{"id":2382,"date":"2024-08-22T04:51:49","date_gmt":"2024-08-22T04:51:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/child-benefit-claims-rise-after-income-rule-change\/"},"modified":"2024-08-22T04:51:49","modified_gmt":"2024-08-22T04:51:49","slug":"child-benefit-claims-rise-after-income-rule-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/child-benefit-claims-rise-after-income-rule-change\/","title":{"rendered":"Child benefit claims rise after income rule change"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Child benefit claims rise after income rule change<\/p>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"ssrcss-xza2yt-ComponentWrapper ep2nwvo1\">\n<figure class=\"ssrcss-1vfya96-StyledFigure e34k3c22\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-ab5fd8-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c21\"><span class=\"ssrcss-y3jsv7-Placeholder etlorgc0\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/9ea7\/live\/31ed5db0-5640-11ef-98bb-6546a9332f5f.jpg.webp 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/9ea7\/live\/31ed5db0-5640-11ef-98bb-6546a9332f5f.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/9ea7\/live\/31ed5db0-5640-11ef-98bb-6546a9332f5f.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/624\/cpsprodpb\/9ea7\/live\/31ed5db0-5640-11ef-98bb-6546a9332f5f.jpg.webp 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/9ea7\/live\/31ed5db0-5640-11ef-98bb-6546a9332f5f.jpg.webp 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/976\/cpsprodpb\/9ea7\/live\/31ed5db0-5640-11ef-98bb-6546a9332f5f.jpg.webp 976w\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Woman carrying young boy affectionately with a fridge and kitchen shelves seen behind\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/USGUPz.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/9ea7\/live\/31ed5db0-5640-11ef-98bb-6546a9332f5f.jpg 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/9ea7\/live\/31ed5db0-5640-11ef-98bb-6546a9332f5f.jpg 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/9ea7\/live\/31ed5db0-5640-11ef-98bb-6546a9332f5f.jpg 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/624\/cpsprodpb\/9ea7\/live\/31ed5db0-5640-11ef-98bb-6546a9332f5f.jpg 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/9ea7\/live\/31ed5db0-5640-11ef-98bb-6546a9332f5f.jpg 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/976\/cpsprodpb\/9ea7\/live\/31ed5db0-5640-11ef-98bb-6546a9332f5f.jpg 976w\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1151.9396511079678\" class=\"ssrcss-11yxrdo-Image edrdn950\"><\/picture><\/span><span role=\"text\" class=\"ssrcss-tvuve5-StyledFigureCopyright e34k3c20\">Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"byline-block\" class=\"ssrcss-1hbb5i-BylineComponentWrapper e8mq1e90\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-qt5zqv-BylineWrapper e8mq1e917\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-h3c0s8-ContributorContainer e8mq1e916\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1u2in0b-Container-ContributorDetails e8mq1e913\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-68pt20-Text-TextContributorName e8mq1e96\">Shanaz Musafer<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-84ltp5-Text e8mq1e910\">Business reporter, BBC News<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-jlwt2c-Divider e8mq1e915\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"metadata-block\" class=\"ssrcss-xza2yt-ComponentWrapper ep2nwvo1\">\n<div>\n<ul role=\"list\" class=\"ssrcss-1ik71mx-MetadataStripContainer eh44mf03\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-13nu8ri-GroupChildrenForWrapping eh44mf02\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"ssrcss-30fcoe-MetadataStripItem eh44mf01\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-m5j4pi-MetadataContent eh44mf00\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1pvwv4b-MetadataSnippet e4wm5bw3\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1if1g9v-MetadataText e4wm5bw1\"><time data-testid=\"timestamp\" datetime=\"2024-08-21T23:03:58.661Z\">5 hours ago<\/time><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/div>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\"><b class=\"ssrcss-1xjjfut-BoldText e5tfeyi3\">The number of new child benefit claims rose in April, after the government changed the rules on how much parents can earn and still be eligible.<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">There were 86,656 new claims made, which was up 16% on the previous month, a BBC Freedom of Information (FoI) request has found.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Parents have to start paying back part of the benefit once they earn a certain income, and in the March Budget, then-Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said the threshold would go up in April.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">One expert said the announcement not only made more people eligible to claim, but would have reminded others who were already eligible that they should claim it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">You can get child benefit if you are responsible for bringing up a child who is under 16, or under 20 if they stay in approved education or training.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Only one person can claim the benefit for a child. The payments are \u00a325.60 a week for the eldest or only child, and \u00a316.95 a week for younger children.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">However, payments are reduced once one parent starts earning at a certain level, known as the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC).<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">On 6 April, the income level at which people have to start paying back part of the benefit rose from \u00a350,000 to \u00a360,000, and the level at which it is withdrawn completely went up from \u00a360,000 to \u00a380,000.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"links-block\" class=\"ssrcss-12l5xzx-LinksComponentWrapper e3eyuya0\">\n<section class=\"ssrcss-msolhr-LinksWrapper e3eyuya5\">\n<ul role=\"list\" class=\"ssrcss-mh3hvv-InContentLinksGrid e3eyuya3\">\n<li class=\"ssrcss-r2yl4r-PromoItem e3eyuya1\">\n<div data-testid=\"promo\" class=\"ssrcss-s1qr4x-Promo e1vyq2e80\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1enzf19-PromoCompact e18gnqux0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1d68cot-PromoContent exn3ah99\">\n<div spacing=\"2\" class=\"ssrcss-1f3bvyz-Stack e1y4nx260\"><span role=\"text\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1sen9vx-PromoHeadline exn3ah96\"><span aria-hidden=\"false\">&#8216;I earn \u00a370,000 and can now get child benefit payments&#8217;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<div spacing=\"2\" class=\"ssrcss-1f3bvyz-Stack e1y4nx260\">\n<div>\n<ul role=\"list\" class=\"ssrcss-1ik71mx-MetadataStripContainer eh44mf03\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-13nu8ri-GroupChildrenForWrapping eh44mf02\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"ssrcss-30fcoe-MetadataStripItem eh44mf01\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-m5j4pi-MetadataContent eh44mf00\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1pvwv4b-MetadataSnippet e4wm5bw3\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1if1g9v-MetadataText e4wm5bw1\">7 March<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/div>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ssrcss-r2yl4r-PromoItem e3eyuya1\">\n<div data-testid=\"promo\" class=\"ssrcss-s1qr4x-Promo e1vyq2e80\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1enzf19-PromoCompact e18gnqux0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1d68cot-PromoContent exn3ah99\">\n<div spacing=\"2\" class=\"ssrcss-1f3bvyz-Stack e1y4nx260\"><span role=\"text\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1sen9vx-PromoHeadline exn3ah96\"><span aria-hidden=\"false\">How much is child benefit worth and who can claim it?