Eligible households can get thousands of pounds worth of support per year.
HMRC is urging people to claim a benefit worth thousands of pounds per year (Image: Getty)
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is urging people earning less than £80,000 per year to claim a benefit worth thousands of pounds per year.
Parents and carers can claim Child Benefit from the government to help with the cost of raising their children, giving them thousands of pounds worth of support per year. It is paid by HMRC and entitles you to an allowance for each child you have under the age of 16, or under the age of 20 if they stay in approved education or training. You will also get National Insurance credits automatically if you claim Child Benefit and your child is under 12. These count towards your State Pension, so you don’t have any gaps in your National Insurance record if you’re not working, or don’t earn enough to pay National Insurance contributions.
Currently, Child Benefit is worth £26.05 per week for the eldest or only child (or £1,354.60 per year), and £17.25 per week for each additional child, which amounts to £897 per year. So, if you have two children, you’ll receive £2,251.60 per year, while those with three children will receive £3,148.60 annually. But there is no limit – other than the Benefit Cap – so if you had four children, or five, and so on, you could get even more than £3,148, with £897 for each additional child.
Currently, the maximum amount you can earn to receive any Child Benefit is £80,000, although if your income is more than £60,000 per year you may have to pay the High Income Child Benefit Charge.
HMRC has issued a reminder for high earners not to miss out the cash boost, as it can provide thousands of pounds worth of financial support per year.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), HMRC said: “You can claim Child Benefit for every child you’re responsible for, regardless of how many children you have. Child Benefit can be backdated for up to 3 months from the date you make the claim. You cannot recover payments from before that period.
“The quickest and easiest way for parents and carers to claim, view and manage Child Benefit payments is by downloading the free and secure HMRC app.
“Already claiming Child Benefit for your first child? Claim online to get up to £897 a year for each additional child you have.”
You can claim Child Benefit 48 hours after you’ve registered the birth of your child, or once a child comes to live with you, and it can be backdated for up to three months.
