Child Benefit Question

[linnet]

Does anybody know why the first child gets a higher rate than the second child?
Is there any specific reason for this? Or is it just one of these things.

Also when the 1st child turns 16 does the 2nd child automatically move up to the 1st childs payment bracket?

answer to the first part yes. as to the rest, I just don't know. curious now though...

I guess it's because the cost of 2 children isn't double the cost of one.

Don't know about the last bit.

bump

Anybody? Surely someone out there must know.

Message withdrawn

Yes, the higher rate simply moves up to the oldest child that you are claiming for.

ok, thanks for that folks. But does anybody know why the 2nd child gets less than the 1st?

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Can't really hand that many clothes down from boy to gril but I suppose other things like cots, pushchairs and other equipment can be re-used. Think its most unfair on people who have twins.

I started this thread because my cousin mentioned it at the weekend and to be honest I'd never really given it much thought but since then it's been buzzing round my head.

I had nothing to hand down when dd2 was born as there is a 6 and a half year age gap between dd1 and dd2. We had no cot, pram or anything, but that was not a problem.

I just don't understand why the 2nd child gets less, you still have to buy 2nd child clothes, feed them, take them places, they may go to clubs i.e gymnastics, swimming etc. and lke bozza said if you have a boy then a girl or vice versa you can't always hand things down. I use the child benefit to buy dd1 clothes, shoes, and pay for the clubs that she goes to it also gets put towards birthday/christmas presents. For dd2 at the moment it's being used for nappies, wipes, clothes etc but it just doesn't seem to stretch the way dd1's did when she was a baby.

WE're not really really poor or anything but I was just very curious as to why the 2nd child gets less money. Oh and the question about when they turn 16 was just out of curiosity not relevant to my situation yet just something I thought about while pondering the discussion I'd had with my cousin.

But buying food for an extra little mouth doesn't cost double what it costs to feed the eldest child. There are no more heating costs etc (or they don't increase greatly). I'm sure child benefit is to cover basic needs so not intended to pay for an extension or house move or gymnastics lessons

It seems to at the moment Tinker! DD is 6 months and my shopping bills have gone up hugely since she started weaning. Obviously I am expecting them to go down again once she is eating with the rest of us.