Sometimes a parent, or someone responsible for a child, can continue to claim benefits for a child aged 16 or over. Usually, this is only while the young person remains in further (non-advanced) education.
Until 31 August after the young person’s 16th birthday it doesn't matter whether they are in education or not, but beyond this age parents can only get benefits for someone who is a 'qualifying young person'.
The main benefits parents may claim for young people are:
UC is means-tested, so parents can only get this if their income is low enough. Child benefit is not means-tested.
A parent can claim benefits for a ‘qualifying young person’. This is a term used in the benefits system that refers to someone aged 16 to 19 who is:
For UC the latest date you can claim for a young person is 31 August after the young person’s 19th birthday. For child benefit the latest date you can claim for a young person is the day before they turn 20.
FE is study below the level of HNC, and includes NQ National 4 & 5s, NQ Highers and Advanced Highers, SVQ up to level 3 and National Certificates (NCs).
In order to be full-time, the course must be more than 12 hours a week during term time. In counting the 12 hours, include classes and supervised study, but do not include meal breaks or unsupervised study at home or at college.
Young people on approved training courses are treated as being qualifying young people. This applies if they are on training provided under certain Acts, which is approved by the Secretary of State, such as a 'No One Left Behind' course (as long as the training is not provided by a contract of employment).
You may be able to get benefit for young people who are home-schooled. Seek advice if this applies.
Delia is 18 and starts an SVQ level 2 in social care in September 2024, which is 24 hours per week. She turns 19 on 14 November 2024 during her course. She is still a qualifying young person until her course ends in June 2024, and her parents can continue to get UC for her while on her course, and child benefit.
Bill is 17 and is on a No One Left Behind course at college. He is treated as being a qualifying young person, and his parents can continue to get UC for him while on his course, and child benefit.
When a young person finishes one full-time FE course, if they are accepted on or enrolled on another FE course (or on an approved training course), they continue to be a qualifying young person between courses. This also applies if they finish an approved training course and are accepted on or enrolled on another approved training course. Otherwise, when a young person leaves their course of education or training, you may still be able to claim for them for a while. You can claim child benefit and UC until the latest of these dates:
The next two bullets only apply to child benefit.
Joe turns 16 in March and leaves school on 21 June 2024. His parents can get UC and child benefit for him until 31 August. If he registers with Skills Development Scotland, and his parents informs HMRC of this within three months of him leaving education, they could get child benefit beyond 31 August under the extension period rules - for 20 weeks from the Monday after Joe left education - ie, until 10 November 2024. Note: if Joe had been 17, UC would stop the day after he left school - but child benefit could continue as above.
Kerry sits her last Higher exam on 22 May. Her terminal date should be 31 May, but because the comparable exam in England is in June, she is treated as being in education until that date and the terminal date that applies is 31 August. Her parents can get child benefit until then.
Susie has just finished an FE course and has been accepted on a No One Left Behind course starting in the Autumn. Her parents can continue to get UC and child benefit for her between the two courses.
You can also get child benefit (but not UC) for a young person who has an interruption to their education. The interruption must be for less than six months, or due to physical or mental illness or disability. HMRC must agree that the interruption is reasonable. Other conditions may apply, so seek advice.
If your benefit runs out under the rules above, you can reclaim if the young person starts another course of full-time FE or approved training, and still counts as a qualifying young person.
You must be responsible for the young person, for example, they must normally live with you. You do not have to be the young person's parent. You could be a grandparent, brother or sister, or something else.
You usually cannot claim benefit for a young person who:
(The next two bullets only apply to child benefit)
A qualifying young person’s student or trainee funding does not affect your award for UC or child benefit.
Oscar is 18 and at college, receiving a bursary. His parents get UC and child benefit for him, and the bursary is ignored.
Karen is 17 and at school, and gets an education maintenance allowance (EMA). Her parents get UC and child benefit for her, and her EMA is ignored.
You should let the relevant office know about changes to the young person’s circumstances, for example, if they start or leave a course, enrol on another course or register with Skills Development Scotland. You should also let the relevant office know if a young person continues in FE after 31 August following their 16th birthday, so that your benefit can continue.
For universal credit contact the DWP (Department for Work and Pensions), and for child benefit contact the Child Benefit Office (part of HM Revenue and Customs).
