Claiming child benefit for the first time when child is 9

[Flopsymopsyandjoe]

Neither DH or I have ever claimed child benefit since becoming parents nearly 10 years ago as one of us has always earned over the threshold. However I’ve just been made redundant out of the blue. Our income has dramatically reduced overnight and is likely to stay that way for a while. We are now a household where no one earns over £60k and so for the first time we’re eligible for child benefit.

My question is, is it possible to start claiming now (we will obviously stop claiming as and when either of us earns over the threshold again)? I’ve had a look on the gov website and as far as I can tell the claim is based on the previous years’ tax payments, which of course would be showing that I earned too much to be eligible. Has anyone been in this situation?

I would ring Child Benefit and ask them, from them you should get the most up to date advice on what to do in your situation.

Just put the claim in. It can be claimed even if it all needs to be paid back at the end of the year.