HMRC has issued an alert for anyone expecting a Child Benefit payment next week. Child Benefit is usually paid every four weeks on a Monday or Tuesday – but this Monday is Easter Monday, which is a bank holiday.
If you’re expecting a Child Benefit payment this Monday, you should have received your money today (April 17) instead. The money will be paid into your regular bank account as normal, and the amount will be the same.
HMRC said in a post published to X/Twitter: “If you receive Child Benefit, you may receive your payment early due to the upcoming #Easter bank holiday. Hop over to http://GOV.UK and search ‘Bank Holiday Payments’ for more info.”
But while getting paid earlier may seem good, it does mean you will have to make your money last longer as you’ll have a longer wait until your next payment. You can claim Child Benefit if you are responsible for someone under the age of 16, or under 20 if they are in approved education or training.
Child Benefit payments have just risen by 1.7% and are worth £26.05 a week for your first child, then £17.25 for any additional child. There is no limit for how many children you can claim Child Benefit for, but if two people look after a child, only one person can claim Child Benefit.
If either you or your partner earn over £60,000, you will be subject to the High Income Child Benefit Charge and you have to pay some of your Child Benefit back. You pay back 1% of your Child Benefit for every £200 you earn over £60,000. Once you earn over £80,000, your have to pay back 100% of your Child Benefit.
The High Income Child Benefit Charge is normally paid by completing a self-assessment tax return. However, Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed in her Spring Statement that families will soon have the option to pay the charge directly through their PAYE tax code. Child Benefit is claimed by more than seven million families.
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