Report changes that affect your Child Benefit

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1. If your child鈥檚 circumstances change

Report any changes that could affect your Child Benefit to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). If you do not, you may not get all the money you鈥檙e entitled to, or you may be overpaid and have to pay money back.

Only the person claiming Child Benefit can tell HMRC about a change of circumstances.

If you鈥檝e already reported a change and you鈥檙e waiting to hear back, check when you should expect a reply.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

Tell HMRC if your child:

  • starts getting Universal Credit, Jobseeker鈥檚 Allowance (JSA) or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • changes their name by deed poll
  • gets married or forms a civil partnership
  • moves in with their partner
  • goes missing

If your child stays in or leaves education

Child Benefit stops on 31 August on or after your child鈥檚 16th birthday if they leave approved education or training.

Tell HMRC if your child stays in education or training after turning 16, or later leaves education or training.

If your child moves away from home

Tell HMRC if your child:

  • will live away from you for either 8 weeks in a row or more than 56 days in a 16-week period
  • will go abroad for more than 12 weeks
  • moves to or from Northern Ireland
  • goes to prison or youth custody for more than 8 weeks

If your child goes into hospital or care

Tell HMRC if your child goes into care or residential accommodation for more than 8 weeks, or hospital for more than 12 weeks.

If your child changes their gender

HMRC will usually be told automatically if your child gets a Gender Recognition Certificate to change their gender. If they have not changed their gender legally you do not need to tell HMRC.

If your child dies

Tell HMRC if your child dies.

Other ways to report changes

You can also call or write to HMRC.

2. If your circumstances change or you need to update your details

Report any changes that could affect your Child Benefit. If you do not, you may not get all the money you鈥檙e entitled to, or you may be overpaid and have to pay money back.

For example, you should tell HMRC if:

  • you move home
  • your bank or building society account changes
  • you start to earn more than 拢60,000
  • you change your name or gender
  • you start to care for another child
  • your relationship changes
  • a parent dies
  • your immigration status changes

Only the person claiming Child Benefit can tell HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) about a change of circumstances.

You can also check if you are still eligible for Child Benefit.

If you鈥檝e already reported a change and you鈥檙e waiting to hear back, check when you should expect a reply.

If you move home

You need to tell HMRC when you move to another UK address.

If you do not report a change to your address and HMRC is not able to contact you, your payments will stop.

If you move abroad

Report the change to your family circumstances if:

  • you intend to go abroad for more than 8 weeks
  • you or your partner intend to move abroad for more than a year
  • you鈥檙e a crown servant leaving the UK for a posting abroad

If your bank or building society account changes

.

If you do not already have sign in details, you鈥檒l be able to create them.

You鈥檒l be told when you sign in if you need to prove your identity. This is to keep your details safe and usually involves using photo ID like a passport or driving licence.

You can also tell HMRC using the HMRC app.

If you start to earn more than 拢60,000

If you or your partner earn more than 拢60,000 you may have to pay the High Income Child Benefit Charge.

You must still report changes even if you鈥檝e stopped getting Child Benefit because of the Child Benefit tax charge.

If you change your name or gender

Tell HMRC if you change your name 辞谤听change your gender.

If you start to care for another child

If you have a baby or start to care for a child you can make a new claim for Child Benefit.

If you鈥檙e paid to look after a child by a local council or agency (for example fostering) tell HMRC.

If your relationship changes

You must tell HMRC if:

If families join together

You must also report a change to your family circumstances if you move in with a partner who also claims Child Benefit.

You get 拢25.60 for the eldest child in the household. You get 拢16.95 for any younger children.

You and your partner can claim for different children. If you live together, you cannot both claim at the higher rate - you may have to pay back some of the money if you do.

If a parent dies

Tell HMRC if either of the child鈥檚 parents have died.

If your immigration status changes

Report the change to your family circumstances, if:聽

  • your immigration status changes聽
  • you lose the right to reside in the UK

If you鈥檙e reporting any other changes

You can call or write to HMRC.