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Written question asked by Caroline Nokes (Conservative) on Monday, 9 March 2020, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 11 March 2020. It was answered by Steve Barclay (Conservative) on Monday, 16 March 2020 on behalf of the Treasury.

Child Benefit

Question

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to enable child benefit claims to be split between parents.

Answer

At present, the law provides for Child Benefit to be paid to one parent only. The parent who claims Child Benefit can voluntarily choose to pay an agreed proportion to the other parent. Where parents separate and both have care of their child, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) encourages them to agree who should claim Child Benefit. Where they cannot reach an agreement, the law allows HMRC to decide, at their discretion, who should receive the payment.

Currently there are no plans to change the law to split payments of Child Benefit where parents have separated and share care of their children. The government believes that directing payment to the person mainly responsible for the child best ensures that the money goes to the person most likely to bear the weight of everyday care and expenditure.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
26914
Session
2019-21
Subjects
Child benefit Parents
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk