HMRC is offering a £26.05 per week payment to millions of UK households – and it will also boost your state pension payments in later life too. HM Revenue and Customs has issued a reminder to families that they can and should claim Child Benefit.
The benefit is for those who have children aged up to 18 and pays out £26.05 per week for the first child and another £17.25 per week for each additional child. Confusingly, Child Benefit was never capped by the two-child benefit limit, which applied specifically to Universal Credit and the uplift for children within that.
Any parent earning £80,000 or less can claim Child Benefit, though you get more if you earn under £60,000, as the amount given is gradually tapered off for those earning between £60,000 and £80,000.
On top of the money, you also get given National Insurance credits towards your state pension.
Often, state pension payment figures are quoted as being the maximum amount per week, such as £241.30 for new state pensioners. But this is for those with a full state pension, which is only achieved by those who have earned enough National Insurance credits.
Usually, these are earned through work, but they can also be earned through claiming Child Benefit or through some other avenues, such as looking after grandchildren.
HMRC said in a tweet: “Don’t miss out on Child Benefit!. Over 1.4 million parents and carers have claimed Child Benefit online.
“£26.05/week for your first child.
£17.25/week for each additional child.
“Plus National Insurance credits towards your State Pension.
“Claim today via the HMRC app or online.”
Nottinghamshire County Council says about Child Benefit and its impact on the state pension: “In addition to monthly payments, Child Benefit can help protect an individual’s state pension (by providing National Insurance credits for periods away from work) and ensures that each child automatically receives their National Insurance Number at age 16. So it’s always worth registering for Child Benefit.”