Parents have received a lower child benefit payment this week due to the bank holiday weekend.
(Picture: AFP via Getty Images)Parents have been left confused after receiving lower child benefit payments last week.
Child benefits are typically paid on a Monday or Tuesday, but the upcoming Platinum Jubilee bank holiday has affected when families will get paid.
But parents don’t need to worry–although they’ve received a smaller payment this week, they can expect to receive the rest of the money this week.
Find out below why the payments have been split and when you can expect to receive your child benefit.
How much is child benefit?
There are two child benefit rates. Parents will receive £21.80 a week for the eldest or only child, and £14.45 per week for each additional child.
Why are the child benefit payments lower?
Parents have received a lower child payment last week because the monthly payments have been split up. Many parents have reported only receiving £21.80.
Last week, parents who usually receive their child benefit every four weeks received one week’s payment (£21.80), while the rest of the money will be paid this week.
Child benefit payment dates
Child benefits are usually paid every four weeks, on a Monday or Tuesday. But it’s paid on a different date if the payment date falls on a bank holiday.
If you’re expecting the child benefit payment on May 30 or May 31, you’ll likely receive either the entire payment–or part of it–earlier.
You could have received one week’s payment on Friday, May 27, followed by three weeks’ worth of money on either Monday, May 30, or Tuesday, May 31.
The dates will be slightly different if you receive the payments weekly. If the payment was due on Monday, youwill have received it on Friday, and if it was due on Tuesday, you’ll get it on Monday.
Why have the child benefit payments been split?
A HMRC spokesperson told WalesOnline: “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.”
They explained that: "Instead, we processed payments due Monday and Tuesday May 30 and 31 earlier this week, so that we can process payments due on Monday June 6 early next week, as opposed to the usual Thursday/Friday.
“This will ensure customers receive payments due on Monday and Tuesday June 6 and 7 on time.”
If you need additional help, you can contact the HMRC’s child benefit helpline on the phone number 0300 200 3100.
