Child Tax Benefit

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I have a 6 month old DS with DH. We haven't applied for child tax benefit. When not on maternity leave I make nearly 60k, DH current income is around 32k but at present is working yearly contracts. I have no idea about child tax credits and a friend even said we weren't eligible. I think read something online about not applying affecting my pension? And we should apply, get it & then pay it back??? I cant remember where I read it now but I'm confused about what to do. Please wise MNers, what do I do?!! Thank you!

Claiming Child benefit ensures you receive national insurance credits for the years you do not work, NI credits go towards your pension, you will receive the credits until your child is approx.12 years of age.
They are not be be confused with child tax credit or universal credit.

You are confusing Child Benefit with Child Tax Credits. You may be eligible for the former while on ml for this tax year as you won't earn 60k and probably next unless you return soon. It is only repayable if you individually earn over 50k , net of pension and some other deductions, in a single tax year. Even then it is not fully repayable until 60k. Register for it (they backdate up to 3 months) then cancel receipt of payments when you are back working for a full tax year. Registration ensures you receive ni credits until dc is 13 whether you are working or not. Unlikely you would get CTC on your dh income and it would now be part of a universal credit claim.

@LIZS yes! You're right, I meant child tax credit. Why would DH not be eligible if he earns less than me? Sorry, this is all really confusing.

Because as a household you earn £90k+ and child tax credit is to top up low income families.

Do you claim child benefit? £80 a month or so?

Op you still sound like you are confusing the two things.

Google child tax credit and Google child benefit.

You are entitled to child benefit at the moment and this is linked to ni and state pension so claim it now. Later on depending on the rules, you may have to claim it and pay it back as your income is over 60k but there is a sliding scale between £50 and 60k. Many people reduce their income by paying more into their pension and so making themselves eligible for child benefit again. Its £80 a month but more important is the ni and state pension safe guarding.

You are not entitled to child tax credit even on the reduced 32k income as this is only for very low incomes.

You will also be back to your high income shortly and surely you saved some of your higher income for maternity leave.

You can register for child benefit and choose not to receive it.
This keeps you up to date with NI credits towards your pension without having to go through the rigmarole of paying child benefit back.

@flirtygirl I don't need to claim anything as you're right, financially I have planned for a years maternity. It was only this think I heard about impact on pensions/NI.

@kamelo thank you, I think this is the advice I was looking for. Much appreciated