Child Benefit payments are to increase from next week, it has been announced.
Details of the payment increase were announced by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in a statement issued on Tuesday morning, alongside a new YouTube video explaining how parents can claim.
The change will come into effect one week from today, on April 7, and will see the payment for the eldest or only child increase to £26.05 per week, and £17.25 per week for each additional child. There is no limit to how many children that parents can claim for.
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The payments are worth £1,354.60 per year for the eldest or only child, and £897 for each additional child. The benefit is paid every four weeks and the increase will be automatically paid into a bank account.
A spokesperson for HMRC said: "The quickest and easiest way for parents and carers to claim, view and manage Child Benefit payments is by downloading the free and secure HMRC app. A new function in the app means they get a notification once their claim is received and payment in as little as 3 days."
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said: “Extra pounds count and Child Benefit can give your household budget a boost. Claiming online or managing your Child Benefit payments via the HMRC app is quick and easy so, if you haven’t already, go to GOV.UK to start your claim today.”
The HMRC statement said families have "used the app more than 6 million times in the last year to manage their Child Benefit payments, including: making a new claim; updating a change in circumstances; amending personal or bank details; adding additional children to a claim; viewing or printing Proof of Entitlement to Child Benefit; telling us their children are continuing in full time, non-advanced education or approved training."
The spokesperson continued: "Over 1.2 million parents have claimed their Child Benefit through the HMRC app or via the digital service, since the service went online in May 2023. More than 87% of claims are now digital. Families are encouraged to claim Child Benefit as soon as they can after their baby is born as it can only be backdated up to 3 months.
"To make a claim for Child Benefit, parents will need to create an online HMRC account and will need: child’s birth or adoption certificate; bank details; National Insurance number for themselves and their partner, if they have one; child's original birth or adoption certificate and passport or travel document, for children born outside the UK.
"If either the claimant or their partner has an individual income of 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."
The HMRC statement added: "In the Spring Statement, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves announced a new service as part of the government’s Plan for Change, that will cut red tape for eligible employed parents who are liable to the High Income Child Benefit Charge.
"From the summer, families will have the option to report their Child Benefit payments and pay the charge directly through their PAYE tax code instead of filing a Self Assessment tax return. The new digital service will be optional and those who choose to pay the charge through their Self Assessment can continue to do so. Families who have previously opted out of Child Benefit payments can opt back in and restart their payments quickly and easily online or via the HMRC app.
"A person living in a household subject to the High Income Child Benefit Charge will still receive National Insurance credits if they claim Child Benefit but choose to opt out of receiving payments."
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