What You Need to Claim at 18
Before a provider releases the money, it has to check who you are. Most providers will ask for photo ID or a birth certificate, such as a passport, a provisional or full driving licence, or your birth certificate. You will usually also need proof of address dated within the last 3 months, such as a bank statement or utility bill.
Have these ready before you contact the provider, and check its website for its own list, as requirements vary. Once your identity is confirmed, you can withdraw the money or move it into an adult ISA.
Watch Out for Scams
Fraudsters know that young people are being told to look for unclaimed accounts. HMRC is writing to account holders by post, so treat any email, text or phone call that claims to be from HMRC about a Child Trust Fund with suspicion, and never share your bank details or login through a link.
You can forward suspicious texts to 60599 and suspicious emails to [email protected]. Finding your account through GOV.UK is free, so there is no reason to pay a claims company to do it for you.
If the Account Holder Can’t Manage Their Own Money
Tens of thousands of accounts belong to young people with special educational needs or disabilities. If the account holder lacks the mental capacity to manage the money themselves, their family usually needs legal authority from the Court of Protection in England and Wales before the provider can release it.
The application takes time and has a fee, which in some cases can be close to the value of the account. If this applies to your family, speak to the provider first, as it can explain what it needs, and check GOV.UK for help with Court of Protection fees.
