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To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Government has considered allowing Child Benefit to be split between two parents in cases where there are established shared care arrangements.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Government has considered allowing Child Benefit to be split between two parents in cases where there are established shared care arrangements.
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.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing alternative financial support or tax relief for parents who provide substantial shared care for their children but are not the recipient of Child Benefit.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing alternative financial support or tax relief for parents who provide substantial shared care for their children but are not the recipient of Child Benefit.
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.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Government has undertaken a review of the legislation governing Child Benefit payments to assess its adequacy in the context of modern family structures, including separated parents who share the day to day care of their children.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Government has undertaken a review of the legislation governing Child Benefit payments to assess its adequacy in the context of modern family structures, including separated parents who share the day to day care of their children.
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.
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.
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.
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.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the high income child benefit charge on the overall take up of child benefit, and what steps they are taking to improve take up of child benefit.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the high income child benefit charge on the overall take up of child benefit, and what steps they are taking to improve take up of child benefit.
The Government publishes statistics annually on Child Benefit which includes detail on the trends and explanations of take-up, including the implications from the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC), at: Child Benefit Statistics: annual release, August 2025 - GOV.UK
HMRC administers Child Benefit and regularly undertakes communications campaigns in press and social media to encourage people to claim. Last year, over 500,000 flyers were issued to new parents with a QR code that takes customers straight to the Child Benefit claim page on GOV.UK. HMRC also regularly runs communication campaigns and engages with partner organisations to remind families of the monetary and non-monetary benefits of claiming Child Benefit.
HMRC has also taken steps to simplify the administration of the HICBC and continues to keep these processes under review, while working to ensure that clear guidance is available so that eligible families can make informed decisions about claiming Child Benefit.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the National Audit Office report titled 'HMRC’s use of travel data to tackle fraud and error in Child Benefit payments', how many of the compliance enquiries issued to Northern Ireland claimants (i) were confirmed to be eligible, (ii) were found...
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the National Audit Office report titled 'HMRC’s use of travel data to tackle fraud and error in Child Benefit payments', how many of the compliance enquiries issued to Northern Ireland claimants (i) were confirmed to be eligible, (ii) were found...
This government is committed to tackling Child Benefit error and fraud. Using international travel data has so far prevented nearly 10,000 customers claiming incorrectly, protecting around £60 million in taxpayers’ money.
HMRC issued compliance enquiries to 826 Child Benefit claimants in Northern Ireland out of the 23,794 compliance cases using international travel data between August and October last year.
Of the Northern Ireland enquiries, by 29 June 2026, 742 claimants were subsequently confirmed to be eligible for Child Benefit, 81 have been determined to have been incorrectly receiving Child Benefit and 3 enquiries remain open pending a final determination of entitlement. Where HMRC confirms that a customer remains eligible, payments are reinstated and any missed payments are backdated.
The proportion of customers found to be eligible for those cases opened between August and October 2025 is higher than would have otherwise been the case had they had a check of UK employment through PAYE upfront and removed from the compliance activity. This upfront PAYE check has been reinstated. Going forward HMRC also have introduced an upfront check to identify customers from Northern Ireland whose exit from the UK was to the Republic of Ireland and will not issue enquiries on these customers as part of this exercise. These changes are alongside giving all customers at least one month to evidence their entitlement before suspending payments.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many and what percentage of people have had their child benefits incorrectly suspended from (a) Yeovil constituency, (b) Somerset and (c) England in each of the last three years.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many and what percentage of people have had their child benefits incorrectly suspended from (a) Yeovil constituency, (b) Somerset and (c) England in each of the last three years.
HMRC does not hold information on incorrect suspensions of Child Benefit. This is because, where there is doubt over a customer’s Child Benefit entitlement, HMRC will check eligibility and take appropriate action to safeguard public money. This may involve suspending payment whilst enquiries are ongoing. In cases where eligibility is later confirmed, it does not mean that the suspension was incorrectly applied.
However, HMRC has acknowledged that the way it expanded compliance using international travel data between August and October last year impacted some eligible customers, where upfront checks of UK employment through PAYE were excluded on 23,794 enquiries. It took swift action to address the issues including retrospective PAYE checks and automatic reinstatement of 5,327 payments by the middle of November 2025.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what guidance her Department provides for people who believe they have not been paid the correct child benefits.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what guidance her Department provides for people who believe they have not been paid the correct child benefits.
HMRC administers Child Benefit and regularly undertakes communications campaigns in press and social media to encourage people to claim. Last year, over 500,000 flyers were issued to new parents with a QR code that takes customers straight to the Child Benefit claim page on GOV.UK. HMRC also regularly runs communication campaigns to remind families of the non-monetary benefits of claiming Child Benefit.
