You get Child Benefit if you’re responsible for bringing up a child who is, under 16 or under 20 if they stay in approved education or training.
Only one person can get Child Benefit for a child.
It’s paid every four weeks and there’s no limit to how many children you can claim for.
The person who claims will get National Insurance credits towards their state pension if they are not working or earn less than £184 per week.
But with the new financial year starting on April 6, a whole host of payment changes have been made for those receiving benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), reports the Daily Record.
This includes Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), State Pension and legacy benefits such as Jobseeker's Allowance, Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Income Support and Housing Benefit.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has also outlined changes to Child Benefit and Guardian payments from Monday, April 12, 2021 which are detailed below.
How much is the Child Benefit payment rate for 2021/22?
There are two Child Benefit rates in place.
For an eldest or only child, recipients currently receive £21.05 per week and for any additional children, £13.95 per week.
From April 12, this will increase to £21.15 per week for an eldest or only child and £14.00 per week for any additional children.
This is an increase of 10p and 5p respectively per week and means the new monthly payments will be £84.60 for an eldest or only child and £56.00 for any additional children.
There is no limit on how many children can be claimed for, but only one person can receive Child Benefit.
Guardian’s Allowance will increase from £17.90 per week to£18.00.
How is Child Benefit paid?
The payment comes through every four weeks on a Monday or a Tuesday and the claimant will also be awarded National Insurance credits which can count towards their State Pension.
What age do Child Benefit payments stop?
Child Benefit can be claimed for any child below 16 or under 20 if they stay in approved education or training.
What if your circumstances change?
Any changes in circumstances which may affect a claimant’s eligibility must be reported to the Child Benefit office immediately.
Anyone can claim child benefit if they are responsible for a child, but earnings may have an effect on the payments.
If the claimant or their partner earns more than £50,000 a year they will need to pay back some of the Child Benefit as Income Tax.
One per cent of the family’s Child Benefit will need to be paid back for every £100 earned over £50,000 each year. If over £60,000 is earned in a year then all of the Child Benefit claimed will need to be paid back.
It is possible to stop or restart a claim at any point and free support is available for anyone who needs help with their application.
For more information on Child Benefit, visit GOV.UK.
