Child Benefit
Child benefit is payable to a person responsible for a child under 16 or person aged 16-19 meeting certain conditions, such as being in full time education.
To be responsible for a child the claimant must live with the child or contribute to their upbringing to at least the child benefit rate.
Current weekly child benefit amounts:
- Eldest or only child £20.30 per week
- Additional children: £13.40 per week per child
When two families become one only one child in a family qualifies for the higher rate of child benefit, it does not matter if there are differing parents. When two families join together, the eldest child in the new family is the one who qualifies for the higher rate.
When a family splits, you can get the higher rate for the eldest child you qualify for Child Benefit for. For example, you have two children, one living with you and the other with your ex-partner. You'll get the higher rate for the child living with you. The ex-partner can claim for the other child and get the higher rate for that child. You can't both claim for the same child, regardless of the living arrangements.
Announced in he 2012 budget, child benefit will be phased out when someone in a household has an income of more than £50,000. It will fall by 1% for every £100 earned over £50,000.
Guardian's Allowance
Guardian's allowance is a tax-free payment for people who are bringing up children whose parents have died. In certain circumstances you may qualify for guardian's allowance where only one parent has died and the other is for example where-a-bouts unknown or in prison. Current payments are £14.75 per week per child.
Child Tax Credit
Child Tax Credit is a means tested benefit payable to those responsible for a child under 16 or person aged 16-19 meeting certain conditions. The rules are same as for Child Benefit and are normally paid to the recipient of the child benefit in addition to it. People on low income means tested benefits get the maximum child tax credit. The value of child tax credit payment is complicated and can be used to offset up to 70% of child care costs for working parents.
Only those earning more than £60,000 will lose the entirety of the benefit.
For more details on see Child Tax Credits on the Direct Gov website.
*Tip, move the sliders with your mouse, or click to select a
slider then move with your keyboard arrow keys. You can also enter digits into the boxes.
Protecting Your Privacy
Your privacy is important to us. Your details will be kept strictly confidential and used only for the purposes of answering your enquiry. By submitting your details, you're accepting our Privacy Policy.