HMRC includes information on customers’ mandatory consideration and appeal rights in Child Benefit decision notices it sends to customers. Guidance on how to appeal a benefit decision, including Child Benefit, is also published on GOV.UK at
https://www.gov.uk/appeal-benefit-decision.
Our ambitious child poverty strategy puts more money into the pockets of families and working parents. Removing the two-child cap benefits 2,260 children in my constituency, and the Secretary of State is doing much more on top of that, which we are missing out on in Scotland. Does she agree with me that we need a Government in Scotland who are more interested in education than gimmicks?
Our ambitious child poverty strategy puts more money into the pockets of families and working parents. Removing the two-child cap benefits 2,260 children in my constituency, and the Secretary of State is doing much more on top of that, which we are missing out on in Scotland. Does she agree with me that we need a Government in Scotland who are more interested in education than gimmicks?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right, and that is why people across Scotland should vote for Anas Sarwar and Scottish Labour. Last month I was in Scotland hearing directly from parents about the difference that lifting the two-child limit will make—measures that were opposed by the Conservatives, who would plunge hundreds of thousands of children back into poverty. There is so much more that we could do together if we had a Government in Scotland who were as determined to tackle child poverty as this Labour Government are. It is time for change and a new direction in Scotland.
My hon. Friend is absolutely right, and that is why people across Scotland should vote for Anas Sarwar and Scottish Labour. Last month I was in Scotland hearing directly from parents about the difference that lifting the two-child limit will make—measures that were opposed by the Conservatives, who would plunge hundreds of thousands of children back into poverty. There is so much more that we could do together if we had a Government in Scotland who were as determined to tackle child poverty as this Labour Government are. It is time for change and a new direction in Scotland.
My hon. Friend is absolutely right, and that is why people across Scotland should vote for Anas Sarwar and Scottish Labour. Last month I was in Scotland hearing directly from parents about the difference that lifting the two-child limit will make—measures that were opposed by the Conservatives, who would plunge hundreds of thousands of children back into poverty. There is so much more that we could do together if we had a Government in Scotland who were as determined to tackle child poverty as this Labour Government are. It is time for change and a new direction in Scotland.
Our ambitious child poverty strategy puts more money into the pockets of families and working parents. Removing the two-child cap benefits 2,260 children in my constituency, and the Secretary of State is doing much more on top of that, which we are missing out on in Scotland. Does she agree with me that we need a Government in Scotland who are more interested in education than gimmicks?
The High Income Child Benefit Charge provides for Child Benefit to be clawed back through the tax system from families where the highest earner has an income in excess of a set threshold, now set at £60,000.
The High Income Child Benefit Charge provides for Child Benefit to be clawed back through the tax system from families where the highest earner has an income in excess of a set threshold, now set at £60,000.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of Child Benefit rules on children in shared care arrangements.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of Child Benefit rules on children in shared care arrangements.
The current system places Child Benefit in the hands of one parent or guardian and gives that person responsibility for allocating it between capital and day to day costs. This ensures that the family with priority of entitlement for a child is provided with a suitable level of support for any particular child at any one time.
It is vital especially for parents and families on lower incomes that enough support is directed to them to lift the child out of poverty or to keep the child out of poverty.
We recognise that where families share responsibility for a child there may be issues around the availability of support. However, payment of support to the person with priority of entitlement for a child is seen as the most appropriate way to deal with the majority of families with children.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of requiring parents to apply for Child Benefit on their eligibility to qualify for National Insurance credits.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of requiring parents to apply for Child Benefit on their eligibility to qualify for National Insurance credits.
Child Benefit is a non-means tested benefit payable to families as a contribution towards the cost of raising children. Successfully applying for Child Benefit automatically gives eligible parents and carers Class 3 National Insurance (NI) credits until their child turns twelve. The requirement to apply for Child Benefit to qualify for the corresponding NI credit has existed since the introduction of Child Benefit in 2010. A similar policy link between Child Benefit and an individual’s NI record applied previously via Home Responsibilities Protection.
Given the link between Child Benefit and an individual’s NI record is a long-standing feature of the system, HMRC has not conducted an assessment of the impacts of requiring parents to apply for Child Benefit to access these particular NI credits.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many child benefit enquiries were opened as a result of data-sharing between HMRC and Student Finance England to detect changes in the young person’s further education status; over what timeframe they were opened; and what the outcomes were.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many child benefit enquiries were opened as a result of data-sharing between HMRC and Student Finance England to detect changes in the young person’s further education status; over what timeframe they were opened; and what the outcomes were.
For 16–19-year-olds included on Child Benefit claims, eligibility is reliant on them being in full-time non-advanced education or approved training.
