Child Benefit - Extra Cash for Parents

Are you getting the money you should be getting for your children.

If you are in the United Kingdom do you qualify for child benefit?

Any person responsible for bringing up a child can apply for Child Benefit, provided the child is  

 1.     Under 16 

 2.     Or Under 20 if they stay in approved education or training. 

 Child benefit can only be paid to one person per child.   

 This means that two persons can receive child benefit for two children, but two persons cannot claim for the same child. 

 You can't get Child Benefit if your child: 

 1.   Is in hospital or residential care and will be there longer than 12 weeks - unless you're still spending money on the child's needs 

 2.     Is 16 or over, has left full time education or training and works more than 24 hours a week 

 3.    Has been in prison or custody during the last 8 weeks has been looked after by a local authority for the last 8 weeks. 

 4.     Is getting any of the following 

          Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance 

          Universal Credit 

          Tax credits 

          Income Support 

          Employment and Support Allowance 

 5.     Is married or in a civil partnership - unless they're either not living with their partner or their partner is in full-time education or training. 

If your child ceases to attend college, you must notify HMRC straight away.  If you don't it is highly likely that someone else will which could mean that you will be investigated for child benefit fraud. 

You sometimes have to take the lead and contact the department yourself.

The £60,000 threshold

If you earn over £60,000 per year then you may be required to pay back the child benefit.  However if there is a child maintenance case, you need to claim the child benefit.  So you can select the option to be a qualifying case, but opt to not receive any child maintenance.

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