HMRC is urging people ‘make sure you’re not missing out’ on the cash
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) continues to remind people across the UK that they may be entitled to free cash if they earn less than £80,000 a year. The tax authority frequently posts updates on social media, urging people to “make sure you’re not missing out on money”.
Parents and carers across the UK can claim Child Benefit, a payment designed to assist with the costs of bringing up children. The money, distributed by HMRC, provides a sum for each child aged under 16, or up to 20 if they remain in full-time education or approved training.
Claiming Child Benefit also builds up National Insurance credits that count towards a person’s State Pension. At present, Child Benefit pays £26.05 weekly for one child, totalling £1,354.60 annually.
For each extra child, recipients get £17.25 per week. This means families with two children – the most common number of children per family – receive £2,275 a year, while those with three children get £3,172 annually.
Since April 2024, the upper earnings threshold for receiving any Child Benefit stands at £80,000, though individuals earning above £60,000 yearly may need to pay what’s known as the High Income Child Benefit Charge. On social media, HMRC continues to remind people to check their eligibility for the benefit, reports the Liverpool Echo.
One message on X reads: “Think you earn too much to receive Child Benefit payments? Check again to make sure you’re not missing out on money. To see what you could get, use our Child Benefit tax calculator below, before restarting payments online or in the HMRC app.”
If you or your partner earn £60,000 or less annually, then you’re eligible to claim the full amount of Child Benefit if the child resides with you, or if you’re contributing an equivalent weekly amount as the benefit towards their care. However, only one parent or carer can claim it per child.
Child Benefit is set to rise by 3.8% in April 2026. From the new financial year, the rates will go up to £27.05 per week for the eldest or only child and £17.90 for any additional children.
This means that from April, the benefit will be worth £1,406.60 annually for one child, or £2,337.40 for two children and £3,268.20 for three children per year. You can claim Child Benefit 48 hours after you’ve registered the birth of your child, or once a child comes to live with you and it can be backdated for up to three months.
