UK Parents Miss £27 Weekly Child Benefit as 31% Delay Claims Past Baby's First Birthday
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 19
UK Parents Miss £27 Weekly Child Benefit as 31% Delay Claims Past Baby's First Birthday
1 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 19
Summary
Only 69% of parents claimed child benefit before their baby's first birthday, leaving thousands potentially missing £27.05 a week for a first child because claims were filed too late.
HMRC allows claims from 48 hours after a birth is registered, but payments can be backdated only three months, so delays in early paperwork can cost families hundreds of pounds.
More than 6.8 million parents received child benefit in the year to August 2025; the payment is £17.90 a week for each additional child and also brings National Insurance credits toward a state pension.
Some families may have opted out because the High Income Child Benefit Charge starts reducing payments when one parent earns £60,000 and eliminates them entirely at £80,000.