Can you claim child benefit for a third child?

[FlamingLama]

My cousin is insistent that I can claim child benefit for my newborn but he's my 3rd child and I thought the government had capped it at 2. Everything I've read online is a bit vague, it all seems to relate to tax credits and every time I try to call there is a message saying they're too busy to answer my call....goodbye.

Anyone had a 3rd + baby recently and claimed or am I correct about it being only for the first 2 children?

I think child benefit is a yes but tax credits a no. Wouldn't bet my life on that though

Go online and try to apply? See what happens! X

Yes you can, you can apply for as many children as you have.

Universal Credit is capped at 2 children (born after 2017).

Yes I get it for 3 its just reduced.

Unless something has changed during covid and I've totally missed it there's no 2 child cap on child benefit

Yes you can

I thought it was capped at 2 as well! Expecting my third so that's a nice bonus if it's not

It's just tax credits/universal credit that's capped.

Yes you can. I get £49 a week I think it is for the 3 of them.

@Orarewedancer

I thought it was capped at 2 as well! Expecting my third so that's a nice bonus if it's not

There is no limit on the number of children at all, I wonder where the misinformation is coming from

I'm in Scotland

Child benefit has no limit on the number of children you can claim for.

No limit on child benefit. Just download claim form from gov.uk.

If you are still on tax credits you should report the birth to them too. With their cap you only get child tax credit for first and second (unless third or subsequent children fall under the disgusting rape clause) but you can still access childcare support for third and above. As others have said- apply for child benefit too as that's not capped. Just be aware of the £50k earnings thing if you or your partner earn over £50k.

Good luck with the child benefit. Had my third in late 2019... I'm sending my FIFTH copy of the form in as they keep bloody losing it. If I was half as incompetent at my job as that shower are I'd have been sacked years ago. Despite them repeatedly receiving and disappearing my form they'll still only backdate 3 months from when they finally deign to process it.

Thanks for this thread, OP - I thought it was capped at 2 too! Had my third a couple of months ago and threw away the form they give you in the bounty pack after you give birth! I've printed off a copy now & will get it sent off asap.

Oh that's good news. My maternity pay is not great so a bit extra will really help.

I can't claim tax credits any more ad DP moved in when our baby was born so his income pushes us over the threshold.

Really grateful for all the replies

Plus remember it’s not just about money it’s also credits for state pension and getting them in the system now means they are automatically issued a national insurance number and if your local authority is like mine you need a child benefit letter for a school place. My sil isn’t entitled to money but you have the option to say no to that and just to register them in the system.

My child is nearly 2 and I never applied for child benefit because u though it was capped. Would it be too late to apply now? Obviously I won't get it back dated as my mistake. But going forward I wonder if it would be possible.

And you don’t need the bounty pack as you can apply on line gov.uk

As many PP’s have said, you definitely can. I’m confident about this, as I have just received backdated child benefit for our third child and a letter confirming the weekly sum we’ll receive for her (think it’s about £14).

@AdviceOnLife I think the application form I filled in said child benefit can be backdated by up to three months. Nowhere near two years but still worth claiming!

Yes you can but you can't claim Universal credit child element for a third child born after April 2017, or child tax credits.

@AdviceOnLife I think there is a cap if your/your partners pay is over 50k. But only singularly, not your joint income. Hope thst makes sense.

@Teaandcakeordeath83

If you are still on tax credits you should report the birth to them too. With their cap you only get child tax credit for first and second (unless third or subsequent children fall under the disgusting rape clause) but you can still access childcare support for third and above. As others have said- apply for child benefit too as that's not capped. Just be aware of the £50k earnings thing if you or your partner earn over £50k.

Good luck with the child benefit. Had my third in late 2019... I'm sending my FIFTH copy of the form in as they keep bloody losing it. If I was half as incompetent at my job as that shower are I'd have been sacked years ago. Despite them repeatedly receiving and disappearing my form they'll still only backdate 3 months from when they finally deign to process it.

Surely you can appeal that or copy your mp into a complaint?

You shouldn't lose money because of their error.

@AdviceOnLife

My child is nearly 2 and I never applied for child benefit because u though it was capped. Would it be too late to apply now? Obviously I won't get it back dated as my mistake. But going forward I wonder if it would be possible.

I'd claim It's not too late