FOR parents of year 11 children in receipt of child benefit and child tax credit in England, the Government has increased the age to which all young people must continue in education or training, known as ‘participation age’.

This means a young person in England must now continue in education or training until the end of the school year in which they reach 17.

Not all the options available to the young person will mean that they continue to be a qualifying young person for child tax credit and child benefit. For example, where a young person is in full-time employment or in an apprenticeship, even if they are in education or training as part of that employment, they will not be a qualifying young person. It is important to tell HM Revenues and Customs before September 1 after your child turns 16, if they are continuing in full-time non-advanced education or approved training or if they are no longer in education or training.

You can find more information about CTC when your child is aged 16 to 19 on the HMRC website at hmrc.gov.uk and about child benefit hmrc.gov.uk.

More information about raising the participation age is on the Department for Education website at education.gov.uk.

For more advice from the Citizens Advice Bureau you can log onto adviceguide.org.uk.

Kath Inkpen,

St Helens Citizens Advice Bureau

Millennium Centre

St Helens