MPs are demanding urgent answers from HM Revenue and Customs after a significant system failure froze child benefit payments to thousands of families across the UK, leaving many parents in financial distress.
The parliamentary Work and Pensions Committee has launched a formal investigation into the error, which occurred during a routine system update and affected payments scheduled for early November. Committee chair Sir Stephen Timms has written to HMRC chief executive Jim Harra requesting a detailed explanation of what went wrong and when affected families can expect resolution.
Parents Left in the Lurch
Many families reported discovering the missing payments when expected funds failed to appear in their accounts. The timing couldn't be worse for many households already struggling with the cost of living crisis.
"We've been completely left in the dark," said one affected parent from Manchester. "This money pays for our children's food, clothing, and essentials. To have it suddenly stop without warning is terrifying."
Political Pressure Mounts
The error has sparked outrage across the political spectrum, with MPs from all parties reporting being inundated with concerns from constituents. The parliamentary committee has given HMRC until November 15th to provide:
- A full technical explanation of the system failure
- The number of families affected
- A clear timeline for restoring payments
- Details of compensation for any bank charges incurred
- Measures to prevent future occurrences
HMRC's Response
While HMRC has acknowledged the issue, their public statements have provided little concrete information about the scale of the problem or when normal service will resume. The department has advised affected parents to contact their helpline, but many report long wait times and unhelpful responses.
This incident raises serious questions about the resilience of HMRC's digital systems at a time when many families are increasingly dependent on regular benefit payments to make ends meet.
The committee's investigation will also examine whether adequate contingency plans were in place to handle such system failures and why communication to affected parents has been inadequate.
