Page 10 | Should I have been claiming child benefit all this time?

BooneyBeautiful · 26/10/2022 23:46

bettybyebye · 25/10/2022 14:05

Yes you are entitled to it so full the forms out asap. I think you can only backdate a claim for a few months, but you get it until the child turns 16 I think k so it’s still worth starting now. It’s frustrating for you that you have missed out on it so far…I am surprised you weren’t aware of it. They used to put the application forms in the bounty packs!

You can get it for your child up to the age of 19 if they are still in further education and not in employment or Higher Education.

MeandT · 27/10/2022 05:02

@cantforthelifeofme it's a long shot, but it's worth filling out a claim to try to challenge beyond the 3 months back claim in your circumstances.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/975444/CH24A_English.pdf

So many parents were missed from contact from government officials which they should have received during the pandemic, it's not fair that families miss out financially on such a meaningful chunk of cash that is designed to benefit all children in this country just because you slipped through the net and weren't given a form on the maternity ward/at registration /from a health visitor.

HMRC should be prepared to go beyond the 3 months in circumstances like yours.

In my opinion, it is also utterly shit that for much of the country an extremely important government form which can be worth over £15k over the child's life is just shoved in a plastic bag full of tat & vouchers and rammed down your neck by someone trying to flog photos in hospital. But there we go.

If the decision form doesn't get you anywhere, I would honestly consider filing to take HMRC to the small claims court next, because saying they'll only pay 3 months worth of what is rightfully yours when they haven't met their obligations to inform a new parent through the contact points in 'the system' is a shocking cop out.

Good luck!

linsey2581 · 27/10/2022 07:14

@Testina my mum , when she claimed it for me and my sister in the 80s called it the family allowance and I always called it that too. And just so there is no confusion on your part that’s the 1980s not the 1880s. I’m only 41 so not quite a dinosaur yet thanks very much.

Original poster

cantforthelifeofme · 27/10/2022 07:49

Thank you @MeandT your post gives me some hope but I'd be surprised. I'll have a go.

OP posts:

joles12 · 27/10/2022 07:53

cantforthelifeofme · 25/10/2022 14:42

Haha @Summertime16 yep!

Though why would husband know?

Because his parents would have received it every week for him

joles12 · 27/10/2022 07:58

cantforthelifeofme · 25/10/2022 14:43

Don't you get taxed on it? Accountant knows we have children- you'd think he'd ask the question "are you receiving CB and if not why not?"

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You only get taxed on it if you and you other half effectively earn more than £100k together (rules slightly more unwieldy than that but simplistically over £100k ) - so assuming you are under it wouldn’t be relevant and accountant wouldn’t ask

dementedpixie · 27/10/2022 08:14

joles12 · 27/10/2022 07:58

You only get taxed on it if you and you other half effectively earn more than £100k together (rules slightly more unwieldy than that but simplistically over £100k ) - so assuming you are under it wouldn’t be relevant and accountant wouldn’t ask

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The high income benefit charge is applicable when 1 person starts earning over £50k. Its nothing to do with joint incomes

LIZS · 27/10/2022 08:14

@joles12 that is over simplistic. If either adult earns over £50k net of pension, charity contributions etc there will be some to repay, all if over £60k. So in theory the household income can be just under £100k and still receive it in full or just over £60k and get nothing.

kittensinthekitchen · 27/10/2022 10:10

linsey2581 · 26/10/2022 19:28

Child benefit is just the new fancy name for family allowance. I had it when my kids were born 02 and 04. Mine just stopped there in September due to my youngest turning 18 in February. When my kids were babies I still had the book that I took to the post office every Tuesday to get stamped and get the money. But it eventually changed to automatic bank transfer.

I wonder when it changed, as my eldest was born in April 05 and it was paid into the bank by then.

dementedpixie · 27/10/2022 10:14

My dd was born in 2003 and it was paid direct into the bank at that point and was called child benefit. Ds was born in 2006.

linsey2581 · 27/10/2022 10:16

@kittensinthekitchen my daughter was born February 04 so I wonder if it changed in the MarchApril of that year when the financial years ends and begins. But I do remember both of their names being on the book.

dementedpixie · 27/10/2022 10:17

The child benefit High income charge was brought in in 2013 but some people still don't seem to be aware of it and get caught out and end up owing money back.

Summertime16 · 27/10/2022 10:20

MeandT · 27/10/2022 05:02

@cantforthelifeofme it's a long shot, but it's worth filling out a claim to try to challenge beyond the 3 months back claim in your circumstances.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/975444/CH24A_English.pdf

So many parents were missed from contact from government officials which they should have received during the pandemic, it's not fair that families miss out financially on such a meaningful chunk of cash that is designed to benefit all children in this country just because you slipped through the net and weren't given a form on the maternity ward/at registration /from a health visitor.

HMRC should be prepared to go beyond the 3 months in circumstances like yours.

In my opinion, it is also utterly shit that for much of the country an extremely important government form which can be worth over £15k over the child's life is just shoved in a plastic bag full of tat & vouchers and rammed down your neck by someone trying to flog photos in hospital. But there we go.

If the decision form doesn't get you anywhere, I would honestly consider filing to take HMRC to the small claims court next, because saying they'll only pay 3 months worth of what is rightfully yours when they haven't met their obligations to inform a new parent through the contact points in 'the system' is a shocking cop out.

Good luck!

