Child Benefit

What you need to know:

Child Benefit is a universal benefit designed to help all families meet the needs of their children from birth until they leave school. A payment is available for every child in the family and is paid regardless of any other money the family has coming in. Child Benefit will form an important part of your basic income as a lone parent, whether you are on benefits or in work.  The lone parent rate of Child Benefit was abolished on 6 July 1998. However, you will continue to receive it if you have been receiving this rate of Child Benefit continuously since then – it will not be part of any claims made after this date.

Who can claim Child Benefit:

Child Benefit is paid to whoever is responsible for the child or children and is not just restricted to parents. Only one person can claim for a child at any one time. You are usually seen as being responsible for a child if he or she is living with you.

The child you are claiming for should be within the age limits for the benefit. Young people who leave school at 16 to start work or join training schemes are usually not classed as children any more but Child Benefit can be paid for young

people up to the age of 19 who stay in full-time education.

You should also be present and normally resident in N Ireland - any temporary absence of up to 8 weeks does not count.

When to claim Child Benefit:

When you become responsible for a child, you should claim as soon as you can - this is because being entitled to Child Benefit can make it easier for you to claim other benefits that are available for families and children.

Shared Care:

Benefits and Tax Credits cannot be split between parents even if the child spends an equal amount of time with each of you – only one person can claim Child Benefit for each child. If you are the parent who looks after the child for most of the time it will be important for you to claim Child Benefit as this can affect your entitlement to other benefits. You should take advice on this if you are not sure about your situation.

If you are getting Child Benefit and something changes:

If a child leaves school or if you are no longer looking after a child you should let the Revenue & Customs know as soon as possible – take advice if you are not sure whether or not a change in your circumstances will affect your benefit.  It is also important to take advice if the person who claims Child Benefit might change as there could be a delay of three to eight weeks in transferring the payment while the issues about the change in circumstances are considered.

How to claim Child Benefit:

You need a Child Benefit claim form, CH2, which you can get from the Revenue & Customs, your local Social Security office or Jobs and Benefits office.  You will need to send a copy of the child’s birth certificate with your application.

You can also get a Child Benefit form, advice on how to fill in the form, as well as advice on other benefits, from Gingerbread.

The Advice is FREE; So is the call!

Alternatively, you are welcome to drop into our centres in Belfast and Derry to see us. Our addresses for the drop in service together with times of operation are as follows:

If we are unable to see you then we will arrange a mutually convenient time for you to return for an appointment.