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| Child benefit: How much is it worth and how are the rules changing? | Child benefit: How much is it worth and how are the rules changing? |
| (21 days later) | |
| More families can now claim child benefit payments after Chancellor Jeremy Hunt increased the amount you can earn before it starts to be withdrawn. | |
| The government says the changes, which came into force on 6 April, will help more than half a million families. | |
| Who is eligible for child benefit and how much is it worth? | Who is eligible for child benefit and how much is it worth? |
| You can get child benefit if you're responsible for bringing up a child who is: | You can get child benefit if you're responsible for bringing up a child who is: |
| under 16 | under 16 |
| under 20 if they stay in approved education or training | under 20 if they stay in approved education or training |
| Only one person can claim child benefit for a child. There is no limit to how many children you can claim for. | Only one person can claim child benefit for a child. There is no limit to how many children you can claim for. |
| On 6 April 2024, it rose to: | |
| £25.60 a week for the eldest or only child, up from £24 | |
| £16.95 a week for younger children, up from £15.90 | |
| Child benefit is usually paid into a nominated bank account every four weeks. | Child benefit is usually paid into a nominated bank account every four weeks. |
| But if you're a single parent or receive certain other benefits, such as universal credit, you can receive the money weekly. | But if you're a single parent or receive certain other benefits, such as universal credit, you can receive the money weekly. |
| You can find out how much child benefit you may be entitled to at the moment by using the government calculator. | |
| The rules apply across the whole of the UK. | The rules apply across the whole of the UK. |
| How much can I earn and how is the High Income Child Benefit Charge changing? | How much can I earn and how is the High Income Child Benefit Charge changing? |
| In his 2024 Budget, the chancellor increased the amount you can earn before you start to lose child benefit. | |
| Previously, it was taken away entirely when one parent earned more than £60,000. This has been increased to £80,000. | |
| It won't start to be reduced until one parent earns more than £60,000 - up from £50,000. | |
| Payments are reduced as a result of the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC). | Payments are reduced as a result of the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC). |
| The HICBC rules have been criticised for unfairly penalising single parents and families with one high earner. | The HICBC rules have been criticised for unfairly penalising single parents and families with one high earner. |
| A household where two parents earn £60,000 - with a total household income of £120,000 - can get the full amount. | |
| But if a household has one parent who earns just above £60,000, their child benefit will be be reduced, and cut altogether once they earn more than £80,000. | |
| In the Budget, Mr Hunt also announced a consultation about letting HMRC collect information about all the adults in the child's house. | |
| This would mean that from April 2026, child benefit claims would be based on total household income instead of the highest earner's wage - a move that has been broadly welcomed. | |
| What does the Budget mean for you? | What does the Budget mean for you? |
| 'I earn £70,000 and can now get child benefit payments' | 'I earn £70,000 and can now get child benefit payments' |
| How do you apply for child benefit? | How do you apply for child benefit? |
| You can claim child benefit 48 hours after you've registered a birth, or as soon as a child comes to live with you. | You can claim child benefit 48 hours after you've registered a birth, or as soon as a child comes to live with you. |
| If you claim at a later point, payments can be backdated for up to three months. | If you claim at a later point, payments can be backdated for up to three months. |
| You can claim online, by post or by phone. | You can claim online, by post or by phone. |
| You need the following documents: | You need the following documents: |
| your child's birth or adoption certificate | your child's birth or adoption certificate |
| your bank or building society details | your bank or building society details |
| your National Insurance number | your National Insurance number |
| your partner's National Insurance number, if you have one | your partner's National Insurance number, if you have one |
| Only one parent can claim child benefit | Only one parent can claim child benefit |
| How does child benefit affect National Insurance credits? | How does child benefit affect National Insurance credits? |
| Claiming child benefit for a child under the age of 12 means you automatically get National Insurance (NI) credits, which count towards your state pension. | Claiming child benefit for a child under the age of 12 means you automatically get National Insurance (NI) credits, which count towards your state pension. |
| These credits can help fill gaps in your NI record if you're not working or if you don't earn enough to pay NI contributions. | These credits can help fill gaps in your NI record if you're not working or if you don't earn enough to pay NI contributions. |
| The government advises that you should still fill in the child benefit claim form, even if you opt out of getting payments, so that you can get NI credits. | The government advises that you should still fill in the child benefit claim form, even if you opt out of getting payments, so that you can get NI credits. |
| Doing so also means your child will automatically get an NI number when they turn 16. Otherwise they will have to apply for one. | Doing so also means your child will automatically get an NI number when they turn 16. Otherwise they will have to apply for one. |
| How much will the 2p National Insurance cut save me? | How much will the 2p National Insurance cut save me? |
| Check your National Insurance record | Check your National Insurance record |
| What happens if your family circumstances change? | What happens if your family circumstances change? |
| If a family splits up, the amount of child benefit paid depends on how many children there are, and where they live. | If a family splits up, the amount of child benefit paid depends on how many children there are, and where they live. |
| If you have two children and one stays with each parent, you would both get £25.60 a week for each child. | |
| If you share custody of one or more children, only one of you can claim child benefit for them. | If you share custody of one or more children, only one of you can claim child benefit for them. |
| The eldest will still be entitled to £25.60 and any younger children will get £16.95 each. | |
| If two families join together, the eldest child in the new family qualifies for the higher rate, and any other eligible children get the smaller amount. | If two families join together, the eldest child in the new family qualifies for the higher rate, and any other eligible children get the smaller amount. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Budget 2024 | Budget 2024 |
| Women | Women |
| Cost of Living | Cost of Living |