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New parents may miss child benefit payments by delaying claims

HMRC says backdating is limited to three months, and eligibility depends on income, with benefits reducing above £60,000 and stopping at £80,000.

Reported · Written up by our desk · North America

BBC Business reports that HM Revenue and Customs says thousands of new parents fail to claim child benefit soon after a baby is born, which can leave them missing payments they would otherwise receive. The allowance is £27.05 a week for a first child and £17.90 a week for each additional child.

The outlet says HMRC data shows parents of nearly a third of children eligible for child benefit do not make a claim before their baby's first birthday. Because child benefit can be backdated only for up to three months from the date HMRC receives the claim, some families could lose hundreds of pounds if they wait too long.

According to BBC Business, child benefit is generally paid every four weeks once a claim is made, and the claim can be submitted after the baby is registered, with HMRC also awarding National Insurance credits toward a state pension. The tax authority also warns that high earners may be affected by the High Income Child Benefit Charge, where payments start to reduce if one parent earns £60,000 a year and stop entirely when one parent earns £80,000.

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