HMRC has issued a reminder to UK parents who have more than one child about
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has issued a warning to UK parents with multiple children.
In a new update on X, formerly Twitter, HMRC sought to highlight that these parents might be losing out on £930 annually – or potentially more. The message explains that parents are eligible to claim Child Benefit for each of their children. Child Benefit is a tax-free state payment intended to assist parents or guardians with the expenses of bringing up a child, or children.
HMRC distributes payments every four weeks. Child Benefit is valued at approximately £1,406 per year for your eldest child, and just over £930 per child for every subsequent child.
The HMRC message states: “Have more than one child? Claim Child Benefit now and you could receive:
- £27.05/week for your eldest child
- £17.90/week for each additional child
“You’ll also get National Insurance credits to protect your State Pension – even if you’re not currently working. Claim via the HMRC app or online now.”
There is no limit on the number of children you can claim Child Benefit for, though only one person may claim where two people are caring for the same child. Higher earners may be required to repay a portion of their Child Benefit.
Should you or your partner earn in excess of £60,000, you will need to return 1% of your Child Benefit for every £200 earned above this threshold. This repayment is part of the High Income Child Benefit Charge, whereby anyone earning over £80,000 is required to pay back the entire amount of Child Benefit they have received.
The income threshold for the High Income Child Benefit Charge was raised from £50,000 to £60,000 in April 2024.
