Claiming child benefit

The child benefit rates for the only or eldest child in a family is currently £24.00 and the weekly rate for all other children is £15.90.

An application to receive child benefit can usually be made from the day after you’ve registered the birth of your child, or once a child comes to live with you. An application for child benefit can be backdated for up to 3 months. 

An application for child benefit is usually made online either using the government gateway or independently. Making an application through the government gateway will usually make completing the claim faster. It is also possible to make a claim by post or by phone.

Taxpayers entitled to the child benefit should be aware that HMRC usually stop paying child benefit on the 31 August following a child’s 16th Birthday. This can be done online at www.gov.uk/child-benefit-16-19 or on the HMRC app.

Under qualifying circumstances, the child benefit payment can continue until a child reaches their 20th birthday if they stay in approved education or training. A qualifying young person is someone aged 16,17, 18 or 19 in full time non-advanced education or in approved training.

No child benefit is payable after a young person reaches the age of 20 years. Child benefit is usually payable for children who come to the UK.

However, there are a number of rules which must be met in order to claim. HMRC must be notified without delay if a child receiving child benefit moves permanently abroad.