A number of parents have been left worried and confused over what appeared to be a mistake in their Child Benefit payments.
Some checking their bank accounts found a random small payment today (Friday), instead of their usual payment date on Monday.
A recorded message on HMRC's helpline on Thursday told parents one quarter of the child benefit payment would be paid on Friday, with the remaining three quarters on Monday, but gave no explanation for the split payment, which was not communicated to parents and was not mentioned on HMRC's website.
READ MORE: DWP £150 cash boost to people on PIP and other benefits
Although an HMRC spokesperson told Chronicle Live the changes 'was nothing to worry about', concerned parents have taken to social media to question the change.
Taking to Twitter, Stephanie said: "Anyone else's child benefit payment from @HMRCcustomers way lower than it should be???", while Louise Woolley said: "I have a pending payment of just one weeks worth showing, payment would usually be due on Monday?"
Rob Baker said: "Can you advise why we have all received 1 weeks child benefit money when we were expecting a month's worth? I assume this is some sort of balancing payment and therefore nothing to worry about but it would be good to be assured that's all it is. Thank you."
An HMRC spokesperson said: "In short, it’s just processes and working them around the bank holidays, and nothing for customers to worry about. We usually process payments for customers on Thursday and Fridays for the following Monday and Tuesday. Of course this isn’t possible because of the bank holidays falling on these two dates next week. Instead, we processed payments due Monday 30 and Tuesday 31 May earlier this week, so that we can process payments due on Monday 6 June early next week (as opposed to the usual Thursday/Friday). This will ensure customers receive payments due on Monday 6 and Tuesday 7 June on time.
"In terms of the split payments, there were some things that we needed to iron out to ensure customers receive their payments on time because of the quick of the double bank holiday, which is why they have been processed in this way. This however does not leave customers out of pocket as they will still receive the full amount on or before it is usually due. Customers paid weekly on a Monday, will receive payment on Friday 27 May 2022 instead of Monday 30 May. Customers paid four weekly will receive one week of Child Benefit on Friday 27 May and three weeks of Child Benefit on Monday 30 May.
Customers who are due weekly payments on Tuesday 31 May will receive them on Monday 30 May. Customers who receive monthly Child Benefit payments will receive ne weeks payment on Monday 30 May and the remaining three weeks payment on Tuesday 31 May. We are updating the HMRC website to reflect this and be more clear."
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
DWP £150 cash boost to people on PIP and other benefits
Portugal warning for Brits as holidaymakers urged to keep boarding passes
Family 'camps' at airport and abandon holiday as easyJet cancel flights
