Parents who receive Child Benefit might experience changes to their payments due to the upcoming August bank holiday. Child Benefit is provided to individuals responsible for caring for children under 16, or under 20 if they are in approved education or training. The benefit amounts to £26.05 weekly for the first child and £17.25 for each additional child. Typically paid on Mondays or Tuesdays, some payments will be issued earlier than usual due to the bank holiday on Monday, August 25.
According to information on the GOV.UK website, recipients expecting Child Benefit on Monday, August 25, will receive their payment on Friday, August 22 instead, with the payment amount remaining unchanged. Those living in Scotland will see a delay in payments due to another bank holiday on Monday, August 4, receiving their benefits on Tuesday, August 5.
Administered by HMRC, Child Benefit is availed by over seven million families. To qualify for Child Benefit, one must reside in the UK, with the child usually living with the claimant or the claimant contributing an amount equal to or higher than the Child Benefit towards the child’s care.
There is no restriction on the number of children one can claim Child Benefit for, but only one person can claim for each child. Foster parents can claim Child Benefit if the local council does not contribute to the child’s upkeep. For children aged 16-20, eligibility for Child Benefit is contingent upon their participation in approved education or training programs like A-Levels or NVQs for a minimum of 12 hours weekly.
High-income earners may be required to repay a portion of their Child Benefit. The full amount is granted if the claimant or their partner earns under £60,000 annually. For earnings exceeding £60,000, repayment is at a rate of 1% for every £200 over the threshold, with full repayment starting at incomes over £80,000.
Claimants can apply for Child Benefit 48 hours after a child’s birth registration or when a child starts living with them, with the option for retroactive claims up to three months from the application date.