Data from Student Finance England helps HMRC identify when a young person included in a Child Benefit award may have moved into advanced education (degree level), where the claimant has not notified HMRC. In these circumstances, HMRC will conduct an enquiry with the customer to clarify their young person’s education status.
Based on operational management information, which is subject to change, HMRC conducted enquiries with around 3,000 Child Benefit claimants since late 2023/24, to clarify their child’s education status. Around 2,800 of the enquires resulted in decisions to end the Child Benefit award.
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the removal of the two-child benefit limit to unemployed refugees receiving Universal Credit is perceived as fair by the public.
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the removal of the two-child benefit limit to unemployed refugees receiving Universal Credit is perceived as fair by the public.
There are strict rules that govern who can access benefits. Parents who are not British or Irish nationals can only access Universal Credit with a valid immigration status of a kind that gives them the right to access public funds. Most migrants with temporary visas cannot access the benefit system. Access to public funds and benefits is usually at the point of settlement, which for most people will be after they have lived in the UK legally for five years, and the Home Office Earned Settlement policy consultation is looking at increasing this to ten years. The Home Office is also consulting on changing the default position to maintain No Recourse to Public Funds at settlement and lifting this only at the point of British citizenship. This would mean that migrants would need to wait longer to access benefits.
DWP also plans to consult on changes to the benefit rules to prioritise access for those who are making an economic contribution to the UK. The consultation will look at how the benefit rules apply to everyone arriving or returning to the UK.
Lords motion to consider. Agreed to on question.
Lords motion to consider. Agreed to on question.
These regulations are made each year to uprate child benefit and the guardian’s allowance and set the national insurance contribution rates, limits and thresholds.
First, the Child Benefit and Guardian’s Allowance Up-rating Order 2026 sets the rates for both child benefit and the guardian’s allowance, and will ensure that these benefits...
These regulations are made each year to uprate child benefit and the guardian’s allowance and set the national insurance contribution rates, limits and thresholds.
First, the Child Benefit and Guardian’s Allowance Up-rating Order 2026 sets the rates for both child benefit and the guardian’s allowance, and will ensure that these benefits...
My Lords, the Child Benefit and Guardian’s Allowance Up-rating Order 2026 sets the weekly rates from 6 April 2026. As the Committee will know, this instrument increases the weekly rates of child benefit and guardian’s allowance by 3.8%, in line with the rise in the consumer prices index between September...
My Lords, the Child Benefit and Guardian’s Allowance Up-rating Order 2026 sets the weekly rates from 6 April 2026. As the Committee will know, this instrument increases the weekly rates of child benefit and guardian’s allowance by 3.8%, in line with the rise in the consumer prices index between September...
I thank the noble Lord for his speech and for the points that he has raised on this order. A lot of his points are outside of the scope of these SIs, but I will address them.
First, on inflation, it is in fact on the way down. These upratings have...
I thank the noble Lord for his speech and for the points that he has raised on this order. A lot of his points are outside of the scope of these SIs, but I will address them.
First, on inflation, it is in fact on the way down. These upratings have...
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to answer 107494 of 26 January on Child Benefit, how many of the compliance enquiries issued to Northern Ireland claimants (i) were confirmed to be eligible, (ii) were found to have been incorrectly receiving the benefit and (iii) are yet to receive...
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to answer 107494 of 26 January on Child Benefit, how many of the compliance enquiries issued to Northern Ireland claimants (i) were confirmed to be eligible, (ii) were found to have been incorrectly receiving the benefit and (iii) are yet to receive...
I refer the Hon Member to the response provided to 110941 on 10 February 2026.
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of how many individuals are currently claiming child benefits due to an exemption to no recourse to public funds status.
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of how many individuals are currently claiming child benefits due to an exemption to no recourse to public funds status.
The information required to inform an estimate is not held in a readily available form. Producing an estimate would require detailed manual examination of a very large number of individual Child Benefit claims, which could only be done at disproportionate cost.
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of (1) families, and (2) children, who will be affected by the removal of the two child benefit cap in the next two years, including those whose no recourse to public funds status has been lifted by exemption,...
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of (1) families, and (2) children, who will be affected by the removal of the two child benefit cap in the next two years, including those whose no recourse to public funds status has been lifted by exemption,...
The Department does not produce forecasts of the impact of removing the two child limit on families or children by immigration status, and the estimate requested is not available. To produce such an estimate would incur disproportionate cost.
As our published information shows, in 2026/27, we estimate around 510,000 and in 2027/28, we estimate 520,000 Universal Credit Households will benefit from this policy change.
