Are you a parent missing out on £27 a week? Here’s how to check.

Thousands of new parents across the United Kingdom could be overlooking a vital financial lifeline, potentially forfeiting hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds designed to help with the considerable costs of raising a child. This overlooked support, Child Benefit, is an allowance from the government intended to ease the financial burden on families, yet official data reveals a significant proportion of eligible parents are failing to claim it, often due to a simple oversight amidst the whirlwind of new parenthood. The allowance, currently set at £27.05 a week for the eldest or only child and £17.90 for each subsequent child, can make a tangible difference to household budgets, covering everything from nappies and formula to clothing and early years activities.

Child Benefit is more than just a weekly payment; it’s a foundational element of family support. Its primary purpose is to acknowledge the financial demands that come with bringing up children, providing a regular, non-means-tested income stream to families. For a first child, this translates to an annual sum of approximately £1,406.60, and for additional children, £933.80 per year. These amounts, while seemingly modest on a weekly basis, accumulate quickly and can provide crucial relief, especially during a period of increased expenses and potential reduction in parental income.

The scale of the issue is striking. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) statistics indicate that parents of nearly a third of all children eligible for Child Benefit do not successfully make a claim before their baby’s first birthday. This translates to tens of thousands of families potentially missing out on essential support. A key factor exacerbating this loss is the strict backdating rule: payments can only be backdated for a maximum of three months from the date HMRC receives the claim. This means that if a parent claims when their child is, for example, nine months old, they will have irrevocably lost six months’ worth of payments, which for a first child would amount to over £600. In the fog of new parenthood, where sleepless nights and endless baby-related tasks dominate, remembering to complete official paperwork often falls by the wayside, leading to these substantial financial losses.

There are numerous reasons why parents might miss out. First-time parents, in particular, may simply be unaware of the benefit or assume they aren’t eligible. The sheer volume of information and responsibilities that come with a newborn can be overwhelming, pushing administrative tasks to the bottom of the priority list. Birth registration, doctor appointments, and setting up the nursery understandably take precedence. Misconceptions about eligibility, especially regarding income thresholds, also deter many. Some parents mistakenly believe that if they earn above a certain amount, they shouldn’t bother claiming at all, an assumption that often leads them to miss out on other, equally valuable, aspects of the benefit.

While the annual publication of the most popular baby names might serve as a charming reminder of new life, it could also be a subtle prompt for parents to consider the other, more practical, pieces of official paperwork that accompany a new arrival. Beyond the birth certificate, registering for Child Benefit is one of the most important. Other potential triggers for remembering could include health visitor appointments, registering with a GP, or even conversations with other parents. Public awareness campaigns are crucial in reinforcing the message that claiming Child Benefit is a fundamental step after a child’s birth.

Making a claim for Child Benefit is a relatively straightforward process, designed to be accessible to parents. One parent should initiate the claim, which can be done as early as 48 hours after the baby’s birth has been registered. The most common method is to claim online via the Gov.uk website, although a postal form (CH2) is also available for download. To complete the claim, you will typically need several pieces of information and documentation:

Your child’s original birth certificate (or adoption certificate).
Your National Insurance number (and your partner’s, if you have one).
Your bank or building society account details for payment.
The date your child came to live with you (if not born to you).
Details of any previous Child Benefit claims.

Once submitted, payments are typically made every four weeks, directly into the nominated bank account. This regular injection of funds can be a dependable element of family budgeting, providing stability and predictability in managing childcare costs.

Beyond the direct financial payments, claiming Child Benefit unlocks another crucial, often overlooked, benefit: National Insurance (NI) credits. For parents who are not working, or who are earning below the threshold for NI contributions (e.g., due to taking parental leave or working part-time to care for children), claiming Child Benefit ensures they receive NI credits. These credits are vital because they contribute towards their State Pension entitlement. To receive the full new State Pension, individuals currently need 35 qualifying years of National Insurance contributions. Time spent out of paid employment caring for children can create gaps in these contributions, potentially leading to a reduced State Pension in retirement. Child Benefit NI credits bridge these gaps, safeguarding a parent’s future financial security. This aspect is particularly significant for mothers who traditionally take more time out of the workforce for childcare, but it applies equally to any parent who is the primary carer. HMRC also offers "specified adult childcare credits" for grandparents or other family members who care for a child under 12, further demonstrating the government’s recognition of the value of unpaid care work.

The HMRC data, which shows that more than 6.8 million parents received Child Benefit in the year to August 2025, also highlights the persistent gap. The fact that only 69% of eligible families claimed the support before their baby’s first birthday underscores the magnitude of the problem. This means hundreds of thousands of families could be missing out on what they are rightfully entitled to. While the tax authority acknowledges that some of these families may have consciously chosen not to claim due to specific income restrictions, it is clear that many others are simply unaware or have not prioritised the claim.

This brings us to the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC), a point of contention and confusion for many parents. Under the HICBC, payments of Child Benefit start to reduce if one parent (not both combined) earns over £60,000 a year. The charge increases progressively, and the benefit stops entirely when one parent earns £80,000 or more. The HICBC is calculated at a rate of 1% of the Child Benefit for every £100 earned over £60,000. For example, if a parent earns £70,000, they would pay a charge equivalent to 50% of their Child Benefit. If they earn £80,000 or more, the charge is 100%, effectively cancelling out the benefit received.

It is crucial to understand that even if one parent’s income falls within the HICBC bracket, it is still highly advisable to claim Child Benefit. Parents have two main options in this scenario:

Claim the benefit and pay the tax charge: The Child Benefit payments are received as normal, and the parent liable for the charge declares it via a Self Assessment tax return.
Claim the benefit but opt out of receiving payments: This is a critically important option often overlooked. By opting out, parents do not receive the weekly payments, thus avoiding the need to pay the HICBC. However, the child is still registered for Child Benefit purposes, and the parent still receives the invaluable National Insurance credits towards their State Pension. This ensures that their NI record remains intact for their retirement, and also registers the child for other potential future benefits or grants that might be linked to Child Benefit claims.

Failing to claim Child Benefit at all, even when subject to the HICBC, means missing out on these NI credits, which could have significant long-term financial consequences for retirement planning. The HICBC has faced criticism for its structure, particularly because it applies to individual income rather than household income, meaning a single-earner household with one parent earning £60,001 faces the charge, while a dual-earner household with both parents earning £59,000 (a combined income of £118,000) does not.

In conclusion, the message for all parents, especially those with new babies, is clear: do not miss out on Child Benefit. It’s a simple process that yields significant financial support and crucial long-term benefits for your State Pension. Even if you believe your income might be too high, it is imperative to claim the benefit to secure those National Insurance credits. Take a moment to check your eligibility, gather the necessary paperwork, and make that claim. It could be one of the most financially astute decisions you make in the early days of your child’s life. The £27 a week, plus the peace of mind regarding your future State Pension, is too important to overlook.