Child benefit - when do you get the birth certificate back?

[ardenbird]

Not sure if this is the right place to post this...please direct me elsewhere if not!

So, we sent off for child benefit for LO, and it required the original birth certificate (emphasised quite a bit in the form). I just got the notice back saying what we've been entitled to -- but they haven't returned the birth certificate!

Is it still to come? When do you get it back? I need that... LO will be travelling internationally and we need to get her a passport in the next months. I'm not sure if something has been forgotten or if it is normally sent separately. Does anyone know?

I sent my form off last week and if I recall correctly it said that documents (eg birth certificate) would be return separately within 28 days. I would guess that as you have had your notification, you should expect to receive it within the week.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but I got it back with a compliment slip a few days before the award letter. May be worth giving them a call.

we never got ours back... sent off 18 months ago after we moved here to claim child benefit for DD1 and to date haven't received it back...

Ours arrived in a separate envelope, about a week after the award notice. Did you buy the full birth certificate when you registered your baby? You can use either the full or part birth certificate for passport, so you could still apply while waiting to receive the other one back.

Ok I know this is an old thread but is anyone else waiting a long time to get documents back? They told me today that they sent them back on June 12th but won't do anything further until July 10th "because it usually takes up to 4 weeks". We've got flights booked in a couple of weeks & I'm starting to panic...!!

You can always get another birth certificate from the register office. I think it costs about £8

Yes you can get another one at the R office where child is registered. Ours are ruddy 15.50 per certificate.. Greedy gits.