Parents claiming Child Benefit are being urged to notify HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) of 18 specific changes to their or their child's circumstances, or risk losing their payments. The warning comes as HMRC stresses the importance of reporting any changes as soon as possible, ideally within one month.
Child Benefit is available to those responsible for raising a child under 16, or under 20 if they are in approved education or training. There is no limit on the number of children you can claim for.
Current payment rates
Two rates apply: £26.05 per week for the eldest or only child, and £17.25 per week for each additional child. Failure to report changes could mean you do not receive your full entitlement, or you may be overpaid and required to repay the excess.
Changes to report about yourself
Only the individual claiming Child Benefit can inform HMRC about changed circumstances. The following changes must be reported:
- You move home.
- Your bank or building society account changes.
- You start to earn more than £60,000.
- You change your name or gender.
- You start to care for another child.
- Your relationship changes.
- A parent dies.
- Your immigration status changes.
Changes to report about your child
You must also tell HMRC if your child:
- Starts getting Universal Credit, Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
- Changes their name by deed poll.
- Gets married or forms a civil partnership.
- Moves in with a partner.
- Goes missing.
- Lives away from you for 8 weeks in a row or more than 56 days in a 16-week period.
- Goes abroad for more than 12 weeks.
- Moves to or from Northern Ireland.
- Goes to prison or youth custody for more than 8 weeks.
- Goes into care or residential accommodation for more than 8 weeks, or hospital for more than 12 weeks.
