HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)
Collects taxes and National Insurance and pays Child Benefit. You deal with it for Income Tax, Self Assessment, PAYE and your tax code.
Home » Benefits and pensions » Child Benefit
Child Benefit
A regular payment if you are responsible for a child under 16, or under 20 in approved education or training. Claims can only be backdated 3 months.
Official links
| Official source | Applies to |
|---|---|
| GOV.UK: Child Benefit www.gov.uk/child-benefit | Whole UK |
Who handles it
Step by step
- Decide who will claim: only one person can get it for each child, and that person gets National Insurance credits towards their State Pension.
- Claim online from 48 hours after registering the birth, or as soon as the child comes to live with you.
- If the birth was registered outside the UK, send the original birth certificate and the child's passport or travel document.
- Tell the Child Benefit Office about changes, such as your child leaving education.
What you need
- Your child's birth or adoption certificate, if you have it
- Your bank or building society details
- Your National Insurance number and your partner's, if you have them
- For births registered abroad: the original certificate and the child's passport or travel document
Common mistakes
- Claiming late: you only get up to 3 months backdated.
- Not claiming at all because of a high income. You can claim and opt out of payments to keep the National Insurance credits.
- Both parents claiming for the same child.