMRC is told in time."

He wa