MILLIONS of households are entitled to child benefit payments - but getting them can take time.
In 2021, 7.74 million families were claiming child benefit, a fall of roughly 95,000 when compared to the year before.
Most parents in the UK can claim child benefit but there are still certain eligibility rules.
You can claim if you're responsible for a child who is under 16 or under 20 and in approved education or training.
Only one person in the household can get child benefit, but there is no limit to how many children you can claim for.
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Here we explain everything you need to know about claiming child benefit.
How long does it take to claim child benefit?
It can take up to 16 weeks to process a new child benefit claim.
It may be even longer if you're new to the UK though.
Child benefit can be backdated for up to three months.
Who is eligible?
To be considered responsible for a child, you will live with them or pay at least the same amount as child benefit rates to look after them - for example, for food, clothes or pocket money.
It's important to note that eligibility changes if a child goes into hospital or care and if your child starts to live with someone else.
You’ll usually 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.
If both parties claim then HMRC will decide who receives the child benefit if you cannot agree.
Foster parents can also claim child benefit as long as the local council is not paying anything towards their accommodation or maintenance.
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Legal guardians or parents who are adopting a child can also apply for the support as soon as the child comes to live with them.
If you leave the UK, you'll only be able to claim for a short period of time, for example on holiday or for medical treatment.
For those who move to the UK, you can claim child benefit if you have the right to reside.
If you're not sure about your eligibility you can contact the Child Benefit office.
Is child benefit means-tested?
Child benefit is a non-means-tested benefit payable for each child.
However, the High Income Child Benefit Charge kicks in at £50,000, meaning you'll start to be taxed on the money you claim.
From your self-assessment tax return, HMRC calculates how much you owe them in over-payments which must either be paid in full or negotiated to be paid in instalments.
But once you start earning £60,000 or more, you'll lose all of your benefit through tax.
Even if you start having to pay tax, you can financially profit from claiming.
You could put the child benefit into a high-interest savings account to earn money before having to pay the tax back.
Other reasons to claim include the automatic NI enrolment and state pension protection.
How much is it?
Parents can claim £87.20 a month in child benefit for their first child - or £21.80 a week.
They can also claim £57.8 for each extra child, which works out as £14.45 a week.
This comes as a slight increase from the previous year where parents could get £84.60 a month for their first child and £56 for each extra child.
For the 2022-2023 tax year, a typical family with two children can on average claim £145 a month.
How to claim
You can claim child benefit as soon as you’ve registered the birth of your child, or they come to live with you.
Given the long processing times, it's best to start the application process as soon as possible.
To apply, you'll need to fill in a Child Benefit claim form CH2 and send it to the Child Benefit Office.
The address to send it to is as follows:
Child Benefit Office (GB)
Washington
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
NE88 1ZD
Note that you'll need a stamp in order to send off the application form, and these can be purchased from the Post Office.
