CONFUSED parents have complained of receiving reduced child benefit payments on Friday morning.
The benefit is usually paid every four weeks and is worth £21.80 for the eldest child and £14.45 for subsequent children each week.
1
Parents have taken to social media to share confusion over unexpected payments from HMRC for child benefit – and being underpaid.
They have also been unable to get through to the child benefit help line due to phone issues.
One parent complained: “Is there an issue with child benefit payments? My bank shows only £36.25 being paid tomorrow instead of the usual amount.”
Another said: “Why has my child benefit changed from being paid monthly to weekly? My circumstances haven’t changed.”
And a third asked “Has anyone had a random child benefit payment paid today? I’ve been paid not even half of the amount I usually get a month and I’m so confused as to why!”
Confusion over the payments stems from a change made by HMRC to payment dates due to next week’s bank holidays.
HMRC has said that families getting child benefit who normally get paid every four weeks will get two separate payments.
The first will be paid today (May 27) and will be a weeks worth of child benefit.
A second payment will be made on Monday (May 30) and will be worth three weeks of the benefit.
Most read in Money
Those who normally get payments of child benefit on a weekly basis, like single parents, will also see a change to payments
They will see the money land in their bank account today instead of Monday.
But many have been left confused by the change.
One parent said: “Love to understand the logic of this. It was due Monday, why not just pay it Monday?”
Bank holidays can affect the usual dates for getting paid benefits, but usually only if your normal payment date falls on one of these holidays.
Child Benefit is usually paid on Monday or Tuesday.
There are two bank holidays next week – on Thursday and Friday.
The Queen is celebrating her Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years on the throne and there will be a four-day weekend to celebrate.
Many mums and dads have been left worried about being underpaid.
One parent said: “Was anybody else due child benefit payment today, and been massively underpaid ??”
Another asked: “… have you received your child benefit payment…and is it short by about 60 quid?!”
Parents unaware of the changes and trying to contact HMRC have been unable to get through on phone lines after “technical issues”.
HMRC customer support on Twitter replied to those unable to get through: “We’re aware of issues with the telephony lines.
“It’s under urgent investigation and hopefully the lines will be operating as normal soon.
“Apologies for any inconvenience.”
We pay for your stories!
Do you have a story for The Sun Online Money team?
