Child Benefit

Eligibility is defined by responsibility for the child, not biological parentage: 'You get Child Benefit if you're responsible for bringing up a child who is:' under 16, or 'under 20 if they stay in approved education or training.' Only one claim is possible per child — 'Only one person can get Child Benefit for a child' — but a family is not restricted in how many children it claims for: 'There's no limit to how many children you can claim for.'

The payment carries benefits beyond the cash itself. Guidance explains that claiming brings 'National Insurance credits which count towards your State Pension' and 'a National Insurance number for your child without them having to apply for one.' Because of this, the guidance specifically advises against opting out of the claim altogether: 'If you choose not to get Child Benefit payments, you should still make a claim to get the other advantages.' The National Insurance credits matter most for a parent who is not working or not earning enough to pay contributions, since 'these credits count towards your State Pension, so you do not have gaps in your National Insurance record' — and if a claimant does not personally need the credits, guidance notes that 'your husband, wife or partner can apply to transfer the credits' or another family carer 'can apply for Specified Adult Childcare credits' instead.