The eldest child is 4, born way before the pandemic so I don't see how filling out a claim would work. OP just suck it up you missed out as both you & DH didn't read the bounty pack correctly and make a claim now.

Thatsnotmycar · 27/10/2022 10:24

Thisgroupneverceasestoamazeme · 26/10/2022 18:47

Just coming on to check you’re aware of the free childcare hours people are entitled to for three and four year olds (and some two year olds) and tax free childcare?

I think child benefit is one of those things that’s assumed to be a ‘given’ here in the UK along with pensions, free healthcare etc. It used to be called ‘family allowance’ I remember we used to get the bus into town to collect it from the building society when I was little. Even children of people with no recourse to public funds are entitled to it. Similarly many don’t claim it because it’s not widely advertised and find out later they’ve missed out on thousands of pounds. Frustrating!

Parents with NRPF aren’t entitled to child benefit. Link. Further explanation including the exceptions such as reciprocal agreements here.

KatherineNorman · 27/10/2022 10:44

Child born in 2003 - never had a book - was just paid into the bank.

KatherineNorman · 27/10/2022 10:53

linsey2581 · 26/10/2022 19:28

Child benefit is just the new fancy name for family allowance. I had it when my kids were born 02 and 04. Mine just stopped there in September due to my youngest turning 18 in February. When my kids were babies I still had the book that I took to the post office every Tuesday to get stamped and get the money. But it eventually changed to automatic bank transfer.

The cut off isn't turning 18.
Child Benefit is paid to those over 16 in full-time non-advanced education, up until their 20th birthday.

If the young person remains in further education (level 3 - e.g A-levels) it continues until their 20th birthday.
If however you finish 6th form school/college after the standard 2 years then it ends because further education has ended, not because they have turned 18.

KatherineNorman · 27/10/2022 10:57

twocatsandtwokids · 26/10/2022 19:19

I have a 9 year old and a 6 year old. We’ve never claimed child benefit as my husband earns over the threshold. I found out recently that if I’d claimed for this over the years and he’d paid it back via his tax return I’d have been able to earn NI credits towards my state pension. As it is, over the last 9 years I’ve mainly been at home with the kids or not working enough hours a week to pay NI, so have all these missing years of NI payments 😡😡😡
I’ve missed out on these as I never knew this - and thought the same, why didn’t anyone tell me?! I never received any info about it and feel very bitter!

I would claim it anyway.
You might find that circumstances change and if you are in need of other benefits when your children are over 16 then CB is the proof needed for eligibility.

Or if at any point (up until aged 16) you find that your child isn't coping in school and need to be educated somewhere other than at school, CB is the proof required for access to help with NHS costs (prescriptions, eye tests) once they are past the end of compulsory school age.

linsey2581 · 27/10/2022 11:02

@KatherineNorman my son is 20 this year and is in his 3rd year of college and my daughter who will be 19 in feb is at uni so those rules don’t apply to us

vickylou78 · 27/10/2022 11:41

Op make sure you get the 20% tax free childcare also it's for childcare costs from baby up right up to senior school age. Go onto gov.uk website and search tax free childcare. It's the same section where you apply for the 30 free hours.

Mummabear89 · 27/10/2022 12:58

@cantforthelifeofme a little known thing people don't know is that child benefit is actually for your child. A few people I know put their children's into their childs bank account which they get access to when they are 18.

IhateHermioneGranger · 27/10/2022 13:05

Mummabear89 · 27/10/2022 12:58

@cantforthelifeofme a little known thing people don't know is that child benefit is actually for your child. A few people I know put their children's into their childs bank account which they get access to when they are 18.

Using it for household bills etc is also using it for the child. Only a very small amount is put in my children's savings accounts.

Testina · 27/10/2022 13:12

Mummabear89 · 27/10/2022 12:58

@cantforthelifeofme a little known thing people don't know is that child benefit is actually for your child. A few people I know put their children's into their childs bank account which they get access to when they are 18.

“A little known thing” 🤣🤣🤣

That's also utter bollocks @Mummabear89

It is a benefit that is available for the person responsible for bringing up a child.
Not directly for the child.
The government website states very clearly that the beneficiary of the benefit is that person bringing up the child.
It is possible to have a benefit paid solely for a child - that used to happen for CTFs.
But, you are wrong about CB.

Which is probably why it’s “little known”. So please don’t patronise people when you’re wrong 🤷🏻‍♀️

mummyh2016 · 27/10/2022 14:15

Mummabear89 · 27/10/2022 12:58

@cantforthelifeofme a little known thing people don't know is that child benefit is actually for your child. A few people I know put their children's into their childs bank account which they get access to when they are 18.

As opposed to what? Putting it towards feeding, clothing and heating your child?

vickylou78 · 27/10/2022 14:22

cantforthelifeofme · 26/10/2022 20:23

Yes thank you @Thisgroupneverceasestoamazeme , I've been very gratefully been using the free childcare hours.

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Great you are having the free hours. But are you also using the tax free childcare account serviceto pay the nursery?

Original poster

cantforthelifeofme · 27/10/2022 14:25

Lots of angry people on this thread.
Not everyone gets a bounty pack or has parents who speak to them about their finances/benefits.

Thank you @vickylou78 I didn't know that about it being right up to senior school age.

Thank you to everyone who has given really helpful advice.

OP posts:

Should I have been claiming child benefit all this time?

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