His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has issued an urgent alert to parents and carers across the UK, urging them to check their eligibility for significant backdated Child Benefit payments. Eligible families could receive up to £897 annually for each child they claim for, with the process streamlined through the tax office's mobile application.
How to Claim Your Backdated Child Benefit
In a recent social media update, HMRC clarified the claiming process. Child Benefit can be backdated for up to three months from the date a claim is submitted, but payments from before this period cannot be recovered. The revenue body strongly recommends using its free and secure HMRC app, which it describes as the quickest and easiest method for parents to claim, view, and manage their benefit payments.
"You can claim Child Benefit for every child you're responsible for, regardless of how many children you have," stated HMRC. The department also highlighted that those already claiming for a first child should make an online claim for any additional children to secure the extra annual support.
Understanding Child Benefit Rates and Rules
This government payment is designed to assist with the substantial costs of raising a child. It is typically available to anyone responsible for a child under 16, or under 20 if they stay in approved education or training. While there is no limit on the number of children you can claim for, only one parent or guardian can receive the benefit per child.
The current weekly rates are set at two levels:
- £26.05 per week for an eldest or only child.
- £17.25 per week for each additional child.
These payments, which amount to over £1,300 a year for a first child and around £897 for others, count towards the overall benefit cap. If affected by the cap, families will still receive the full Child Benefit amount, but other benefits may be reduced accordingly.
The High Income Child Benefit Charge Explained
A crucial consideration for many households is the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC). This rule means that if you or your partner earns more than £60,000 a year, you will have to repay some or all of the benefit through a tax charge.
As explained by financial guidance sites like MoneySavingExpert, the charge is tapered. "The more you earn over £60,000, the more you need to pay back," the guidance notes. If either individual in a partnership has an adjusted net income of £80,000 or more, the charge will equal the total Child Benefit received, leaving the household with no extra money from the scheme.
However, there are still advantages to claiming even if you must pay the charge. These include securing valuable National Insurance credits, which help protect your State Pension entitlement. Parents can also choose to claim but opt out of receiving payments to avoid the tax charge while still obtaining these credits.
Eligible individuals are encouraged to act promptly to secure their backdated payments. Claims can be made online via the Government's official website, which also provides a helpful YouTube tutorial guiding users through the application process step-by-step.
