TCM1000297 - How to check for a match on Child Benefit Service

Note: You should check the guidance available on GOV.UK from HMRC (link is external) as Brexit updates to those pages are being prioritised before manuals.

Step 1

Access  Child Benefit Service to check for a Child Benefit record

  • using the ‘search’ facility, enter the customer’s NINO and select ‘search’
  • check the details in the left-hand side bar to make sure you have the right customer
  • where the customer has a Child Benefit record, you will see an ‘account summary’ screen
  • where the customer does not have a Child Benefit record, you will see an ‘individual summary’ screen
  • go to Step 2.

Step 2

If there is a Child Benefit record, go to Step  3.

If there is no Child Benefit record, you do not have a match.

Step 3

Using the Child Benefit Service, check for the child/QYP

  • use the ‘search’ facility to enter the customer’s NINO and select ‘search’
  • check the details in the left-hand side bar to make sure you have the right customer
  • scroll down the page to the ‘Children Summary’
  • check whether the relevant child is shown.

Note: If you are sure it is the same child but the name on CBOL is slightly different to the name on the tax credits computer, for example Nicki and Nikki, but with identical dates of birth, consider this to be a match.

You are now in the Child Benefit record

  • where the child is not shown, you do not have a match
  • where the child is shown and the name and date of birth are the same, go to Step 4
  • where the child is shown and the name and date of birth are not the same, you do not have a match.

Step 4

Using Child Benefit Service, check if EC Regs apply

  • use the ‘search’ facility to enter the customer’s NINO and select ‘search’
  • check the detials in the left-hand bar to make sure you have the right customer
  • select the ‘adjustments’ button on the left-hand side navigation bar
  • check whether the ‘EC Regs’ button is selected.

If the ‘EC Regs’ button is selected, you have a match

If the ‘EC Regs’ button is selected

  • transfer the case to International area, for how to do this use TCM1000023
  • update HHN HB55, for how to do this use TCM1000001
  • send any corres to International
  • take no further action.