Over 1 Million Child Trust Funds Left Un accessed
Over 1 million Child Trust Funds (CTFs) remain un accessed. This is according to a recent report by the Public Accounts Committee.
More than £1.7bn of cash left untouched.
Introduced in 2002, CTFs aimed to help parents save for their children’s future.
These accounts were set up for children born between September 1, 2002, and January 2, 2011.
The government contributed a voucher of at least £250 to kickstart the journey. Additionally, family members could add up to £9,000 per year and all gains and interest were tax-free.
A staggering number have remained dormant. Over time they may have been forgotten. Others might have lost track of the necessary information. Additionally, providers may struggle to contact those who have moved and not updated their address.
They could represent a nice nest egg to help with a house deposit or to start investing for the future.
Finding Unclaimed Child Trust Funds
Contact the CTF Provider: The first step is to get in touch with the CTF provider who administered the account. If you are unsure about the provider, the government’s website offers a “Find a Child Trust Fund” tool to assist in locating the provider’s details.
Check with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC): The HMRC can provide information about CTFs, including the provider’s name, the child’s unique reference number, and other vital account details. . Child Trust Fund: Find a Child Trust Fund – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Corryn Wild, Director at Chartered Financial Planning firm Three Counties said “this is a surprising statistic. It’s often difficult to keep track accounts over the years. If you or your child was born between 2002-2011 it’s worth a look!”
