Child Benefit alert: HMRC calls parents to claim £1,331 a year ‘for Christmas’ but payments could be delayed

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is urging households to apply for Child Benefit “as soon as possible” but claimants are being warned payments for some families will be late this month.

Earlier today, the tax authority announced that more than one million families have successfully claimed Child Benefit through its new digital service launched this year.

It is reminding new parents to check their eligibility and submit claims through either GOV.UK or the HMRC app.

According to HMRC, the digital approach has proven highly popular, with 87 per cent of new claims now being made online or through the app each month. However, the Christmas season is disrupting when parents will get paid their Child Benefit.

Child Benefit is usually paid every four weeks on either a Monday or Tuesday. Single parents or those on benefits are able to get weekly financially support. Households expecting a payment on Monday, December 23, and Tuesday, December 24, will likely be paid on time.

Any Child Benefit due on Monday, December 30, will not be delivered into accounts until the next day, on Tuesday, December 31 (New Year’s Eve) for recipients in Northern Ireland.

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Claimants who are expecting to be paid on December 31 will see it go in as normal. Payments due on December 30 in other parts of the UK are set to appear on that day as usual.

Parents who apply digitally can receive their first payment within just three working days, potentially securing vital financial support in time for their baby’s first Christmas. Child Benefit currently provides £1,331 a year for the first child and £881 annually for each additional child.

They can submit their claim just 48 hours after registering their baby’s birth, making it one of the quickest benefits to access. The app enables parents to track payments, update personal details, and monitor when their next payment will arrive.

Those interested in applying for Child Benefit will need create an online HMRC account to access the service and provide the following information to the Government department:

• their child’s birth or adoption certificate
• bank details
• national Insurance number for themselves and their partner, if they have one
• their child’s original birth or adoption certificate and passport or travel document, for children born outside the UK

Parents can backdate their claims by up to 12 weeks, making it beneficial to apply as soon as possible. First benefit payments are usually received within three working days.

Families who claimed Child Benefit before April 6, 2024, may need to pay a tax charge if the higher earner’s income exceeded £50,000 in 2023 to 2024. This is know as the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC).

Those affected by this levy must register for Self Assessment. Families who previously opted out of payments due to the £50,000 threshold can restart their claims online or through the HMRC app.

In the Government’s call to action, HMRC reminding Britons that Child Benefit offers more than just financial support, with claimants receiving valuable National Insurance credits.

These credits contribute towards future state pension eligibility, particularly benefiting those not in paid employment or receiving NI credits through other means. Workers need to have made 35 years worth of National Insurance contributions to get the full, new state pension.

Even households affected by the High Income Child Benefit Charge can still receive NI credits if they claim but opt out of payments.

Furthermore, Child Benefit ensures children automatically receive their National Insurance number when they turn 16.

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Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s director general for Customer Services, emphasised the importance of claiming digitally for new parents to help with the growing cost of raising children.

“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,” she said.

However, Lloyd called on families to put forward their application as soon as possible to ensure they do not lose out on thousands pounds in benefit support.

She added: “Claim now and you could get your first payment in time for your baby’s first Christmas. Download the HMRC app today.”

Those interested in applying for Child Benefit can contact HMRC directly by phoning the support’s specific helpline on 0300 200 3100. Alternatively, people can get support via the tax authority’s app.