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Why has your Child Benefit stopped?

There are several reasons why your Child Benefit payments may have stopped. These include:

• the Child Benefit Office has written to you but you haven't replied
• your child has turned 16 and you haven't told the Child Benefit Office about their education or training plans
• your bank account details have changed and you haven't told the Child Benefit Office
• you've changed your address recently and haven't told the Child Benefit Office
• your child has gone into care
• your child now lives with someone else

If you haven't replied to an enquiry

If the Child Benefit Office has written to you and you don't reply to the enquiry or the reminders, they'll stop your Child Benefit payments. This is because they can't be sure of your whereabouts.

If your child has turned 16

In the school year that your child reaches 16, the Child Benefit Office will contact you to ask about your child's education or training plans. They do this to check that you can still get Child Benefit.

Your payments will stop from the first Monday in September if either of the following apply:

• you don't reply to the enquiry
• your child's not staying in education or training that counts for Child Benefit

Follow the link below to check if your child's education or training counts for Child Benefit.

• Child Benefit if your child is in further education or training

If your payments have stopped but you still think your child qualifies for Child Benefit, contact the Child Benefit Office straight away. You can do this online by following the first link below, or you can call the Child Benefit Helpline.

• Send your Child Benefit query online Opens new window

• Contact details for the Child Benefit Helpline

If your bank account details have changed

If you've recently changed your bank account details and haven't told the Child Benefit Office, your payment will have gone to your old account. You'll need to report your new details straight away to the Child Benefit Office.

• Child Benefit payments - how to change your bank account details

If you've recently moved house

If you've recently moved and haven't told the Child Benefit Office, your Child Benefit payments may stop because they can't contact you. You'll need to report your new details straight away to the Child Benefit Office.

• Report a change of address online

If your child has gone into care

The Child Benefit Office may be able to pay Child Benefit for the first eight weeks in a row that your child's in care. This applies if your child has gone into the care of a local authority (or a Health and Social Services Board in Northern Ireland).

• Child Benefit if your child is in care

If your child now lives with someone else

If your child lives with someone else, that person may also decide to make a claim for Child Benefit.

Sometimes someone else makes a claim and you won't know that this has happened until the Child Benefit Office tells you.

They can't tell you who has made the claim though. Your payments may be suspended until it's clear who should get the money.

• What happens when there is more than one claim for Child Benefit for the same child

What to do if you haven't got your payment

If you haven't had your payment and you think you should have, check with your bank, building society or Post Office ® first of all. There may be a simple explanation.

• What to do if you haven't received your usual Child Benefit payment

More useful links

• Child Benefit - do you qualify?

• Child Benefit rates

• Child Benefit - which changes you need to report