All young people urged to claim Child Trust Fund (CTF) worth over £2,000 - here's how

Hundreds of thousands of young people in the UK could be missing out on money that’s already theirs. HMRC says around 758,000 young adults have not yet claimed their Child Trust Fund (CTF) and many don’t even know the account exists. 

If you were born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011, you almost certainly have a Child Trust Fund waiting for you. And it could give you a helpful financial head start. 

What is a Child Trust Fund? 

A Child Trust Fund is a long-term, tax‑free savings account the government set up for all children born between 2002 and early 2011. 

Most accounts began with a £250 government payment (some families got more). Parents could add money too, and many accounts have grown over time. 

How much is a Child Trust Fund worth in 2026? 

According to the latest figures, the average Child Trust Fund is worth £2,242 in 2026. That’s enough money to get you a head start in life when you’re considering career options away from home, further training or next steps in general.  

Some are worth even more, particularly if your parents made any contributions towards them. Whatever your balance, it’s money that belongs to you. 

Who can claim a Child Trust Fund? 

You can claim your Child Trust Fund if: 

• you were born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011

• you are now 18 or older 

• or you are 16 or 17 and want to take control of the account 

How to find your Child Trust Fund  

If you already know which bank holds your account, you can just get in touch with them directly. But, if you’re not sure, don’t worry. Lots of people don’t know. The government made a simple form to help you find it.  

It’s on the government website and it’s used to ask HMRC to trace your Child Trust Fund for you. It’s totally free.  

You’ll need certain info like your date of birth and your National Insurance number to find it.  

What to do if you don’t have your National Insurance number?  

If you don’t have your National Insurance number, download the HMRC app where you’ll be able to find it and save it in your digital wallet. More than a million people under 25 have downloaded and are already using it; it’s handy for other info too, such as PAYE, your tax code, and your employment history.  

Key takeaways 

• Around 758,000 young people still haven’t claimed their Child Trust Fund (CTF). 

• If you were born between 1 Sept 2002 and 2 Jan 2011, you almost certainly have one. 

• The average CTF is worth £2,242 in 2026 and some are worth much more. 

• You can claim it from age 18, or take control of it from age 16. 

• If you know your provider, contact them directly to claim. 

• If you don’t, use the free GOV.UK Child Trust Fund finder to locate your account. 

• You’ll need your National Insurance number  but you can find it in the HMRC app if you don’t have it handy; the app is also useful for checking your tax code, PAYE info, and job history.