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!

To be absolutely fair to the OP there are people out there that don't realise that they have to apply for a school place in the Autumn term before reception and that's something that's very obvious that something is needed to be done even if the how is unknown. Hope you get it sorted quickly.

To be absolutely fair to the OP there are people out there that don't realise that they have to apply for a school place in the Autumn term before reception and that's something that's very obvious that something is needed to be done even if the how is unknown. Hope you get it sorted quickly.

Given that all information is now available at our fingertips from multiple sources, and lots of people are still unaware, it makes you wonder how people managed before smart phones and the internet. Somehow such information was passed around. It does seem the more information we have available to us, the less we bother to learn. Like that other thread about Eurodisney and the parent who seemingly did no research as to travel times, shopping, costs, fast passes etc and ended up having a disappointing time. I thought everyone checked online reviews, tripadvisor etc these days. You can lead a horse to water .......

Kazzy one has to know how to research and why. For instance it's been called Disney Paris for years.

Op I'm sure you will get something. You should check bounty pack. And at least you will be able to claim for both

Happened to me too! Lost £6200 as ds was 6 by the time I realised! I always thought it was for people on low incomes and was in no state after birth to read all the paperwork I was given. I'm not sure I ever received it

Never came up in conversation because don't really talk about money with friends

Hey ho! Start claiming now though op!

Is the threshold over £50 or £60k for Child Benefit?
DP earns over 50 but under 60, I earn about 8.
Is it a sliding scale between 50 and 60 for repayment?

@gracielooloo yes it is a sliding scale between 50 and 60k so he will need to do a tax return and pay some of it back.

Why would your accountant advise you of benefits? I am an accountant and I'm not an expert on benefits and it wouldn't even occur to me to check clients are collecting what they are owed. My engagement letter certainly doesn't say that this is a service that I offer

Child Benefit used to be one of the questions in the "Life in the UK" test

Why would your accountant advise you of benefits? I am an accountant and I'm not an expert on benefits and it wouldn't even occur to me to check clients are collecting what they are owed. My engagement letter certainly doesn't say that this is a service that I offer

I'm exactly the same. I can't imagine clients would want to pay me by the hour just to tell them the stuff they can easily google for themselves. But likewise, I'm no expert on state benefits - it's enough of a job to keep updated with ever changing tax law for income tax, corporation tax, VAT, NIC, CGT and IHT,, and changes in accounting standards. There aren't any hours in the day to start learning things that the majority of clients never ask about.

How can you not know? You 100% get one application form with a Bounty pack at hospital + you get another one together with babies birth certificate. I wont ever believe that people cannot know about CB. Unless you live in a cave with no electricit tv or internet lol Sorry!

in no state after birth to read all the paperwork I was given

It's about time that the importance of paperwork/small print was emphasised in schools. Far too many people get themselves in all kinds of trouble because they glibly ignore instructions, contracts, etc.

Thankyou @JasperRising!
We’ve cancelled it but I’ve ticked the box to claim NI credits.

You 100% get one application form with a Bounty pack at hospital

Do you get one if you have a home birth or don't stay in hospital long enough to see a rep. I was in and out in a few hours late at night with one of my DCs and certainly didn't get a pack. Not an issue for me as I've known about child benefit since I was a child but as I've found out from this thread some people must live in a fog bubble.

in no state after birth to read all the paperwork I was given was the baby's father involved? It's not only the mother who is allowed to read the paperwork

Some people seem to live in a bubble.

@coconuttelegraph I had a home birth recently and the midwives left a Bounty Pack. It did have the form inside.

This just makes me hate the fact Bounty even give these out. The shitty marketing company should have no business in it at all.

I had my kids a long time ago.
My midwife gave me the form.

Sansaclegane I think it's about 60 odd quid a month so 60 times 12 equals 720. 720 times 5 years is about 3500, so yes, thousands of pounds, op is correct.

There was a form in the bounty pack given when mine were born. I was also reminded about it at registration I think.

Other things people may be missing out on is tax free child care - I think if both partners earn less than 100k each then you are entitled. You have to apply through government gateway and then for every 4 pounds you transfer in to pay for child care, the government adds 1 pound. We lost a lot of money not realising about this until recently.

Also worth looking into whether you are eligible for 30 hours free childcare for over 3s. My nursery gave me a nudge on this - I hadn't realised I was entitled to more than the standard 15!