The UK government offers child benefits to support citizens in raising a child with the increasing cost of raising a child. The government increased the Child Benefit this year in April, eligible citizens have been receiving the increased amount in 2024. The UK citizens can check their next Child benefit payout and other details here.
£25.60 Weekly Child Benefits Payment
The cost of raising a child is increasing with the rising cost of living, however, people who are responsible for raising a child can get government financial support through Child Benefits. The citizens receive the payment based on the child benefit rates decided by the government.
The payment is not mean-tested; the payment you receive depends on the number of children you are responsible for and many other factors. UK citizens receive the weekly child benefit based on the following rates:
- For the elderly and only children, you can receive the child benefit of £25.60
- For additional children, you can receive £16.95 for each child.
The government generally adjusts the payment every year to ensure it matches the inflation and cost of living. In April 2024, the government announced the increase to the current above-mentioned rate.
Recently, the government has confirmed that the benefit rates will increase in April 2025 by 1.7%, which can make your weekly Child benefit payment in 2025 from April onwards:
- For the elderly and only children, you can receive the child benefit of £26.05
- For additional children, you can receive £17.25 for each child.
When can you receive the Child Benefit payments?
Child benefit payment is paid to eligible citizens every four weeks or some recipients also receive the payment every week. The monthly payment is paid every four weeks on Monday or Tuesday. If the payment date falls on any public holiday, the recipients can expect the payment in the next business days.
Individuals can get the weekly child benefit when they are single parents or they receive certain government benefits, such as Universal Credit. The recipients who receive the payment in four weeks will receive around £102.4 for their elder or only child and £1331.20 annually.
The HMRC processes the Child benefit payment into your account, building Society account, or any account apart from your Post office card account or Nationwide Cashbuilder account.
Factors that can affect your Child Benefit Payment
The UK Child Benefit payment is affected by the following factors that every Child benefit recipient should know:
- Only one parent receives the Child benefit payments when they get separated. The person with whom the child lives will get the benefit payment. For instance, if the couple has two children, both keep one child, so both will receive the benefit of the child living with them separately.
- When you earn more than the net income decided by the authority, your child benefit recipients have to pay additional tax, the high-income child benefit tax charge. The income threshold for the individuals is over £60,000. If among the partners both have a net income of more than £60,000, then the person who has the higher net income will pay the additional tax.
- The child benefit recipients have to pay 1% of the child benefit for every £200 earned over the income threshold.
- If your income or your partner’s net income is over £80,000 you will have to pay the same amount of additional tax as the child benefit payment you received.
Weekly Child Benefit Payment Eligibility Criteria
UK citizens can get Child Benefit financial support from the UK government when they meet the following eligibility requirements:
- When you are responsible for taking care of a child under 16 years of age. Being responsible here means, the child lives with you and you are taking care of the child’s expenses.
- If your child is under 20 years of age, you can also qualify for benefits when the child is studying in approved education or training.
- You can get Child Benefit when you are fostering a child and the local council is not paying you for any expenses, like accommodation or others.
- You can also claim the Child benefit when you are caring for someone else’s child when their parent has died or you are the guardian.
- You can claim the child benefit when you have adopted a child.
- You are living abroad, but you are a crown servant which makes you eligible for the benefit.
- If the child under 20 begins working with paid work for 24 hours, apprenticeship, or receiving the government employment benefit, the authority will stop the Child benefit for that child.
The citizens should understand if two people are claiming the child benefit for the same child, only one person will receive the benefit in their account. The person with whom the child lives the most or takes care of the child will be eligible to receive the payment.
How can you claim the UK Child Benefit?
UK citizens can claim the child benefit within 48 hours of their child’s birth after they adopt or foster the child, or when the child comes to live with them. When you claim the Child benefit, you also get the National Insurance credits that add to your State pension.
So, if you wish to claim the Child benefit, you can make the claim, but before you need to prepare the following documents:
- Child’s birth or adoption certificate
- National Insurance Number
- Bank or Building Society account details
- Your partner’s National Insurance number (if you have any)
You can make your child benefit claim through the following way:
- Online: You can claim the Child benefit online on the UK government website through the above-mentioned details.
- By post: You can download the Child Benefit claim form from the government website, fill out the form, and send the form to the HMRC.
- By Phone: You can contact HMRC at 0300 200 3100 or +44 161 210 3086 (outside the UK) and ask for assistance to claim the Child Benefit form.
The UK Child Benefit supports new parents, guardians, and citizens taking care of children with the rising cost of raising a child. The payment will increase from April 2025, so if you are struggling with child expenses, you should claim the benefit.
