Parents are being reminded to report any changes in their family circumstances that will affect the amount of Child Benefit payments they receive. They are warned that if they don't, they run the risk of not getting all the money they are entitled to - or could even be made to pay it back.
The Citizens Advice Bureau says that anyone in the UK can claim the benefit if they are legally responsible for a child - whether they are a parent or not. The criteria are that the young person has to be under 16 years old, or "still in education or training" up to the age of 20.
Payments are made irrespective of employment status, or the amount of savings and investments someone who is eligible may have. In some circumstances, parents and guardians can also claim if they live abroad but this is rare.
READ MORE: Parents left puzzled by Child Benefit payment change this week
Child Benefit is a lifeline for many families, especially those on low incomes. It's also increasingly relevant as more people struggle financially due to the current cost of living crisis, which has seen household energy prices soar and inflation rise to 9 per cent.
Under the present scheme, anyone who is eligible will be paid £21.80 a week for their first child. This falls to £14.45 per week for any further children.
When will Child Benefit payments stop?
Payments usually stop on A ugust 31 on or after your child’s 16th birthday, or once the same date once they reach 20 if they are in college, university or another form of higher education or training. There are other circumstances, however, where they will also be halted.
According to the UK Government's online advice portal, parents and guardians need to tell the Child Benefit Office if a child is "staying in approved education or training" beyond 16. This also applies if they later leave full-time education or training before turning 20.
They should get in touch if the child starts paid work for 24 hours a week or more; live away for either eight weeks in a row or more than 56 days in a 16-week period; move abroad (or to Northern Ireland) for more than three months, or will be in hospital or 'residential care' provided by a local council for more than 12 weeks.
Payments will stop if a young person gets married, forms a civil partnership, starts to live with a partner; is sent to prison for eight weeks or more, and if they start claiming benefits such as Jobseeker's Allowance or Universal Credit. If a child dies, of course, Child Benefit will also end.
You may be able to claim again if a child is in care, for example, but spends two nights in a row each week, or seven days or more in a row, at home. The Child Benefit Office can be contacted either by phone, online or by post.
Changes in family circumstances must also be reported that may affect payments. These include moving home and changing your bank account, name or gender. The Child Benefit Office also needs to know if a relationship ends or a new one begins, if one of the parents dies, or whether you move abroad.
Other important circumstances include having a baby or another child coming to live with you, and whether you are imprisoned for more than eight weeks. A change in immigration status, including losing the right to reside in the UK, must also be communicated.
When is Child Benefit paid?
Child Benefit is normally paid every four weeks, either on a Monday or Tuesday. But there will be different payment dates if it is due on a bank holiday Monday. In some cases, payments are made weekly, for example, to single parents or if and those in receipt of other benefits.
There has been some confusion among parents and guardians this week after some payments were partly made. HM Revenue and Customs explained this was down to "working them [payments] around bank holidays ", such as the upcoming Queen's Platinum Jubilee weekend, next week.
A 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."
The Gov.uk website has been updated to reflect changing payment dates in the coming week. It says that if your payment is due on May 30 or 31 you will get it, or part of it, early.
For those paid every four weeks, those with payments due on Monday (May 30) should have got a week's amount paid today (Friday, May 27). The remaining three weeks' worth of money will follow after the weekend.
If your Child Benefit payment is due on Tuesday (May 31), you will receive one week's worth the day before (Monday) and the rest on Tuesday.
For parents paid weekly, payments due on Monday should have been paid today. Those expecting the money on Tuesday will get it on Monday instead. To make sure when your payment date usually is, you are advised to check your bank statements or online banking records.
