18/05/2026
One in Three New Parents Missing Out on Child Benefit Payments
New statistics have revealed that one in three new parents are missing out on Child Benefit payments during their child's first year.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is urging families who welcomed a baby this spring to submit their claims promptly using the HMRC app or online via GOV.UK. Data shows that while over 6.8 million parents received Child Benefit in the year leading up to August 2025, only 68.8% lodged their claim before their baby reached its first birthday. With more than 140,000 babies born between April and June last year, thousands of eligible families could be losing out on financial support due to application delays.
Child Benefit provides £27.05 per week (£1,406.60 annually) for the eldest or only child, and £17.90 per week (£930.80 annually) for each subsequent child, with no restriction on the number of children a parent can claim for.
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC's Chief Customer Officer, said: "Spring is a wonderful time to welcome a baby and claiming Child Benefit as soon as possible means your family can benefit from much-needed financial support.
"It is quick and easy to claim Child Benefit via the HMRC app at a time that suits you."
Applications can be made 48 hours after a baby's birth has been registered. However, because payments can only be backdated for a maximum of three months from the date HMRC receives the application, late claims mean families miss out on their full entitlement.
The push towards digital applications aligns with a recent survey where half of parents with children under 18 expressed a preference for managing all of their tax affairs digitally. To initiate a new online claim, parents must set up an HMRC account and provide the following details:
• The child's birth or adoption certificate
• Bank account details
• National Insurance numbers for themselves and their partner, if applicable
• The child's original birth or adoption certificate and a passport or travel document, if the child was born outside the UK
HMRC has published a guidance video on YouTube detailing the application process. Once approved, payments are typically transferred automatically into the claimant's bank account every four weeks.
Parents should note that if a claimant or their partner earns an income exceeding £60,000 a year, they will be liable for the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC). Further details and payment options are accessible through the HICBC PAYE digital service on GOV.UK.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is urging families who welcomed a baby this spring to submit their claims promptly using the HMRC app or online via GOV.UK. Data shows that while over 6.8 million parents received Child Benefit in the year leading up to August 2025, only 68.8% lodged their claim before their baby reached its first birthday. With more than 140,000 babies born between April and June last year, thousands of eligible families could be losing out on financial support due to application delays.
Child Benefit provides £27.05 per week (£1,406.60 annually) for the eldest or only child, and £17.90 per week (£930.80 annually) for each subsequent child, with no restriction on the number of children a parent can claim for.
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC's Chief Customer Officer, said: "Spring is a wonderful time to welcome a baby and claiming Child Benefit as soon as possible means your family can benefit from much-needed financial support.
"It is quick and easy to claim Child Benefit via the HMRC app at a time that suits you."
The push towards digital applications aligns with a recent survey where half of parents with children under 18 expressed a preference for managing all of their tax affairs digitally. To initiate a new online claim, parents must set up an HMRC account and provide the following details:
• The child's birth or adoption certificate
• Bank account details
• National Insurance numbers for themselves and their partner, if applicable
• The child's original birth or adoption certificate and a passport or travel document, if the child was born outside the UK
HMRC has published a guidance video on YouTube detailing the application process. Once approved, payments are typically transferred automatically into the claimant's bank account every four weeks.
Parents should note that if a claimant or their partner earns an income exceeding £60,000 a year, they will be liable for the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC). Further details and payment options are accessible through the HICBC PAYE digital service on GOV.UK.
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