Any child born from 1 September 2002, and is eligible for Child Benefit, will automatically receive a voucher worth at least £250 from the Government - which must be invested with a registered provider. This amount rises to £500 for children from low-income families, who also qualify for full Child Tax Credit.

I don't work for the Police Service. Can I open a PMAS Child Trust Fund?

Yes. You can open a PMAS Child Trust Fund even if you don't work for the Police. It is a Government requirement that we make our stakeholder account available to the general public.

We have decided to make all our funds – including non-stakeholder funds – available to you, to give you the flexibility you might need in the future.

Who opens the Child Trust Fund account?

The Child Trust Fund is opened by a person with parental responsibility for the child.

This person - known as the 'registered contact' - is the main point of contact for the account, and has responsibility for it until the child reaches 16. At this point the child can take over the responsibility for their account for themselves, although they can't access the money until they're 18.

What happens if I don't use the voucher?

If you don't open a Child Trust Fund within 12 months of receiving your voucher HM Revenue & Customs will automatically open an account for your child with an allocated provider.

Make sure you open the account yourself – it will give you more flexibility to choose the most appropriate account for you and your child.

Can I exchange the voucher for cash?

No. It can only be used to open a Child Trust Fund.

Will the Government make any further payments to the account?

The Government has announced it will make a further payment of at least £250 when your child reaches seven.

What are the charges?

We make a small charge for managing the account. Current charges for each fund are set out below:

Fund	Current initial charge	Current yearly charge
Guaranteed Cash Fund	0%	0.75%
Cautious Managed Fund	1.5%	1.5%
Balanced Growth Fund	0%	1.25%

You can find out more about the account charges on the key features page.

What is lifestyling?

If you invest in the Cautious Managed Fund or Balanced Growth Fund, the account will be lifestyled.

Lifestyling means that we will manage the child's account so that, starting shortly before the child reaches 13, their money is gradually moved into a less risky fund each year. This is to help make the account more stable as the child approaches 18.

You can opt out of lifestyling if you wish.

Can I save for my older children too?

If you have children who were born before 1 September 2002 they don't qualify for the Child Trust Fund.

If you would like to start saving for them as well, and you’re eligible for Police Mutual products, you could consider the PMAS Children's Bond. You can set up a Children's Bond for your child at any age, until they reach 16.

How will I know how the account is doing?

We'll send you a statement every year to show how the account is doing. You can telephone us on 0845 88 22 999 if you want a statement at any other time. Have your account details with you when you call.

How do I apply?

Before applying make sure you’ve read the product information and key features pages.

You can:

Apply online
Call us on 0845 88 22 999
Print out an application form and return it to the freepost address on the form

What do I need to hand to complete the application?

You’ll need to have your Child Trust Fund voucher and – if you want to set up a direct debit – your bank details with you. The account won’t be set up until we’ve received your voucher.

Where can I find out more?

The Government has a website dedicated to the Child Trust Fund, which can be found at http://www.childtrustfund.gov.uk

PMAS Child Trust Fund

Frequently asked questions

How much will my child receive?