His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is urging people earning less than £80,000 per year to claim a benefit worth up to £1,331 annually.
Child Benefit is a benefit that can be claimed by parents and carers to help cover the cost of raising their children. If you’re responsible for raising a child who is under the age of 16, or under 20 if they stay in approved education or training, then you can get an allowance from HMRC every month. The allowance is paid to you for each child you have and if you’re claiming Child Benefit, you’ll also gain National Insurance credits which count towards your State Pension, plus a National Insurance number for your child without them having to apply.
The benefit is paid at two different rates – a higher payment for the eldest or only child, and a lower payment for any additional children.
Currently, parents or carers can get £25.60 per week for the eldest or only child, which over the course of a year would amount to £1,331.20.
For each additional child you can currently get an extra £16.95 per week, making the annual total for two children £2,212.60 per year, or £3,094 per year if you have three children.
These rates are increasing by 1.7% from April 6, with the eldest or only child payment rising from £25.60 per week to £26.05, while the rate for any additional children will go up from £16.95 to £17.25.
So from April 6, parents with one child could get £1,354.60 per year, parents with two children could get £2,251.60, and parents with three children could get £3,148.60.
HMRC is urging parents who aren’t currently getting the benefit to submit a claim and urged high earners to make sure they aren’t missing out.
The maximum earning amount to receive any Child Benefit is £80,000, although if your income is more than £60,000 per year you may have to pay the High Income Child Benefit Charge.
In a message on X (formerly Twitter) HMRC issued an important reminder for people to check their eligibility, particularly those on a high income. The government department said: “Opted out of Child Benefit payments because of the High Income Child Benefit Charge?
“The amount you or your partner can earn before paying the charge in now £60k, so you may be missing out on a cash boost. Opt in online or in the HMRC app.”
If you or your partner earn £60,000 or less per year then you can claim the full amount of Child Benefit if the child lives with you, or if you’re paying the same weekly amount as the benefit towards looking after them. Only one parent or carer can claim it so you can decide between yourselves who gets it.
You can claim Child Benefit 48 hours after you’ve registered the birth of your child, or once a child comes to live with you and it can be backdated for up to three months.
