Families who claim Child Benefit will see an increase in their
payment next week, says HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
From 7 April 2025, parents will receive £26.05 per week - or
£1,354.60 a year - for the eldest or only child and £17.25 per
week - or £897 a year - for each additional child. Child Benefit
is usually paid every 4 weeks and will automatically be paid into
a bank account. There is no limit to how many children parents
can claim for.
The quickest and easiest way for parents and carers to claim,
view and manage Child Benefit payments is by downloading the free
and secure HMRC app. A new function in
the app means they get a notification once their claim is
received and payment in as little as 3 days.
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC's
Director General for Customer Services, said:
Extra pounds count and Child Benefit can give your household
budget a boost. Claiming online or managing your Child Benefit
payments via the HMRC
app is quick and easy so, if you haven't already, go to GOV.UK to
start your claim today.
Families have used the app more than 6 million times in the last
year to manage their Child Benefit payments, including:
- making a new claim
- updating a change in circumstances
- amending personal or bank details
- adding additional children to a claim
- viewing or printing Proof of Entitlement to Child
Benefit
- telling us their children are continuing in full time,
non-advanced education or approved training
Over 1.2 million parents have claimed their Child Benefit through
the HMRCapp or via
the digital service, since
the service went online in May 2023. More than 87% of claims are
now digital.
Families are encouraged to claim Child Benefit as soon as they
can after their baby is born as it can only be backdated up to 3
months.
To make a claim for Child Benefit, parents will need to create an
online HMRCaccount and will need:
- child's birth or adoption certificate
- bank details
- National Insurance number for themselves and their partner,
if they have one
- child's original birth or adoption certificate and passport
or travel document, for children born outside the UK.
If either the claimant or their partner has an individual income
of between £60,000 and £80,000, the higher earner will be subject
to the High Income Child Benefit Charge. For families who fall
into this category, the online Child Benefit tax calculator
provides an estimate of how much benefit they will receive, and
what the charge may be.
In the Spring Statement, Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced a new service as
part of the government's Plan for Change, that will cut red tape
for eligible employed parents who are liable to the High Income
Child Benefit Charge.
From the summer, families will have the option to report their
Child Benefit payments and pay the charge directly through their
PAYE tax code instead of filing a Self Assessment tax return.
The new digital service will be optional and those who choose to
pay the charge through their Self Assessment can continue to do
so.
Families who have previously opted out of Child Benefit payments
can opt back in and restart their payments
quickly and easily online or via the HMRCapp.
A person living in a household subject to the High Income Child
Benefit Charge will still receive National Insurance credits if
they claim Child Benefit but choose to opt out of receiving
payments.
Further Information
Information on Child Benefit.
The Child Benefit rates for the 2024 to 2025 tax year were £25.60
a week for your first or only child and £16.95 for each
additional child.
HMRC will communicate
the launch of digital service directly to affected parents and
further details and guidance will be available on GOV.UK when the
service launches.
Child Benefit claimants receive National Insurance (NI) credits
which count towards their future eligibility for the State
Pension. This can help people who are not in paid employment and
not receiving NI credits through their employer or other routes,
such as Universal Credit.
Claiming Child Benefit also makes sure the child automatically
gets their National Insurance number when they turn 16.
The Child Benefit award notice can be used to prove you qualify for Child
Benefit and can be downloaded and printed from the
HMRC app or from
GOV.UK. Parents and carers may need proof of entitlement to
access other benefits and services.
The High Income Child Benefit Charge threshold increased to
£60,000 on 6 April 2024.
