Can I get child benefit again?

[IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads]

We have 2 dc, 11 and 14.
I stopped claiming child benefit about 8 years ago, because DH's income meant the additional tax was not worthwhile.

I earn less than £50k.
DH has been made redundant. He has a lump sum of redundancy pay and pay in lieu of notice.

Can I restart my child benefit claim? Now? No until the end of his "notice" that he's been paid for? Not at all whilst we have savings ?

Do you work?

if you haven't been claiming child benefit what have you been doing about your pension for the past 8 years?

Savings don't affect your claim but I think it's based on what he's earned in a year (in which case will he be over the 50K limit for this year?

OP said she earns less than 50K so presumably she is working

Of course! I initially read it as he was. Clearly too much wine for me this evening!

Did you opt not to receive payments or just not claim it?

Assuming you've not claimed it then yes you can apply. Savings don't count, but if you claim when your DH is still earning over £50,000 you're back in HIBC territory so I'd wait until he's under that if you want to avoid.

If you opted not to receive it but still registered for the national insurance credits I imagine you'll need to call up to adjust your details.

Claim it - save it and DH will have to pay it back in his tax return if need be. I don't believe you can back claim if he doesn't clear the £50k this year however.

How long is his notice? Unless it's 6 months or more then he's unlikely to go over this bear unless he's very lucky with re-employment.

Thank you all

Yes, I have worked 4 days a weeks since returning from mat leave (previously FT). My NI credits are all up to date. I earn higher thirties.

I stayed in the Child Benefit system, but chose not to receive payments when DH was promoted.

DH is on 6 months notice. He will be working 2, and then will be released (ie: not garden leave) with 4 months pay lump sum.

When he leaves work, he will have earnt over £50k this calendar year, but not this financial year. Which "year" counts?

The new tax year has just started.
Unless DH has earnt 50k in taxable pay since 6th april - redundancy is usually tax free - yes, start claiming.
Worst that can happen is DH starts a new job on enough money to earn 50k taxable pay before Apil 5th next year, and you have to repay it.
So, claim now. If DH gets a high paying job fairly quickly, look at putting enough aside to repay it in Jan 2025.

Xposts.
It's tax years - 6april 2023 - 5th April 2024

You can restart a claim and get back pay for a certain time, too. They’re very helpful on the phone.

Thank you @CatOnTheChair. I shall!
I was going to say I'll given them a ring on Monday (my non working day), but they're all bank holidays for ages!