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Child Trust Fund UK: How to Claim Your Money and What to Do With It

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If you were born in the UK between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011, the government opened a Child Trust Fund (CTF) in your name with a voucher worth £250–£500 (or more if your family was eligible for extra payments). These accounts have been growing for over a decade. The average CTF is now worth around £2,000, with some worth significantly more. Yet an estimated 1.8 million accounts worth over £1.8 billion remain unclaimed. If you turned 18 and haven't claimed yours — or you're a parent whose child is approaching 18 — here's everything you need to know.

What Is a Child Trust Fund?

A Child Trust Fund (CTF) was a government savings scheme for children born between 2002 and 2011. The government seeded each account with at least £250 at birth (or £500 for lower-income families), with additional vouchers at age 7. Parents, family, and friends could contribute up to £9,000/year tax-free. The accounts were invested in either stakeholder (low-cost index fund) or cash accounts, chosen by parents when the account was set up. The money belongs to the child and cannot be accessed until they turn 18. HMRC issued vouchers to all eligible families — but if no provider was chosen within 12 months, HMRC opened a default CTF with one of several designated providers.
  • •Eligibility: born 1 Sep 2002 – 2 Jan 2011 in UK
  • •Government seeded with £250 (or £500 for lower-income families)
  • •Additional contribution at age 7
  • •Family could contribute up to £9,000/year
  • •Accessible only when the child turns 18

How to Find Your Child Trust Fund

If you've lost track of your CTF (very common if you moved house, parents divorced, or simply weren't told about it), HMRC has a free tracing service. Visit gov.uk/child-trust-funds and use the 'Find a Child Trust Fund' tool. You'll need your National Insurance number and your parents' or guardians' NI numbers if you're under 18. HMRC will tell you the name of the CTF provider (not the balance). Once you know the provider, contact them directly for your account balance and to arrange access. If you turned 18 and still can't access the money, providers have processes for verifying identity and releasing funds.
  • •Trace your CTF: gov.uk/child-trust-funds → 'Find a Child Trust Fund'
  • •HMRC tells you the provider name (not the balance)
  • •Contact the provider directly to check balance and access
  • •You'll need: NI number, parents' NI numbers (if applicable), proof of identity
  • •Common providers: OneFamily, Foresters, Yorkshire Building Society, Nationwide

Accessing Your CTF at 18

When you turn 18, you gain full control of your CTF. The provider should contact you directly, but if they don't (because they have outdated contact details), you'll need to reach out. Most providers require ID verification (passport or driving licence) and updated contact details before releasing funds. Once verified, you can: withdraw the cash directly to your bank account, transfer to a Stocks and Shares ISA (to continue the investment tax-free — providers must facilitate this transfer), or convert to a cash ISA. If your 18th birthday has passed but you haven't accessed the account, the money is still safely held and earning (or invested) — you can claim it at any time.
  • •Provider should contact you at 18 — check if they have current details
  • •Identity verification required: passport/driving licence, proof of address
  • •Options: withdraw cash, transfer to Stocks and Shares ISA, or cash ISA
  • •CTF → ISA transfer: doesn't count against your £20,000 annual ISA allowance
  • •Money never expires — claim it even years after turning 18

What to Do With Your CTF Money

The best use of CTF funds depends on your age and financial situation. If you're 18–25 and have no high-interest debt, consider transferring to a Stocks and Shares ISA to continue the investment's tax-free growth. The Lifetime ISA (LISA) is also worth considering — you can contribute up to £4,000/year and receive a 25% government bonus (up to £1,000/year), making it excellent for a first home deposit (if under 40) or retirement savings. If you have student loan debt, don't rush to pay it off — the interest rate and terms often mean it's not worth prioritising over building savings. If you have high-interest debt (credit cards, overdraft), paying that down first is usually the highest guaranteed return.
  • •No high-interest debt? Transfer to Stocks and Shares ISA for continued growth
  • •First home buyer under 40? Consider Lifetime ISA for 25% bonus
  • •High-interest debt? Pay that down first — guaranteed return
  • •Student loan? Usually not worth prioritising over ISA savings
  • •Emergency fund? If you have no safety net, consider building one first

Frequently Asked Questions

My parents never told me about my CTF — is it still there?+

Yes — the money is safe and ring-fenced. Use the HMRC tracing service to find the provider, then contact them directly.

My CTF is in a cash account — should I switch it before I claim?+

If you're over 16, you can ask to switch your CTF to a stocks and shares account or to a new provider. Given typical CTF timescales, a cash CTF is likely underperforming a stocks version.

Can parents still contribute to a CTF after 2011?+

Yes — even though new CTFs can't be opened, contributions to existing CTFs (up to £9,000/year tax-free) are still allowed for under-18s.

What if I'm in care or have a disability — can I access my CTF differently?+

Special rules exist for children in care, including HMRC managing the account and additional government contributions. Contact HMRC or the provider for details.

#child trust fund#ctf uk#young adults money#claim ctf

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