Some Child Benefit claimants will get a double payment from HMRC in June (Image: Getty)
HMRC will be sending double Tuesday payments totalling £216.40 to some UK households claiming Child Benefit in June.
You can claim Child Benefit if you’re a parent or guardian responsible for raising a child under the age of 16, or under 20 if they stay in approved education or training. Following a 3.8% increase on April 6, the benefit is now worth £27.05 per week – £1,406.60 a year – for the eldest or only child and £17.90 per week – or £930.80 per year – for each additional child, and there’s no limit as to how many children parents can claim for. The benefit provides an allowance for each child which is paid to you by HMRC every four weeks, and it also gives you national insurance credits which count towards your state pension, so it’s well worth claiming if you’re eligible.
As it is paid every four weeks, parents with one child can get £108.20 in each four week period, while those with additional children will get £71.60. HMRC usually issues payments every four weeks, on either a Monday or a Tuesday, although this can change if the date clashes with a bank holiday, in which case payments will be issued on the earliest working day before.
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Because June has five Tuesdays, it means some child benefit claimants will be paid twice by HMRC, giving parents with one child double £108.20 payments in a single month, amounting to £216.40 in total in June.
Of course, if you have more than one child that you are eligible to claim child benefit for, then the amount you’ll get will be higher at a rate of £71.60 per child every four weeks, amounting to £143.20 in total in June if you are due to be paid twice.
This will be the case if your normal payment date falls on Tuesday, June 2, as it means your next payment will be due in the same month, four weeks later on Tuesday, June 30.
Explaining how and when payments are made, HMRC said: “Child benefit is usually paid every 4 weeks on a Monday or Tuesday. There are different payment dates if it’s due on a bank holiday.
“You can work out when you’re next going to get child benefit by counting 4 weeks forward from your last payment. Do not count forward if your payment was due on a bank holiday – the dates are different.
“Your payment might be delayed if the bank is closed for a public holiday on the day HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) pays you. Check with your bank for the date you’ll get your payment.”
According to new figures from HMRC this month, more than 6.8million families are claiming child benefit, but more than 30% of new parents are missing out on payments by failing to claim in their baby’s first year.
There is no limit as to how many children parents can claim for, and claims can be made just 48 hours after the baby’s birth is registered, so it’s well worth taking the time to apply for it.
Child benefit can only be backdated for up to three months from the date HMRC receives the claim, meaning thousands of families are currently not getting what they’re entitled to receive.
If a claimant or their partner has an income of more than £60,000 a year, they will be liable to pay the high-income child benefit charge (HICBC), meaning some or all of their child benefit must be paid back.
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Chief Customer Officer, said: “Spring is a wonderful time to welcome a baby and claiming child benefit as soon as possible means your family can benefit from much-needed financial support. It is quick and easy to claim child benefit via the HMRC app at a time that suits you.”