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Original poster

Anyone cancelled child benefit?

24 replies

LightLg · 01/05/2023 19:37

Hi, has anyone got any experience of cancelling child benefit because you’re no longer eligible? Did you call, or do it online?also, did you get anything in the post confirming that you Had opted out?

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 01/05/2023 19:53

I'm sure I opted out online
Only really worth it if one of you earns over £60k

Potterbore · 01/05/2023 19:54

I called HMRC and did it over the phone. The person at the other end was very helpful.
My DH had a pay rise and she checked it was worth our while to cancel (it was).

SpottyUnicorn · 01/05/2023 19:54

I phoned them. Got a letter confirming that I had opted out a couple of weeks later.

topcat2014 · 01/05/2023 19:56

Make sure you don't miss out on NI years

Original poster
LightLg · 01/05/2023 19:56

I should have opted out a while back. I was hoping I’d get an email and not a letter as dh thinks I opted out a while back and I’d prefer to avoid the stressy conversation.

OP posts:
meditrina · 01/05/2023 20:00

Just make sure you are foregoing only the cash element.

It's always worth keeping the NI credit because if for any reason you stop either paying contributions or receiving a different qualifying benefit, that'll be there on your record anyhow without you having to remember anything or do anything

Nereides · 01/05/2023 20:01

Opt out of the cash if you like but keep the NI element. It isn’t means tested.

Original poster
LightLg · 01/05/2023 20:29

If I opt out online will I still get the paper letter? Dh and I open each other’s post and I could do without the letter

OP posts:
TooRightM8 · 01/05/2023 20:31

topcat2014 · 01/05/2023 19:56

Make sure you don't miss out on NI years

This x 1000

hedgehoglurker · 01/05/2023 20:51

I opted out online and got a letter confirming. If your DH is the higher earner, you really should come clean about your delay as he is the one that needs to do the Self Assessment.

Original poster
LightLg · 01/05/2023 20:52

hedgehoglurker · 01/05/2023 20:51

I opted out online and got a letter confirming. If your DH is the higher earner, you really should come clean about your delay as he is the one that needs to do the Self Assessment.

What did the letter say?

OP posts:
NewDogOwner · 01/05/2023 21:01

I did it online. Very easy.

hedgehoglurker · 01/05/2023 21:02

It doesn't confirm the date that you notified them, although the letter is probably generated as that date.

When you request online, you ask for it to be stopped from a certain date in the future. On 30 March I asked for 04 April, but they chose 10 April, probably due to Bank Holidays etc.

I've cut out the identifying details.

Anyone cancelled child benefit?
Original poster
LightLg · 01/05/2023 21:06

hedgehoglurker · 01/05/2023 21:02

It doesn't confirm the date that you notified them, although the letter is probably generated as that date.

When you request online, you ask for it to be stopped from a certain date in the future. On 30 March I asked for 04 April, but they chose 10 April, probably due to Bank Holidays etc.

I've cut out the identifying details.

Thank you

OP posts:
EveryoneButSam · 01/05/2023 21:07

I did it on line and got a letter telling me the date they would stop it from. If your husband is the higher earner, and assuming you got child benefit in April (i.e. this tax year), either he won't earn over the threshold this year and there will be no impact so no reason for him to stress about it; or he will, in which case he has to know because he will need to do a tax return.

dementedpixie · 01/05/2023 21:26

If he has earned over the threshold (£50k +) for a while and you haven't opted out then he will still have to do self assessment for the previous tax year if he is the higher earner.

Sarahzzx · 02/05/2023 00:10

hedgehoglurker · 01/05/2023 21:02

It doesn't confirm the date that you notified them, although the letter is probably generated as that date.

When you request online, you ask for it to be stopped from a certain date in the future. On 30 March I asked for 04 April, but they chose 10 April, probably due to Bank Holidays etc.

I've cut out the identifying details.

Roughly how long did it take for the letter to arrive after you cancelled?

Sarahzzx · 02/05/2023 00:32

EveryoneButSam · 01/05/2023 21:07

I did it on line and got a letter telling me the date they would stop it from. If your husband is the higher earner, and assuming you got child benefit in April (i.e. this tax year), either he won't earn over the threshold this year and there will be no impact so no reason for him to stress about it; or he will, in which case he has to know because he will need to do a tax return.

I did mine online two weeks ago but no letter yet? How long did it take for your letter to arrive?

Heatherbell1978 · 02/05/2023 07:27

I did it recently online. We're both higher earners and DH has been doing a tax return for years so it felt daft to carry on just to pay it back. Very easy online.

HadEnoughOfBears · 02/05/2023 07:29

Have you not done this yet? You're going to have to bite the bullet and do it soon!

NotmykingEatCake · 02/05/2023 07:38

You posted about this before didnt you OP?

Just tell DH you forgot! And stop opening each others post.

Are you ok? You seem disproportionately scared of your husband

hedgehoglurker · 02/05/2023 08:43

Sarahzzx · 02/05/2023 00:10

Roughly how long did it take for the letter to arrive after you cancelled?

Show quote history

Probably about 2 weeks.

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