Child Benefit
How it works
You get Child Benefit if you’re responsible for bringing up a child who is:
- under 16
- under 20 if they stay in approved education or training
Only one person can get Child Benefit for a child.
There’s no limit to how many children you can claim for.
This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).
By claiming Child Benefit, you can get:
- an allowance paid to you for each child - you’ll usually get it every 4 weeks
- National Insurance credits which count towards your State Pension
- a National Insurance number for your child without them having to apply for one - they’ll usually get the number shortly before they turn 16 years old
If you choose not to get Child Benefit payments, you should still make a claim to get the other advantages.
If your circumstances change
You must report any change of circumstances to the Child Benefit Office.