Registering a Birth in Lockdown -Help!!

[CharlotteSaskia]

Is anyone else having major issues registering a birth in lockdown?! I had my DD on 2nd March and they are still not letting me register her at Hounslow Registry Office -they have updated the legislation for deaths so that you can now register on the telephone rather than in person -surely they can do the same with births?! Anyone else experiencing issues?

I’d just wait. It’s not like she’s going anywhere?

In my local authority they’ve suspended registration of births cos frankly and very sadly, they’re overwhelmed (and planning to potentially be more so) with the registration of deaths. There are only a finite number of registrars and regulations to abide by, plus we have most of them working from home. The creation of certificates and the whole process is harder now with social distancing and everything, the decision to only register deaths for now, makes perfect sense.
Don’t worry, they’ll catch up.

You need a birth certificate though to claim certain benefits. What are they doing about that? Just allowing people on them without a certificate?

My DD is 3 weeks old and I cant register her either as govt has suspended it.

On the govt website it says to write "covid 19" on your form for child benefit as you cant provide a birth certificate.

I did it and I got paid CB today. I wrote "covid 19" where it mentioned evidence and i also wrote it on a postit note.

As above. Birth registrations are suspended but you can still get child benefit. Just make a note on the child benefit form that you couldn’t register the birth.

What’s the problem? You just can’t register them at the moment. You have to wait until they reopen, there’s currently no 6 week deadline. You can now claim benefits without their registration as they have suspended the service.

What about child tax credits though? Or child element? Does the same apply? Must be really hard for some parents if they have had to start claiming UC but can't even get the Child Element.