The extension period
If your child is 16 or 17, s/he continues to count as a qualifying young person, and so child benefit can continue to be paid for her/him during an ‘extension period’ if:
1Reg 5 CB Regs•s/he has left education or training; and
•s/he is registered as available for work, education or training with the Careers Service (Careers Wales in Wales); and
•s/he is not in remunerative work – ie, work of 24 hours a week or more for payment or in expectation of payment; and
•you were entitled to child benefit for her/him immediately before the extension period started; and
•you apply in writing or by phone within three months of the date your child’s education or training finished.
In this context, ‘education’ and ‘training’ are not defined and so may mean any kind of education or training.
The extension period starts from the Monday after your child’s course of education or training ends and lasts for 20 weeks from that date. If your child reaches 18 during the extension period, unless s/he counts as a qualifying young person on another ground (see
here), your child benefit for her/him ends from the first child benefit payday on or after which s/he reaches 18.
2Reg 14 The Child Benefit and Guardian’s Allowance (Administration) Regulations 2003, No.492; reg 5(3) CB Regs