Qualifying young person when your child is 16 to 19

This information applies to England and Wales.

Some benefits have a disabled child addition or premium. This is added to your benefit if you have a disabled child and meet the criteria.

If your child is 16 to 19, they continue to be classed as a child if they meet the criteria for a qualifying young person.

Disabled child addition or premium that can be affected by a qualifying young person are:

• Universal Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit or Child Benefit

Your child also needs to:

• get the care component of Disability Living Allowance or daily living component of Personal Independence Payment and
• be under 16 (or a qualifying young person)

If your child is not a qualifying young person, they are regarded as an adult in the household.

Working out if my child is a qualifying young person

If your child is:

• below the age of 16, they are a qualifying young person.
• 16 to 19, being a qualifying young person will depend on what they are doing for education or work.
• 20 or above, they cannot be a qualifying young person.

If your child is 16 to 19, being a qualifying young person is different if they are in:

• education
• work or training

If your child has left work or education

Your child could still be a qualifying young person if all the following apply:

• they have left education or training
• they are 16 or 17
• you claim Child Tax Credit, Housing Benefit or Child Benefit

This is known as the extension period.

If your child is in education

Having an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) does not affect your child’s eligibility.

If your child is in advanced education, they are not a qualifying young person.

Advanced education includes a:

• Higher National Certificate (BTEC Level 4)
• Higher National Diploma (Level 5)
• undergraduate honours degree
• Master’s or doctorate (PhD)
• teaching qualification

If they are in non-advanced education, they could be a qualifying young person.

Non-advanced education includes:

• GCSE
• T Level
• A Level (AS and A2)
• National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) up to Level 3

If they are non-advanced education, they must also have:

• a full-time course that is at least 12 hours a week and
• started the non-advanced education before reaching 19 years old

If your child is in work or training

Your child could be a qualifying young person if they are 16 to 19 and in work or training.

If your child is in work or training, it must be unpaid to be approved by the DWP or HMRC.

Approved work and training include:

• traineeships
• apprenticeships
• Foundation apprenticeships or traineeships (in Wales)

Definition of approved training (GOV.UK)

Qualifying young person for different benefits

If your child is 16 to 19 years old and you think they might be a qualifying young person, check the eligibility for the benefits you claim.

Universal Credit

When your child is in approved education or training, they are a qualifying young person until 1 September after their 19th birthday.

Your child will stop being a qualifying young person for Universal Credit when they leave approved education or training.

If your child leaves education when they are 16 or 17, report a change of circumstances as soon as you can.

Report a change of circumstances (GOV.UK)

Child Benefit, Child Tax Credit or Housing Benefit

When your child is in approved education or training, they are a qualifying young person until their 20th birthday.

If they leave education or training, your child is still a qualifying young person if they:

• have not passed their end date (terminal date), or
• are 16 or 17 and have not passed the extension period

Qualifying young person terminal dates (GOV.UK)

Extension period

An extension is for children aged 16 or 17 who have left education or training.

You could get an extension period if you claim:

• Child Benefit
• Child Tax Credits
• or Housing Benefit

This is also known as the Child Benefit extension. This means you can continue to claim the disabled child addition for longer.

If your child is 18 or older, you cannot apply for an extension.

How long the extension will last

The extension lasts:

• 20 weeks from the date they left or
• until your child turns 18

Eligibility and how to apply

You must apply for the extension within 3 months of them leaving education or training.

To qualify, your child must:

• work less than 24 hours a week
• sign up to the National Careers Service (NCS)
• not claim benefits for themselves (apart from DLA or PIP)

Apply for extension to Child Benefit (GOV.UK)