MILLIONS of families can now claim benefits worth up to £1,248 per child online.
After a whopping 47 years, parents can now claim child benefit on the government website for the first time.
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Families claiming child benefit have always had to fill out a paper form, post it, and wait as long as 16 weeks for their first payment.
But now, the claims process on Gov.uk takes just 10 minutes and you could even get the cash in as little as three days.
Child benefit payments are dished out to parents to help with the costs of childcare.
The government usually issues them every four weeks.
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At the moment, parents can claim £1,248 a year for their first or only child.
For any additional children, they can claim an extra £826.80 a year.
Parents tend to qualify for child benefit if they live in the UK and are responsible for a child under 16.
But you can also claim the help for a child under 20 if they are in approved education or training.
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The claiming process used to take a while but now parents can simply log on to the website and start a claim.
It’s probably a good idea to create a Government Gateway account before you start your claim – you can do this with a passport and other proof of ID.
This can also be done in advance of a child’s birth to save time later on.
A full list of the documents needed for proof of identity can be found on GOV.UK.
When ready to make the claim, applicants should have the following documents to hand:
- your child’s birth or adoption certificate
- your bank or building society details
- your National Insurance number
- your partner’s National Insurance number, if you have one
Parents with children over three months old who haven’t yet claimed child benefit are being urged to do so as soon as possible as they can receive up to three months’ backdated payments.
Those with children over six months old may need to download and print their completed claim form and send it through the post still though.
Nigel Huddleston, financial secretary to the Treasury, said: “Family time is precious, especially when you have a newborn baby, so it’s great news that HMRC is enabling parents to save time on claiming their child benefit online so they can focus on what truly matters.”
What is child benefit and who is eligible?
Child benefit is paid to parents to help with the costs of childcare.
Payments are usually made every four weeks, plus by claiming child benefit you also get National Insurance credits that count towards your State Pension.
Currently, parents can claim £24 per week for their first or only child – £96 a month and £1,248 a year.
But, from April the rate for your eldest or only child will go up to £25.60 a week – equating to around £102.40 a month or £1,334.86 a year.
For any additional children, they can claim an extra £15.90 a week per child – £63.60 a month and £826.80 a year.
And, from April for every other child, you’ll get £16.95 a week, which is £67.80 a month and £883.82 per year.
You normally qualify for child benefit if you live in the UK and are responsible for a child under 16.
Parents can also claim the support for a child under 20 if they are in approved education or training.
When two or more people share the responsibility of caring for a child, it can only be claimed by one person.
You’ll be responsible for a child if you live with them or you are paying at least the same amount as child benefit towards looking after them.
This might mean you are paying the equivalent amount of child benefit on food, clothes or pocket money.
You should bear in mind, eligibility changes if a child goes into hospital or care and if your child starts to live with someone else.
Usually, you get child benefit for eight weeks after your child goes to live with a friend or relative – as long as they don’t make a claim.
But it can continue for longer if you make contributions to your child’s upkeep.
Foster parents can also claim child benefit, as long as the council is not paying anything towards their accommodation or maintenance.
Legal guardians or parents adopting a child can also apply for the benefit, but the child has to be living with them.
You will only be able to claim for a short period if you leave the UK, for example, if you go on holiday or for medical treatment.
For anyone not sure about eligibility, you can contact the Child Benefit Office.
What is the high-income child benefit charge?
If either parent or carer starts earning over £50,000, they have to start paying the high-income child benefit charge.
This means you have to pay back 1% of your child benefit for every £100 of income earned over the £50,000 threshold.
Once you reach £60,000 of yearly income you have to repay the full amount of child benefit received.
Parents have been caught out by the complicated rules and extra charges and landed with bills for thousands of pounds.
It’s up to parents to notify HMRC if they are liable for the charge and they must file a self-assessment tax return to pay it.
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Meanwhile, millions of households on benefits face a pay boost delay due to how their welfare cash is paid.
Plus, here are 17 big money changes in 2024 and what they mean for you – including a £1,800 pay rise for millions and free childcare.
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