Child Benefit is a tax-free payment that you can claim for your child.

In most cases it is paid every four weeks but it can, on request, be paid weekly. Child benefit is not means tested but is available so long as certain qualifying criteria are met.

You may be able to claim Child Benefit if either of the following applies:

• your child is under 16
• your child is 16 or 17 and is in education or is registered for work, education or training with an approved body

You can claim Child Benefit even if your child doesn’t live with you. However, if they live with someone else, you can only claim Child Benefit if:

• you pay towards the upkeep of your child
• what you pay is at least the same as the amount of Child Benefit you get for your child
• the person bringing up your child is not claiming Child Benefit for them

How much do I get?

There are two separate amounts that you may receive if you apply for child benefit. You get £20.00 a week for your eldest child and £13.20 a week for each of your other children.

How to claim……

There are several ways of getting a claim form. You can:

• get one from the ‘Bounty Pack’ that’s given to new mothers in hospital
• fill in a Child Benefit claim form on screen and print it out – you’ll still need to send it to the Child Benefit Office
• print out a blank Child Benefit claim form and fill it in by hand

Click the link for an application form:

When to claim……

Child Benefit applications can only be backdated for up to three months from the date your claim is submitted so it’s best to make your claim straight away to avoid losing money.

You should claim Child Benefit as soon as:

• your child is born
• a child you’re responsible for comes to live with you
• you adopt a child who’s living with you
• you start paying towards the cost of looking after your child unless they live with someone else who’s already getting Child Benefit

For more information click below:

Author: SuperDads

We’re here to make a difference. Superdads not only offers advice but we are her e to promote the importance of fatherhood. Many people are oblivious to the fact that Dads really do matter and this is something we’d like to put right.

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