HMRC Launches Campaign to Help Young Adults Access Unclaimed Child Trust Funds

Apr 24, 2026, 11:02

Introduction

The UK tax authority, HMRC, has started a campaign to contact all 21-year-olds who have unclaimed Child Trust Funds (CTFs). The goal is to help them access savings that average £2,200 per account. Around £1.5 billion remains unclaimed across 750,000 accounts, even though most recipients are now old enough to claim.

Main Body

Child Trust Funds are long-term, tax-free savings accounts that were set up for every child born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011. The government initially deposited £250 into each account, with an extra £250 for children from low-income families or those in local authority care. Account holders can take control at age 16 and withdraw the money at 18. According to HMRC data, two-thirds of the six million recipients are now over 18, yet an estimated 750,000 accounts remain unclaimed. As part of a new awareness campaign, the government will write to all 21-year-olds with unclaimed accounts. Economic Secretary to the Treasury Lucy Rigby stated that many young people are unaware of their funds. She emphasized that the campaign aims to ensure these savings can be accessed to support the transition to adult life. The Share Foundation, a charity that helps people find their CTFs, welcomed the move but argued that further action is necessary. Earlier this month, the organization called for the automatic release of funds from HMRC accounts to owners when they turn 21. It estimates that this measure could immediately pay out up to £286 million. CTFs have since been replaced by Junior Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), which work similarly but do not include government contributions. HMRC guidance notes that the most common reasons for lost funds are that account holders or their guardians have misplaced records or forgotten about the accounts. Every young person receives a National Insurance notification before their 16th birthday that includes information on locating CTFs. The tax authority advises against using third-party agents who charge fees—sometimes up to £350 or 25% of the account value—and instead recommends searching ''find your child trust fund'' on Gov.uk or using the free, approved tool provided by the Share Foundation.

Conclusion

The government''s current campaign involves sending letters directly to eligible young adults. However, organizations like the Share Foundation continue to push for automatic payment, which they see as a more complete solution. The fact remains that hundreds of thousands of people have not yet claimed money that is rightfully theirs.

Vocabulary Learning

awareness campaign
A series of actions intended to make people know about something important.宣傳活動，旨在提高公眾對某事的認識。
Example:As part of a new awareness campaign, the government will write to all 21-year-olds with unclaimed accounts.
misplaced
Lost because it was put in the wrong place and cannot be found.放錯地方的，遺失的。
Example:The most common reasons for lost funds are that account holders or their guardians have misplaced records or forgotten about the accounts.
push for
To demand or try hard to achieve something.極力爭取，推動某事。
Example:Organizations like the Share Foundation continue to push for automatic payment, which they see as a more complete solution.
third-party
A person or group other than the two main people or groups involved in a situation.第三方，指除了主要雙方以外的個人或團體。
Example:The tax authority advises against using third-party agents who charge fees—sometimes up to £350 or 25% of the account value.
transition
The process of changing from one state or condition to another.過渡，從一種狀態轉變到另一種狀態的過程。
Example:The campaign aims to ensure these savings can be accessed to support the transition to adult life.

Sentence Learning

Child Trust Funds are long-term, tax-free savings accounts that were set up for every child born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011.
This sentence uses a relative clause ('that were set up') to describe the accounts, and passive voice ('were set up') to focus on the action rather than the doer.呢句句子使用關係從句（'that were set up'）嚟描述帳戶，同埋被動語態（'were set up'）嚟強調動作而唔係施動者。
According to HMRC data, two-thirds of the six million recipients are now over 18, yet an estimated 750,000 accounts remain unclaimed.
This sentence uses the linking word 'yet' to show contrast between the fact that most recipients are over 18 and the fact that many accounts are still unclaimed.呢句句子使用連接詞 'yet' 嚟顯示對比：大部分收款人已超過18歲，但仍有好多帳戶未被認領。
CTFs have since been replaced by Junior Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), which work similarly but do not include government contributions.
This sentence combines passive voice ('have been replaced') with a non-defining relative clause ('which work similarly') and uses 'but' to contrast similarity with lack of government contributions.呢句句子結合被動語態（'have been replaced'）、非限制性關係從句（'which work similarly'），並用 'but' 對比相似性同冇政府供款嘅情況。
The Share Foundation, a charity that helps people find their CTFs, welcomed the move but argued that further action is necessary.
This sentence uses a relative clause ('that helps people find their CTFs') to describe the charity, and the linking word 'but' to contrast the welcoming of the move with the argument for more action.呢句句子使用關係從句（'that helps people find their CTFs'）嚟描述慈善機構，並用連接詞 'but' 對比歡迎行動同要求更多行動嘅主張。
The tax authority advises against using third-party agents who charge fees—sometimes up to £350 or 25% of the account value—and instead recommends searching 'find your child trust fund' on Gov.uk or using the free, approved tool provided by the Share Foundation.
This sentence uses a relative clause ('who charge fees') to specify the agents, and passive voice ('provided by') to describe the tool. The structure contrasts the advice against agents with the recommendation for official methods.呢句句子使用關係從句（'who charge fees'）嚟指明代理，並用被動語態（'provided by'）嚟描述工具。結構對比咗反對使用代理嘅建議同推薦官方方法。