Overview
- The higher rates, effective April 6, lift weekly payments to £27.05 for the eldest or only child and £17.90 for each additional child, reflecting a 3.8% CPI uprating.
- Guardian’s Allowance also increases from April 6 to £22.95 a week, with Child Benefit typically paid every four weeks into a bank account.
- HMRC says only about 72% of new parents claim within a baby’s first year, and claims can be backdated for a maximum of three months from when HMRC receives them.
- Parents are encouraged to claim and manage benefits via the HMRC app or online, where nearly 85% of new claims are now made and more than 1.5 million families have used the digital services.
- Claiming secures National Insurance credits toward the State Pension, and higher earners facing the High Income Child Benefit Charge (around £60,000+ income) can opt to pay it through their PAYE tax code; in Scotland, the separate Scottish Child Payment rises to £28.20 a week, taking combined support to about £221 a month.