Child Benefit can only be backdated for up to 3 months from the date HMRC receives the claim (Image: Getty)
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has confirmed a strict three month rule that can leave households missing out on up to £1,054.95 in a year.
The tax office last month warned that more than thousands of new parents across the UK are missing out on payments by failing to claim Child Benefit in their baby’s first year. Child Benefit can be claimed 48 hours after a child’s birth has been registered, or once a child comes to live with you, but claims can only be backdated for up to three months from the date a claim is made. The rule means that parents who don’t start claiming as soon as they’re eligible aren’t getting what they’re entitled to receive, and face losing at least three months worth of payments.
Child Benefit can be claimed by parents or guardians who are responsible for raising a child under the age of 16, or under 20 if they stay in approved education or training.
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The benefit was uplifted by 3.8% on April 6, meaning claimants now benefit from higher payments for the 2026/27 tax year. The increase means Child Benefit is now worth £27.05 per week for the eldest or only child, while the weekly rate for each additional child has increased to £17.90.
Child Benefit is paid out to claimants by HMRC every four weeks, which means parents with one child can get £108.20 in every four week period, while those with additional children will get £71.60 in the same period.
Over a full year, it’s worth £1,406.60 for the eldest or only child and £930.80 per year for each additional child, with no limit as to how many children parents can claim for.
But as it can only be backdated for up to three months, you would lose £1,054.95 for the other nine months of the first year of the child’s life that you failed to claim for and cannot backdate for.
According to HMRC, 6.8 million families are claiming Child Benefit but more than 30% of new parents are missing out on payments by not claiming the support before their baby’s first birthday.
HMRC said: “While more than 6.8 million parents received Child Benefit in the year to August 2025, only 68.8% of them claimed the crucial government support before their baby’s first birthday.
“More than 140,000 babies were born between April and June last year and while many parents are enjoying new beginnings this Spring, the latest statistics show thousands of families could be missing out on much-needed cash by delaying their claim.
“Child Benefit is worth £27.05 per week – or £1,406.60 a year – for the eldest or only child and £17.90 per week – or £930.80 a year – for each additional child, with no limit as to how many children parents can claim for.
“Child Benefit can be claimed 48 hours after the baby’s birth is registered but can only be backdated for up to 3 months from the date HMRC receives the claim, meaning thousands of families are not getting what they’re entitled to receive.”
Child Benefit not only helps support parents with living costs, it also gives claimants National Insurance credits which count towards their future eligibility for the State Pension, which can help those who aren’t in paid employment and not receiving NI credits through their employer or other routes, such as Universal Credit.
Claiming Child Benefit also makes sure the child automatically gets their National Insurance number when they turn 16.
In a message to parents to claim the benefit as soon as possible last month, 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.”