When should I apply for child benefit?

[FlyingWithBabyLongHaul]

Hello, looking for some advice on when to start claiming child benefit.

We haven't claimed any child benefit up until now, but at the start of the new tax year in April, we will become eligible (due to the increase in the earnings threshold). We would still have to pay some back via self-assessment but at least we can claim some of it.

When should I apply for child benefit? We would be eligible from 6 April, but I read online that all child benefit claims are automatically backdated 3 months. Does this mean I should wait until 6 July to claim, and payments would be backdated to 6 April?

I don't want to claim too early as anything before 6 April we would end up having to repay in full via self-assessment.

Would appreciate any advice. Thank you.

When I restarted my claim there was a question on the form asking when I wanted to claim it from, so I just put the 6th April in there.

That is really helpful info, thank you!

Sorry to jump on this. I re applied on 7th March and put a start date of the 6th april too, I haven't heard anything since I just have a completed status on my application form. Just wondering if 1 - you had any letter or anything to confirm 2- have you recieved a Payment?

Thanks

I haven't heard anything since I filled in the form. I imagine they're inundated.

Hello!
I just wanted to check if either of you have received anything from HMRC?
I have only applied this week (same situation, now able to receive due to recent changes). When I submitted my claim it said two weeks but when I login I can’t even see my claim has been registered?
I know it’s early but now I’m not sure that they actually have it

We put the application in a few weeks back and have heard nothing yet. I'm just gonna wait it out for now!

I did mine a few weeks ago, early April, and then two weeks of money appeared in my account last week without any explanation. I received a letter yesterday confirming that it was now starting as of 8 April, although they have missed off our second child so need to work up the energy to sit on hold for HMRC at some point!

I ended up calling up @FlyingWithBabyLongHaul @HDready and despite sending my husband a screenshot which said thanks for your application or whatever it was. They said nothing has been registered (so there was no claim). She did it on the phone for me instead (I was on hold for around 30 mins, but solved when I spoke to someone in minutes).

I suddenly got a payment for a week's worth of child benefit on the 9th April, so I assume my claim was successful. No letter, or contact of any kind, though.