Child Benefit is paid by HM Revenue and Customs to people who are responsible for a child. It is paid for each child for whom you are responsible, with a higher amount paid for the eldest child. You do not have to be the child’s parent. Child Benefit is not affected by your income, savings and capital, and you do not have to have paid national insurance contributions. If you or your partner have an annual income over £50,000, you may pay additional income tax to recover the child benefit.
Who can claim?
You qualify if all of the following apply:
- The child counts as either a ‘child’ or a ‘qualifying young person’. This includes all children under 16, and those aged 16 to 19 in ‘non-advanced education’ at school or college (eg, studying GCSE’s, AS and A levels, NVQ level 3 or below, Scottish National Qualifications up to Higher or Advanced Higher level or for a BTEC) for more than 12 hours a week, or those aged 16 to 19 in approved training.
- You are responsible for the child. The child must live with you, or you must contribute at least the rate of Child Benefit to the cost of supporting her/him.
- You have priority over anyone else. If someone else tries to claim Child Benefit, you have priority if the child lives with you, if you are the wife and you are living with your husband, or you are the child’s mother and you are not married to your partner.
- You and the child satisfy certain presence and residence conditions, and you are not a ‘person subject to immigration control’.
- The child is not in receipt of any means-tested benefits (such as Universal Credit) or Tax Credits in her/his own right.
In certain circumstances, you cannot get Child Benefit, including if the child is being looked after by a Local Authority, is living as part of a coupe, or is in prison or other custody.
How much do you get?
Only or eldest child: £21.05 – (2020/21
Other child(ren): £13.70 a week (2020/21)
How do you claim?
Claim on form CH2, available from the HM Revenue and Customs Child Benefit Office on 0300 200 3100 or from www.gov.uk/child-benefit.
