Parents claiming Child Benefit payments could see this benefit stopped or reduced for several reasons.
Child Benefit is paid to people that are responsible for bringing up a child and around seven million people in the UK claim it.
Currently, those claiming Child Benefit get £24 a week for the first child and £15.90 a week for any additional children.
The monthly cash is the Government's way of acknowledging the extra costs involved with raising a child.
There are rules when claiming Child Benefit and sometimes parents are caught out - which could cause their payments to stop.
Here are four reason why your Child Benefit payments could stop.
You did not update your details on time
If you claim Child Benefit, then your payments will automatically stop on August 31 the year your child turns 16.
However, if your child is going to remain in full time education, full time training or they are joining the armed forces or a government-sponsored careers programme, then you can continue claiming the money until they turn 20.
But you will need to take steps to notify HMRC about this - if not your payment will be stopped.
If your child stays in education or training but then decides to leave, you will continue to get Child Benefit until whichever date after their birthday comes first:
- The last day in February
- May 31
- August 31
- November 30
If you fail to update your details in time, you may still be able to claim Child Benefit, but your payments might be late.
Your circumstances have changed
If your circumstances have changed since you started claiming Child Benefit then you will have to let HMRC know as sometimes this could affect your payments - this is called a "change of circumstance."
You will need to tell HMRC as soon as you can, usually it has to be within one month of the change.
If you get married, form a civil partnership or a partner moves in with you, you should report it to HMRC - however, these changes won't affect your Child Benefit amount.
The following changes could affect your payments:
You or your partner start earning more than £50,000
If this is the case you will start paying the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC) so you will need to pay back some of the money you get - you have to pay back 1% of the Child Benefit you receive for every £100 earnt above £50,000.
However, if you and your partner both earn £50,000 - so £100,000 annually - then you will not have to pay it back.
If you earn more than £60,000, then you will not be able to claim Child Benefit.
Although if your partner is earning over £60,000 but you are not working or earning less than £113 a week, then you will still be able to claim.
You separate or divorce from your partner
Only one person can claim Child Benefit for a child and usually, it is the person the child lives with.
If you want the other person to claim, then you will need to request this from HMRC.
You have to tell HMRC about separations and divorces as it could affect your taxes and the benefits you claim.
Your living arrangements have changed
Moving house won’t affect your Child Benefit if the child still lives with you - but it will if you move abroad.
You can only claim Child Benefit for the first eight weeks you are not in the UK, or 12 weeks if you are having medical treatment.
However, you must still live in the UK and you must not be abroad for more than a year.
Your immigration status has changed
If you are from the EU, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland or Liechtenstein and lose your "right to reside" status, your Child Benefit will stop.
If you are not from the EU, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland or Liechtenstein and your immigration status changes, your Child Benefit could be affected - although your partner may still have the ability to claim dependent on their circumstance.
Your child’s circumstances have changed
You must inform HMRC of any changes to your child’s circumstances too.
According to HMRC rules, you must tell HMRC if:
- Your child is 16 - 20 and leaves education or training
- Your child is aged 16 or over and starts working for more than 24 hours a week
- You child starts getting income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Universal Credit, tax credits, Income Support or Employment and Support Allowance
- Your child gets married or forms a civil partnership
- Your child dies or goes missing
- Your child lives away from you for more than eight weeks in a row
- Your child moves in with their partner on a permanent basis
- Your child leaves the country for more than 12 weeks, unless it is part of school education or to get medical treatment
- Your child goes to prison for more than eight weeks
In these cases, you will stop receiving Child Benefit.
If your child goes into hospital or residential care for more than 12 weeks you will also need to inform HMRC but you might be able to keep getting it if you're paying some money towards the child's needs, such as medicine, clothes or food.
You must also tell HMRC if your child changes their name - however, this won't affect your Child Benefit amount.
You have started receiving other benefits
Your Child Benefit might be reduced or be stopped altogether if you start receiving payments from your local council, such as Housing Benefit, or someone else who is looking after the child.
How to report a change to HMRC
You can easily report a change online through your GOV.UK Government Gateway account but you can also contact HMRC thorough post, or over the phone by calling the Child Benefit office on 0300 200 3100.
After making the report, HMRC will send you a letter telling you if your Child Benefit has been stopped or increased. - this will usually be within 30 days.
