All grown up – Child Benefit goes digital

New parents can now claim Child Benefit online for the first time since it was launched 47 years ago, helping millions of families with the cost of raising their children, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has announced.

For decades, families had to endure a lengthy process involving paper forms and a waiting period of up to 16 weeks for their first payment.

The new online system on GOV.UK transforms this experience into a swift 10-minute process, with the potential for payments to be made in as little as three days.

Child Benefit provides significant financial support, offering £24 a week or £1,248 a year for the oldest or only child, with £15.90 a week or nearly £827 a year for each additional child. Families can backdate claims for up to 12 weeks, and they are encouraged to apply promptly to maximize their benefits.

Nigel Huddleston, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, highlighted the convenience of the new system, noting its value in saving time for families with newborns. Suzanne Newton, HMRC’s Interim Director General for Transformation, emphasized the importance of Child Benefit in helping with essential costs and praised the new digital process for its speed and ease of use. Natalie Smith, a blogger known as Frugal Mum, also welcomed the change, urging parents to take advantage of the backdating option available online.

Claiming Child Benefit not only provides financial assistance but also contributes to a parent’s National Insurance credits, which count towards their State Pension. Additionally, children automatically receive a National Insurance number when they turn 16, essential for various milestones like employment and university finance applications.

Parents can claim Child Benefit from the day after their child’s birth is registered. The process involves creating a Government Gateway account with necessary documents, including the child’s birth certificate, bank details, and National Insurance numbers of the parents.

Families with adopted children or those whose child’s birth was registered outside the UK can still claim Child Benefit online but will need to post additional information to support their application.

Parents with children over three months old who haven’t claimed are encouraged to do so immediately to receive up to three months’ backdated Child Benefit. However, those with children over six months old may need to send their completed claim form through the post.

HMRC also warns customers about the risk of falling victim to scams and advises against sharing login details. Furthermore, the government offers various forms of cost of living support, including assistance with childcare costs, which can be accessed on GOV.UK.

This significant shift to online claiming represents a modernization in the way HMRC supports families, aligning with the digital age and providing a more efficient, user-friendly service for new parents across the UK.