HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has announced a major change to Child Benefit payment dates next month which could impact when claimants get paid.
This change is due to the Easter bank holidays and is expected to affect around seven million families who receive the benefit.
Child Benefit payments, which typically land in bank accounts on Mondays or Tuesdays, will be paid earlier than usual in April.
The adjustment comes as Easter Sunday falls on April 20 this year, creating bank holidays on both Good Friday and Easter Monday.
In light of this, HMRC has confirmed that Child Benefit payments will be made early on April 17 as a result of the Easter holidays.
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Seven million families could be impacted by looming changes to Child Benefit
GETTYFor 2025, Good Friday falls on April 18 and Easter Monday on April 21, both national holidays with the early payment affecting those who get their cash on the Monday or Tuesday.
The benefit is paid to those responsible for looking after someone under the age of 16 and can also be claimed for children under 20 if they're in approved education or training.
To be eligible, recipients must live in the UK and the child normally needs to live with the individual. Alternatively, you must pay at least the same amount as Child Benefit towards looking after them.
Only one person can claim Child Benefit for each child, though there's no limit to the number of children you can claim for. Child Benefit is currently worth £25.60 a week for the first child and £16.95 a week for any additional children.
HMRC is making a major change to
GETTYFrom April, these rates will increase to £26.05 a week for the first child. The rate for additional children will rise to £17.25 a week.
HMRC pays Child Benefit every four weeks to eligible families. Recipients should remember that as the payment will be made early, they'll need to budget the money to cover more days.
If someone's Child Benefit payment is usually received on a Tuesday and is due on April 22, HMRC has confirmed the money should arrive in your account as usual.
Foster parents can also claim Child Benefit, provided the local council isn't paying towards the child's accommodation or maintenance.
For children over 16 but under 20, the benefit top-up is only available if they're engaged in approved education or training.
According to HMRC, ChildBenefit is worth up to £1,331 a year for the first or only child, and up to £881 a year for every additional child.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Parents and guardians can get National Insurance credits for a child under 12 by claiming Child Benefit GETTYIn December 2024, HMRC shared that more than one million families have claimed Child Benefit using the new digital service launched last year.
New parents are reminded if they claim online or through the HMRC app, they could get their payment in time for their baby’s first Christmas.
The tax authority claims parents are choosing to claim for Child Benefit digitally as it easier to do, with the latest figures showing 87 per cent of new claims each month are via the app or online.
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s director general for Customer Services, said: "Having a baby is a busy and expensive time but claiming Child Benefit online or via the app means you’ll get cash in your bank account as soon as possible."