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<div spacing=\"2\" class=\"ssrcss-1f3bvyz-Stack e1y4nx260\">\n<div>\n<ul role=\"list\" class=\"ssrcss-1ik71mx-MetadataStripContainer eh44mf03\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-13nu8ri-GroupChildrenForWrapping eh44mf02\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"ssrcss-30fcoe-MetadataStripItem eh44mf01\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-m5j4pi-MetadataContent eh44mf00\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1pvwv4b-MetadataSnippet e4wm5bw3\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1if1g9v-MetadataText e4wm5bw1\">6 June<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/div>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ssrcss-r2yl4r-PromoItem e3eyuya1\">\n<div data-testid=\"promo\" class=\"ssrcss-s1qr4x-Promo e1vyq2e80\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1enzf19-PromoCompact e18gnqux0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1d68cot-PromoContent exn3ah99\">\n<div spacing=\"2\" class=\"ssrcss-1f3bvyz-Stack e1y4nx260\"><span role=\"text\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1sen9vx-PromoHeadline exn3ah96\"><span aria-hidden=\"false\">Parents on up to \u00a380,000 eligible for child benefit<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<div spacing=\"2\" class=\"ssrcss-1f3bvyz-Stack e1y4nx260\">\n<div>\n<ul role=\"list\" class=\"ssrcss-1ik71mx-MetadataStripContainer eh44mf03\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-13nu8ri-GroupChildrenForWrapping eh44mf02\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"ssrcss-30fcoe-MetadataStripItem eh44mf01\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-m5j4pi-MetadataContent eh44mf00\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1pvwv4b-MetadataSnippet e4wm5bw3\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1if1g9v-MetadataText e4wm5bw1\">6 March<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/div>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The BBC&#8217;s FoI asked His Majesty&#8217;s Revenue and Customs (HMRC), which processes child benefit applications, how many new claims were made per month from the beginning of last year to May this year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">April saw the highest number of claims made in that period, and well above the next highest month.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">HMRC pointed out that it can sometimes receive duplicate claims made in error, or rival claims made following a household breakdown.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"embed-flourish-block\" id=\"18713445\" class=\"ssrcss-vwy109-FlourishContainer eockrme0\">\n<div data-component=\"include-html\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/flo.uri.sh\/visualisation\/18713445\/embed?auto=1\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" height=\"575\" width=\"700\" style=\"width:100%;\" title=\"Interactive or visual content\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"ssrcss-uf6wea-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">\u201cThe boost in claimants in April is good news,&#8221; said Laura Suter, director of personal finance at AJ Bell.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;It\u2019s likely that the announcement by the government had a dual effect: it made more people eligible for the benefit and so they claimed, but it also put child benefit in the news and reminded other parents who were already eligible that they should claim it.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">But she added that &#8220;we&#8217;re coming from a low base&#8221; as the benefit is &#8220;chronically underclaimed&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The latest annual figures show the number of families getting child benefit payments has dropped to its lowest level since records began, she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">A total of 683,000 families, accounting for 1.05 million children, opted out of getting the payments because they would have had to pay the HICBC.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;If these families had been eligible they could have claimed \u00a31.15bn in additional support,&#8221; Ms Suter said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"topic-list\" class=\"ssrcss-1qmkvfu-TopicListWrapper etw6iwl1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-113c0cq-StyledTagContainer ed0g1kj1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-50vlbt-TopicListHeaderWrapper etw6iwl0\">\n<h2 type=\"normal\" class=\"ssrcss-ad2rmd-Heading e10rt3ze0\">Related Topics<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17ehax8-Cluster e1ihwmse1\">\n<ul role=\"list\" spacing=\"2\" class=\"ssrcss-1ujonwb-ClusterItems e1ihwmse0\">\n<li>HM Revenue &amp; Customs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Published at Wed, 21 Aug 2024 23:03:58 +0000<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Child benefit claims rise after income rule change Getty Images Shanaz Musafer Business reporter, BBC News 5 hours ago The number of new child benefit claims rose in April, after the government changed the rules on how much parents can earn and still be eligible. There were 86,656 new claims made, which was up 16%&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/child-benefit-claims-rise-after-income-rule-change\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Child benefit claims rise after income rule change<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2383,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2382","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uk-politics","entry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2382","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2382"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2382\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2383"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2382"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2382"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/260web.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2382"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}