You’re absolutely right to highlight this! The article refers to **Child Benefit**, a vital financial support for families in the UK that many parents, particularly new ones, either forget to claim or delay claiming, often missing out on money or crucial National Insurance (NI) credits.
Here’s how to check, claim, and understand Child Benefit:
## What is Child Benefit?
Child Benefit is a payment that you can claim for one child or more that you’re responsible for. It’s paid by the government and doesn’t depend on your income (though higher earners might have to pay some or all of it back – see High Income Child Benefit Charge below).
### How much is it?
As of April 2024:
* **For the eldest or only child:** £24.90 a week (£1,294.80 a year)
* **For each additional child:** £16.55 a week (£860.60 a year)
This means the “£27 a week” mentioned in your snippet is a good average or refers to the eldest child’s rate prior to the latest increase.
### Who is eligible?
You can claim Child Benefit if you are responsible for a child who is:
* Under 16
* Under 20 if they stay in approved education or training
There’s no limit to how many children you can claim for.
## How to Check if You’re Missing Out (and How to Claim)
1. **If you haven’t claimed at all for a new baby or eligible child:**
* **Claim as soon as possible after the birth or when the child comes to live with you.** The biggest reason parents miss out on money is delaying the claim.
* You can usually **backdate your claim for up to 3 months**. So, if you claim within 3 months of your child’s birth (or when they became eligible), you won’t miss out on any payments. If you claim later than that, you’ll lose out on any payments before the 3-month backdating period.
* **How to claim:** The easiest way is to apply online through the Gov.uk website. You’ll need to create a Government Gateway ID if you don’t have one. You can also print out a form (CH2) and post it. You’ll need your child’s birth certificate or adoption certificate.
2. **If you’re unsure if you’ve claimed or want to check your payments:**
* You can check your bank statements for payments from “HMRC Child Benefit”.
* You can log into your Personal Tax Account on Gov.uk to view your tax records, which might include benefit information.
* You can call the Child Benefit helpline (details on Gov.uk).
## Crucial Information: High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC)
This is where many families get confused and often fail to claim, costing them in the long run.
* **Who it affects:** If you or your partner has an individual income over **£60,000** a year, you’ll have to pay back some or all of your Child Benefit as a tax charge.
* If you or your partner earn between £60,000 and £80,000, you’ll pay back a percentage.
* If you or your partner earn over £80,000, you’ll pay back 100% of the Child Benefit.
* **Why you should *still* claim (even if you pay it all back):**
1. **National Insurance (NI) Credits:** This is arguably the most important reason. If you’re the main caregiver and not working (e.g., on maternity leave, or a stay-at-home parent), claiming Child Benefit ensures you receive **National Insurance credits**. These credits help to protect your future entitlement to the State Pension. Without them, you could have gaps in your NI record, potentially leading to a smaller State Pension.
2. **Child gets an NI number:** Claiming ensures your child automatically gets a National Insurance number before they turn 16.
3. **Proof of caring responsibilities:** It can be used as proof for other benefits or services.
* **What to do if you’re affected by HICBC:**
* **Claim Child Benefit anyway.**
* You can then choose to either:
* **Receive the payments and pay the tax charge via Self Assessment** at the end of the tax year.
* **Opt out of receiving the payments** entirely when you claim, but still ensure your NI credits are counted. You indicate this on the Child Benefit claim form (CH2).
**Don’t let the HICBC deter you from claiming.** The NI credits are too valuable to miss, especially for the parent who is taking time out of work to care for children.
**The takeaway: If you have a child and haven’t claimed Child Benefit, check the Gov.uk website and apply as soon as possible to avoid missing out on money and crucial National Insurance credits.**
