Didn’t know about child benefit!

[Amyloumummy]

Hi,

I’ve just found out about child benefit and my daughter is 5!! I’ve missed out on thousands of pounds! I’m wondering how everyone knows about this - should I have been sent a letter when my daughter was born or something? Is it just general knowledge? Really confused how I seem to be the only one not to know about this!

Thanks!

And its £60k TAXABLE pay that is the upper threshold. So many people can earn quite a bit more than £60k and still get some CB.

What is your husbands income? It’s 60k - whoever earns the most .

I'd imagine that the accountant and those involved with your 2nd child haven't told you because no one would think for a minute that you don't know it exists.

How have you managed never to have had a conversation about in 5 years or heard about it on the news or read a thread on MN, I find that unbelievable, did you grow up in the UK? If so was it never mentioned during your childhood

I’ve just checked my bounty pack and all the info given by the midwives after the birth and there’s nothing in there about it. I also checked the bounty pack from my daughter and nothing in there either! I’ve heard of benefits but didn’t know that having a child entitled everyone (barring those earning over £60k) to a benefit, I honestly have never been told! It was only when my Dad said “they used to get family allowance in my day, do you get it” that I looked into it! My partner wasn’t aware either! We’d both just assumed benefits were for low income households.

My accountant never told me with my first either! I’ve no idea - why have friends never mentioned it?! I’ve got loads of friends with kids the same age!

Have you really never heard child benefit being discussed with friends, on TV, the radio, nothing?

If you can post on MN you can google ‘benefits ’.

I think people didn’t mention it because it’s one of the things people know. Like people know state pensions exist.

How is it possible you haven’t heard of it!

Sorry not helpful just really surprising

I forgot to claim it for my THIRD child I think I expected them to somehow automatically know I'd had another child 😂

Can any new mums who have a Bounty Pack tell us if they have a form in there?

I didn’t know anything about it either OP!

You've still got your daughter’s bounty pack from over 5 year so ago !! I find that more astonishing than the fact you didn’t know child benefit existed. (Misses the point of the thread)

Also really annoyed that our accountant who we’ve been with about 10 years never mentioned it

Why? What's it got to do with your business. It doesn't get included in the accounts nor the tax return (unless you or OH earn over £50k). Accountants deal with accounts and tax - child benefit is neither.

Some people just know every benefit in the system.

sansa 5371.60 in total. I am very sorry OP. I don't think they'll backdate more than 248.40.

alternatively some of us remember collecting the family allowance from the post office for our mums in the 70s I'm not remembering that wrongly, am I?

When you leave hospital after birth, you get a form confirming the birth that you take to the registrar to get the birth certificate - usually there's more paperwork such as various leaflets etc. It's usually included in those.

Whether it's also included in the bounty pack will depend on whoever fills the packs - they will vary.

But, regardless, it's pretty common knowledge. Sometimes there are things which are simply too obvious and well known that people don't talk about them.

If it’s any consolation I think they backdate it a little bit? Maybe 3 months or so.

Some people just know every benefit in the system.

Of course not, but after state pensions which everyone knows about and gets, child benefit must come a strong second place as most people which children will get it and most adults have children.

I can understand someone not knowing about something far less common like bereavement allowance which is something very few people are eligible for, but surely child benefit is up there along with statutory sick pay, maternity pay, job seekers allowance etc.

How have you managed never to have had a conversation about in 5 years or heard about it on the news or read a thread on MN, I find that unbelievable, did you grow up in the UK? If so was it never mentioned during your childhood

This ^^ I'm staggered you don't know about it didn't your own mother claim?

When we registered the birth the registrar gave us a form.

I knew about it because my mother told me.

Also, all of my siblings knew about it, from the same source. Friends knew about it when In school, early 80’s.

No Rage, I did to do that too.

Bounty packs are just advertising. Why would they tell you about child benefit?

I can't believe anyone Hadn't heard of child benefit. Especially if you