Child Benefit

Child Benefit is a tax-free benefit, paid monthly to those responsible for parenting a child or a young person. In order to receive Child Benefit you must be responsible for the child in question, even if you are not the child’s parent or the child does not live with you. If the child does not live with you, you must:

• Pay money for bringing up the child in question
• Pay at least the same amount each month as you receive in Child Benefit for bringing up the child in question
• Ensure that the person that the child lives with is not currently claiming Child Benefit for the child in question

Child Benefit is paid for each child that qualifies, and is not means-tested so will not be affected by any income or savings you might have. You may not be eligible for Child Benefit if:

• The child in question is being looked after by the local authorities
• The child is in prison or in hospital
• The child marries or begins to live with their partner
• The child begins claiming other state benefits for themselves
• The child is over sixteen years of age and leaves full-time education
• You begin getting money from the local authorities for fostering the child in question
• You are not a UK resident, and your right to be one is in questioned or has been refused

If you are entitled to receive Child Benefit you will be paid £18.10 a week. If you are entitled to Child Benefit for more than one child, you will receive £18.10 a week for the eldest child and £12.10 a week for each additional child in your care. There are no guidelines as to how this money should be used, but it is assumed that you will spend the benefit on meeting the child’s needs, be they food, clothing or care.

You should claim Child Benefit as soon as your child is born or as soon as you adopt a child living with you. You should also claim as soon as a child comes to live with you and becomes your responsibility. If you begin paying for a child who is not living with you and the person they are living with is not currently claiming Child Benefit, you should claim Child Benefit as soon as possible. It is possible for Child Benefit to be backdated if necessary, but only up to a maximum of three months.

You will have to fill out a Child Benefit claim form to qualify for the benefit. You can ask for a claim form from the benefits service by telephoning the Benefit Enquiry Line on 0800 88 22 00. You may have been given a claim form automatically when you gave birth and received a 'new mother' pack from social services. You will need to return the claim form to the Child Benefit Office with the child’s birth certificate or adoption certificate. If the child dies then you may be entitled for Child Benefit for the eight weeks following their death. You must keep the benefits service informed if your circumstances, or those of the child you care for, change at any time.