Introduction

Under the Child Benefit Act (2005), you can claim child benefit if you are responsible for raising a child. A child is defined as someone under the age of 16 or under 20 in approved education or training. Only one person can claim child benefit for a child which is paid every 4 weeks. There is no limit on the number of children. Claiming child benefit creates automatic benefits, namely your National Insurance credits which count towards State Pensions, in addition, your child will automatically get a National Insurance number at age 16. If you or your Partner earn an annual salary of over £50,000 then you may have to pay back some of your Child Benefit in taxes

Current rates (Feb 2021)

If you’re paid too much or too little, please contact the Child Benefit Office.

www.gov.uk/report-changes-child-benefit

The benefit cap may affect the total amount of benefits you get, including Child Benefit.

www.gov.uk/benefit-cap

If these circumstances change, please report this to the Child Benefit Office:

www.gov.uk/report-changes-child-benefit

How and when Child Benefit is paid

Child Benefit is paid every 4 weeks on a Monday or Tuesday.

You can have the money paid weekly if you are a single parent or you are on benefits such as Income Support. The money can be paid into any account (apart from a Nationwide Cashbuilder account)

Child Benefit and your State Pension

If your child is under 12 and you’re unemployed or don’t earn enough to pay National Insurance contributions, you can receive National Insurance credits through Child Benefit.

These credits may count towards your State Pension, so you do not have gaps in your National Insurance record.

The family splits or joins

If you both claim for the same child, only one parent will claim Child Benefit for them, there are separate rules for family splits/joins.

Moving to or away from the UK

Living Abroad
You may be able to get Child Benefit if you go to live in certain countries or if you’re a Crown servant.

If you’ve moved to the UK
You may be able to get Child Benefit if you have moved to the UK and you have a ‘right to reside’.

If your child’s birth was registered outside the UK then you will need to apply for a new birth certificate, for you will need their original birth certificate (If you’ve lost the original you can order a new birth certificate) and their passport or travel document used to enter the UK

For further information see:-
www.gov.uk/right-to-reside

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