Investor edition Monday, July 20
Consumer Economy Policy

Are You a Parent Missing Out on £27 a Week? Here’s How to Check

Millions of parents could be eligible for £27 a week in child benefit, but many do not claim before their child’s first birthday.

Flavor News Editorial Desk 3 min read
Families review eligibility as child benefit rules and backdating options come into focus
Families review eligibility as child benefit rules and backdating options come into focus

Market impact

HMRC data indicates millions may be under-claiming child benefit due to awareness gaps and income-related rules.

Why it matters: Highlights how benefit eligibility and backdating rules influence household finances and pension credits for families.

Key numbers

  • £27.05 a week (first child)
  • £17.90 a week (subsequent children)
  • 3 months (maximum backdating)
  • 6.8 million (parents receiving in year to Aug 2025)
  • 69% (claim rate before first birthday)
  • £60,000 (High Income Child Benefit Charge threshold)
  • £80,000 (stop point)
  • 585,396 (babies born last year)

Watch next

  • UK child benefit policy
  • High Income Child Benefit Charge changes
  • HMRC data releases
  • ONS birth statistics
Household finance Public benefits Tax administration HM Revenue & Customs Office for National Statistics National Insurance

Thousands of families could receive £27 a week more in child benefit by completing a few forms after their baby is born. Child benefit is an allowance designed to help with the cost of raising children. It is currently worth £27.05 a week for the first child and £17.90 a week for each additional child. Official data show that parents of nearly a third of children eligible for child benefit do not claim before their baby’s first birthday. Payments can be backdated for up to three months, which means some families could miss out on hundreds of pounds amid the early weeks of parenthood.

The annual publication of the most popular baby names could serve as a reminder that other official paperwork may need completing. To receive child benefit, which is paid every four weeks, one parent should make a claim. That parent will also receive National Insurance credits toward their state pension. To claim, you need your child’s birth or adoption certificate, your bank details, and the National Insurance number for you and your partner if you have one. Child Benefit can be claimed 48 hours after the baby’s birth is registered but can only be backdated for up to three months from the date HMRC receives the claim.

More than 6.8 million parents received child benefit in the year to August 2025, according to HMRC data. But only 69% of them claimed the benefit before their baby’s first birthday, meaning thousands of families may not be getting what they are entitled to. The tax authority said that many may have chosen not to claim due to restrictions on high-earning parents receiving the benefit. Under the High Income Child Benefit Charge, payments begin to reduce if one parent earns £60,000 a year and stop entirely when one earns £80,000.

There were 585,396 babies born in England and Wales last year, according to the Office for National Statistics, which noted that Olivia held the top spot for girls’ names for the tenth year in a row in 2025 and Muhammad topped the list for boys’ names for the third year running. In Scotland, Freya replaced Olivia as the most popular name for girls, while Noah remained top for boys.