Stressed about child benefit overpayment

[Customs]

This month I applied for child benefit and have been automatically given a back payment which I did not ask for, did not apply for and am not eligible for. The back payment takes me into the previous tax year where I earned more than 60k, whereas this tax year I will earn less than 50k.

I have asked HMRC to just process the claim from when I put it in but they say I have go register and complete a Self Assessment form instead and then make a repayment. They acknowledge I did not ask for back pay but seems like it's still my problem to fix.

Does anyone have any advice on this? Are self assessments complex? Will I have to do this every year now? Can't they just change the start date of my claim to correct it? There seems to be no one past the helpline I can escalate to.

I had to do a self assessment for few years as I'd not realised it needed paying back then they wouldn't let me not have it. It was a collosal pain, sorry to tell you! The form isn't so bad but dealing with them is frustrating beyond belief and it went on months. My best recommendation is call the HMRC self assessment helpline and ask as they were really helpful when I finally got through and waived the fine I was wrongly given (argh).

It is such a poor system. DH earns in 50s and just don't bother. It's too much hassle