HMRC urges parents to act before Christmas to get payment worth £1,331 a year
HMRC has urged new parents to claim Child Benefit as they could receive their first payment by Christmas.
Today, the tax office revealed that over one million families have claimed Child Benefit using HMRC's new online service or app since its launch earlier this year. Now, it has urged new parents to put in a claim as if successful, they could receive their first payment within three working days.
Child benefit is paid at two weekly rates – £25.60 for your eldest or only child and £16.95 for any additional children. Overall, it is worth up to £1,331 a year for the first child and £881 a year for the rest. You can register for Child Benefit 48 hours after birth and can claim it right up until they are 16 years old – or 20 if they are in full-time education. You can also claim Child Benefit if you have adopted – or are solely responsible – for a child.
Claims can be backdated by up to 12 weeks, so if you haven't claimed, you could potentially receive a hefty payment before Christmas. Once you claim, you are then paid the benefit every four weeks.
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Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said: "Having a baby is a busy and expensive time but claiming Child Benefit online or via the app means you’ll get cash in your bank account as soon as possible. Claim now and you could get your first payment in time for your baby’s first Christmas. Download the HMRC app today.”
To get started, parents will need to create an online account for HMRC services and to make their claim, families will need:
- Child’s birth or adoption certificate
- Bank details
- National Insurance number for themselves and their partner – if they have one
- Child's original birth or adoption certificate and passport or travel document, for children born outside the UK
Since launching its online services, HMRC says that 87% of new claims each month are made through the app or online. The HMRC app also allows claimants to track payments and update their details if needed, such as their address or bank details.
However, before claiming it's important to know that if either parent has an individual income between £60,000 and £80,000, the higher earner will be subject to the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC). For families who fall into this category, HMRC's online Child Benefit tax calculator provides an estimate of how Child Benefit they will receive, and what the tax charge may be.
Those who need to pay the charge must do so through self-assessment. If families claimed Child Benefit before April 6, 2024, and the higher earner had an individual income of over £50,000, they may have to pay the tax charge for 2023 to 2024. If they need to pay the charge, they will need to register for self-assessment. However, the deadline for registering was October 5, 2024. If you missed this, you could receive a penalty. You will then need to pay what you owe by January 31, 2025.
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