28/09/2026
MILLIONS IN CHILD TRUST FUNDS GO UNCLAIMED
HMRC has confirmed that almost three million Child Trust Fund accounts have now been claimed or transferred since maturity payments began in September 2020, but around 827,000 accounts remain unclaimed.
Child Trust Funds were set up for children born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011, with the government making an initial deposit of at least £250 into each account. Accounts mature when the child turns 18, and the funds can then be withdrawn or reinvested elsewhere.
The average unclaimed account is now worth £2,310, HMRC said. Young people can trace a lost account for free using the GOV.UK Child Trust Fund locator tool, which asks for a National Insurance number and date of birth and takes around five minutes to complete online. Nearly 500,000 people used the tool in the nine months to August 2026, and most claims are paid out within three weeks of applying.
For clients with children who have recently turned 18, or who are approaching that age, checking for a forgotten Child Trust Fund could be a quick way to release existing savings.
Ask us about your family’s savings.
📞01270 623731 (Nantwich)
📞01625 416380 (Wilmslow)
📞0161 526 1022 (Manchester)
💻Email [email protected]