There is some good news for parents and guardians of children and teenagers in the UK. Child Benefit payments will increase from April 2022, the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has confirmed.
The weekly child benefit rates have gradually increased over the last couple of years and parents or guardians raising a child aged below 16 or a young person under 20 who is still in full-time education or on certain approved training courses, will be eligible for the increased payment this year. Child benefit is a payment from the government to assist with the costs of raising a child or children.
Paid every four weeks and, according to the government website, there is no limit on how many children a person can claim for. However, if you or your partner earn over £50,000 (as an individual income) you may have to pay back some of your Child Benefit in tax.
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Only one parent or guardian can claim for a child and if two families join together, the eldest child in the new family qualifies for the eldest rate and any other children who are eligible will get the lower rate. If a family splits up you have two children and one stays with you and the other stays with your ex-partner, you’ll both get £21.15 a week for each child.
Here are the full details on the confirmed rate changes to Child Benefit and Guardian’s Allowance payments from April 11, 2022. There are two Child Benefit rates in place depending upon how many children you are claiming for. The first rate is for the eldest or only child, the second rate is for other children.
Child Benefit rates for 2021 to March 2022
Current rates per week
Eldest or only child - £21.15
Other children - £14.00
Child Benefit payment rates from April 2022 to March 2023
New rates per week - from April 2022
Eldest or only child - £21.80
Other children - £14.45
How much is the increase?
This equates to an increase of 65p and 45p respectively per week. This means the new four-weekly payments will be £87.20 for an eldest or only child and £56.00 for any additional children - that's an additional £33.80 and £23.40 respectively over the next financial year.
Guardian's Allowance rates from April
Guardian’s Allowance is a payment for those bringing up a child whose parents have died. You may also be eligible if there’s one surviving parent. The current rate is £18 a week and you get that on top of Child Benefit. It is tax-free.
The new weekly rate for Guardian's Allowance will be £18.55 - an increase of 55p on the current 2021/22 rate of £18.00.
