Child benefit claim times

[CAH706]

Anyone claimed child benefit recently and had confirmation of the outcome?

I claimed on the 5th April and received a response to say outcome due in 14 Calendar days but not heard anything back yet.

I’m assuming due to the change in eligibility criteria they have quite a backlog!

[LowTread]

Eligibility criteria haven't changed. Everyone with a child up to a certain age or in full time education can claim it.

Whether you have to pay it back through self-assessment is another, retrospective matter

[WhiskyDisco]

For paying back calculation, it's paid until the September after the grown up child's 18th birthday.

[CAH706]

Sorry I meant the threshold being increased to £60k.

I was assuming more people would now claim that may not have done before as not everyone would have wanted to pay back via tax.

Any views on processing waiting times?

[r44flyer]

We ticked the box for NI credits but don't receive and return the money. I was hovering on the threshold so chose not to self assess for the sake of <£100. I expect there are many others in a similar position who have contacted HMRC to restart payments. Bound to slow things down given they have, seemingly, no spare capacity to process what they get now!

[Zj2002]

CAH706 said:

Sorry I meant the threshold being increased to £60k.

I was assuming more people would now claim that may not have done before as not everyone would have wanted to pay back via tax.

Any views on processing waiting times?

I made a new application in late March due to the change in the threshold.

I didn’t get an email confirming receipt so I called HMRC last week.

Turns out I was already effectively getting child benefit but had just opted not to receive the money. Over the phone they just ticked the box that I now wanted the money and it was done without a new application.

Might be worth calling although I did have to wait about 40 mins.

[CAH706]

Zj2002 said:

CAH706 said:

Sorry I meant the threshold being increased to £60k.

I was assuming more people would now claim that may not have done before as not everyone would have wanted to pay back via tax.

Any views on processing waiting times?

I made a new application in late March due to the change in the threshold.

I didn’t get an email confirming receipt so I called HMRC last week.

Turns out I was already effectively getting child benefit but had just opted not to receive the money. Over the phone they just ticked the box that I now wanted the money and it was done without a new application.

Might be worth calling although I did have to wait about 40 mins.

Thanks. I did claim child benefit though chose not to receive c.20 years ago so that may be messing with things.

I’ll give them a call.

[Eric Mc]

Why did you opt out 20 years ago?

The Child Benefit Income Charge was introduced in 2013/14.

[CAH706]

Eric Mc said:

Why did you opt out 20 years ago?

The Child Benefit Income Charge was introduced in 2013/14.

Both myself and my wife were earning above the limit for receiving child benefit payments and there didn’t seem anything getting it to give it back in tax.

It may have been 2013/14 when I opted out. Felt like longer but probably not

Edited by CAH706 on Tuesday 30th April 12:55

[Eric Mc]

CAH706 said:

Eric Mc said:

Why did you opt out 20 years ago?

The Child Benefit Income Charge was introduced in 2013/14.

Both myself and my wife were earning above the limit for receiving child benefit payments and there didn’t seem anything getting it to give it back in tax.

It may have been 2013/14 when I opted out. Felt like longer but probably not

Edited by CAH706 on Tuesday 30th April 12:55

The "opting out" option didn't exist 20 years ago. If you had a child - you got it.

[WhiskyDisco]

That's right the HICB charge was put in place in 2013. I wonder what the point of all the administration is, and then discovered that some people (the mum) didn't bother claiming as their partner was earning over £50k. But this had an unexpected consequence of the mum didn't receive the NI credit while out of work.

So HMRC gets a double benefit - they save the child benefit, but even more than that - the (non)claimant misses out on the full state pension as they don't get the NI credits they need while out of work. Genius!