Written question asked by Joshua Reynolds (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 7 July 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 9 July 2026. It was answered by Lucy Rigby (Labour) on Wednesday, 15 July 2026 on behalf of the Treasury.

Child Benefit

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the Child Benefit system in the context of modern shared parenting arrangements where a child spends substantial time living with both parents.

Answer: The government recognises that decisions around Child Benefit entitlement can be complex for separated parents who share responsibility for a child. In these circumstances, the government encourages parents to agree between themselves who should receive Child Benefit. If agreement cannot be reached, HMRC uses its discretion to pay the parent who has greater responsibility for the child. Splitting the benefit or providing alternative financial support or tax relief would be challenging due to the varying nature of shared care arrangements.

Secondary information