HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) reveals more than 1 million families have claimed Child Benefit using the new digital service launched earlier this year. New parents are reminded, if they claim online or through the HMRC app, they could get their payment in time for their baby’s 1st Christmas.

Child Benefit is worth £1,331 a year for the 1st child and £881 a year for each additional child. It can be claimed online at:- Gov.UK or via the HMRC app, in just 48 hours after registering a baby’s birth, and parents typically receive their 1st payment within 3 working days.

Parents are opting to claim for Child Benefit digitally because it is quick and simple to do. Latest figures show 87% of new claims each month are via the app or online; ensuring more parents are getting their cash quicker.

Downloading the free HMRC app makes managing claims even easier too. Families can use the app to track payments and update their details on the go; from changing their address or bank details, to seeing when their next payment is landing.

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said:- “Having a baby is a busy and expensive time but claiming Child Benefit online or via the app means you’ll get cash in your bank account as soon as possible. Claim now and you could get your 1st payment in time for your baby’s 1st Christmas. Download the HMRC app today.”

Claims can be backdated by up to 12 weeks, so the sooner families claim, the better. Child Benefit is typically paid every 4 weeks. To get started, parents will need to create an online account for HMRC services. To make a claim, families will need:-
 

• Child’s birth or adoption certificate.
   
• Bank details.
   
• National Insurance number for themselves and their partner, if they have 1.
   
• Child's original birth or adoption certificate and passport or travel document, for children born outside the UK.
   
• HMRC has released a YouTube video which explains what new parents need to do and how to make a claim.

If either parent has individual income between £60,000 and £80,000, the higher earner will be subject to the High Income Child Benefit Charge. For families who fall into this category, the online Child Benefit Tax Calculator provides an estimate of how much benefit they will receive, and what the charge may be.

If families claimed Child Benefit before:- 6 April 2024, and the higher earner had an individual income of over £50,000, they may have to pay the tax charge for 2023 to 2024. If they need to pay the charge, they must register for Self Assessment.

Families who were subject to the High Income Child Benefit Charge when the threshold was £50,000 and opted out of payments are able to restart their payments quickly and easily online or via the HMRC app if they choose to.

There’s more to Child Benefit than just payments, though, as claimants receive National Insurance (NI) credits which count toward their future eligibility for the State Pension. This can help people who are not in paid employment and not receiving NI credits through their employer or other routes, such as Universal Credit.

A person living in a household subject to the High Income Child Benefit Charge will still receive NI credits if they claim Child Benefit but choose to opt out of receiving payments.

Claiming Child Benefit also makes sure the child automatically gets their National Insurance number when they turn 16.