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<\/p>\nMILLIONS of hard-up families receive benefits to help them get by financially. <\/p>\n
You can usually claim two different rates for child benefit depending on how many children you have.<\/p>\n
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Most parents in the\u00a0UK\u00a0can claim child benefit but there are still certain eligibility rules.<\/p>\n
You can claim if you're responsible for a child who is under 16 or under 20 and in approved\u00a0education\u00a0or training.<\/p>\n
Only one person in the household can get child benefit, but there is no limit to how many children you can claim for.<\/p>\n
Here we explain everything you need to know about claiming child benefit:<\/p>\n
There are two child benefit rates, one for the eldest child and another for each further child or children.<\/p>\n The current rate for your eldest or only child is \u00a324 per week. That's \u00a396 a month or \u00a31,248 a year.<\/p>\n You can get \u00a315.90 for every additional child.<\/p>\n Child benefit payments are likely to rise in line with inflation from April 2024.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Child benefit is usually\u00a0paid every four weeks\u00a0on a Monday or Tuesday.<\/p>\n But you can have the money paid weekly if you\u2019re a single parent or getting certain other benefits like Income Support.<\/p>\n You can get the money\u00a0paid into any account, apart from a Nationwide cashbuilder account in someone else\u2019s name.<\/p>\n You need to apply for child benefit which you can do online through gov.uk.<\/p>\n Only\u00a0one\u00a0person\u00a0can\u00a0get\u00a0the benefit for the child or children though so you'll have to decide which parent will get it.<\/p>\n There are other benefits you might get on top of child benefit if you're on a low income, like the child element of Universal Credit.<\/p>\n You will normally qualify for child benefit if you live in the UK and you're responsible for a child under 16.<\/p>\n The support can also be claimed for a child under 20 if they stay in approved\u00a0education or training.<\/p>\n To be considered responsible for a child, you will live with them or you're paying at least the same amount as child benefit rates to look after them – for example food, clothes or pocket money.<\/p>\n It's important to note that eligibility changes if a child goes into hospital or care and if your child starts to live with someone else.<\/p>\n If you're not sure about your eligibility you can\u00a0contact the child benefit office.<\/p>\n You won't be able to get the full amount of child benefit if you earn over \u00a350,000 and you'll get nothing at all if you earn over \u00a360,000.<\/p>\n That's because of something called the\u00a0High Income Child Benefit Charge\u00a0– but if it applies then it's still worth claiming.<\/p>\n If either parent is earning over \u00a350,000 they have to pay the high income child benefit tax charge.<\/p>\n This means you pay back 1% of your child benefit for every \u00a3100 of income over this amount.<\/p>\n Once you reach \u00a360,000 of income you have to repay the full amount.<\/p>\n The reduction applies when just one parent or guardian earns more than the threshold, and not on combined household earnings.<\/p>\n Parents have been caught out by the complicated rules and extra charge and\u00a0have been landed with bills for thousands of pounds.<\/p>\n It's up to parents to notify HMRC if they are liable for the charge and they must file a self-assessment tax return to pay it.<\/p>\n Parents who do know about the charge could also end up missing out on cash.<\/p>\n They can decide to opt out of getting the benefit altogether to avoid having to pay money back, but they will miss out on National Insurance credits.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/gas-oil-concept-energy-crisis-771483952-1.jpg\")
<\/picture>WATCH OUT <\/span><\/p>\nBig bill change for households on benefits starts this month – are you affected?<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/2014-department-work-pensions-office-804767972-1.jpg\")
<\/picture>BANK BUSTER <\/span><\/p>\nFull list of changes people on benefits must declare or face up to \u00a35,000 fine<\/h3>\n
How much is child benefit?<\/h2>\n
Most read in Money<\/h2>\n
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<\/picture>ACT FAST <\/span><\/p>\nUrgent warning for millions of Tesco shoppers to use Clubcard points or lose them<\/h3>\n
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<\/picture>CRACKING DOWN <\/span><\/p>\nBrits on benefits will have their bank accounts checked every MONTH<\/h3>\n
How do I get child benefit?<\/h2>\n
Who is eligible to claim child benefit?<\/h2>\n
What is the High Income Child Benefit Charge?<\/h2>\n
Read More on The Sun<\/h2>\n
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