Child benefit: What is it worth and who can claim it?
Summary
The UK government is tightening rules on child benefit payments, especially targeting those abroad. To prevent overpayments, a new team will check travel data to ensure eligibility. Families receive these benefits if they have children under 16, or under 20 if in education or training.Key Facts
- Child benefit is paid to 6.9 million households in the UK.
- Only one person can claim the benefit per child, with no limit on the number of children claimed.
- Child benefit is £26.05 per week for the first child and £17.25 for other children.
- Payments reduce if one parent earns over £60,000 and stop if earnings exceed £80,000.
- Claimants must inform HMRC if they travel abroad for more than eight weeks.
- A new team will use travel data to stop payments to those ineligible, aiming to save £350 million over five years.
- Claiming child benefit provides National Insurance credits, which is important for pensions.
- Families can claim benefit 48 hours after registering a child's birth, with backdating available for up to three months.
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