Table 5: Estimated number of households benefitting from the policy change
| 2026/27 | 2027/28 | 2028/29 | 2029/30 | 2030/31 |
Already on UC (static) (000’s) | 500 | 510 | 520 | 550 | 560 |
Newly entitled to UC (static) (000’s) | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
Reduction due to exceptions (static) (000’s) | - 20 | - 20 | - 20 | - 20 | - 20 |
Increased take-up of UC (behavioural) (000’s) | 20 | 20 | 30 | 30 | 20 |
Total (000’s) | 510 | 520 | 540 | 560 | 570 |
Note: Caseloads rounded to the nearest 10k and totals may not sum up due to rounding. Great Britain only. | |||||
Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill publications - Parliamentary Bills - UK Parliament - Regulatory impact assessment template (2023 reforms)
Most migrants with temporary visas cannot access the benefit system. Access to public funds and benefits is usually at the point of settlement, which for most people will be after they have lived in the UK legally for five years, and the Home Office Earned Settlement policy consultation is looking at increasing this to ten years. The Home Office is also consulting on changing the default position to maintain No Recourse to Public Funds at settlement and lifting this only at the point of British citizenship.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer 108352 of 29 January 2026 on Child Benefit: Maladministration, if the erroneous suspension of child benefits through the data sharing agreement was raised as part of the weekly feedback sharing; and if she will publish the communication.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer 108352 of 29 January 2026 on Child Benefit: Maladministration, if the erroneous suspension of child benefits through the data sharing agreement was raised as part of the weekly feedback sharing; and if she will publish the communication.
Mechanisms for sharing weekly management information and feedback from compliance teams were in place. HMRC do not routinely publish information of this nature.
HMRC use international travel data and other checks to help tackle Child Benefit error and fraud, which is expected to save around £350 million over the next five years.
Motion that the draft Child Benefit and Guardian's Allowance Up-rating Order 2026, which was laid before this House on 12 January, be approved. Agreed to on question.
Motion that the draft Child Benefit and Guardian's Allowance Up-rating Order 2026, which was laid before this House on 12 January, be approved. Agreed to on question.
I beg to move,
That the draft Child Benefit and Guardian’s Allowance Up-rating Order 2026, which was laid before this House on 12 January, be approved.
I beg to move,
That the draft Child Benefit and Guardian’s Allowance Up-rating Order 2026, which was laid before this House on 12 January, be approved.
The draft Child Benefit and Guardian’s Allowance Up-rating Order sets the rates for both child benefit and guardian’s allowance, and will ensure that those benefits, for which Treasury Ministers are responsible and which are delivered by His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, are uprated by inflation in April 2026. The draft...
The draft Child Benefit and Guardian’s Allowance Up-rating Order sets the rates for both child benefit and guardian’s allowance, and will ensure that those benefits, for which Treasury Ministers are responsible and which are delivered by His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, are uprated by inflation in April 2026. The draft...
I welcome what the Minister is saying, which is positive. This is a good step for guardians, carers and veterans. Sometimes people come to me and ask me questions. They say that they cannot get any help with the changes that have come in and how they are affected. When...
I welcome what the Minister is saying, which is positive. This is a good step for guardians, carers and veterans. Sometimes people come to me and ask me questions. They say that they cannot get any help with the changes that have come in and how they are affected. When...
The hon. Member is right: a range of reliefs in the national insurance system help particular groups, including young people and those who have served in our military. It is right that those reliefs are there, and I am glad that the Government took the decision to extend them by...
The hon. Member is right: a range of reliefs in the national insurance system help particular groups, including young people and those who have served in our military. It is right that those reliefs are there, and I am glad that the Government took the decision to extend them by...
It is a great pleasure to debate these two statutory instruments with the Exchequer Secretary. As he stated, they are made each year, and the precedent is for them to be debated on the Floor of the House. I am glad to see that that practice continues, and I hope...
It is a great pleasure to debate these two statutory instruments with the Exchequer Secretary. As he stated, they are made each year, and the precedent is for them to be debated on the Floor of the House. I am glad to see that that practice continues, and I hope...
indicated assent.
indicated assent.
The Minister is nodding, and I am sure he agrees with us on this point. Therefore, we welcome the fact that the Government have committed to extending this relief for the next two years.
However, I point out that the Government said in the Budget document:
“The government will extend the employer...
The Minister is nodding, and I am sure he agrees with us on this point. Therefore, we welcome the fact that the Government have committed to extending this relief for the next two years.
However, I point out that the Government said in the Budget document:
“The government will extend the employer...
I welcome the proposals on child benefit and guardian’s allowance. When I visit schools in Torbay, it is disturbing to hear how many children are only too alive to the cost of living crisis. They are worried about mum or dad not having enough money to put petrol in the...
I welcome the proposals on child benefit and guardian’s allowance. When I visit schools in Torbay, it is disturbing to hear how many children are only too alive to the cost of living crisis. They are worried about mum or dad not having enough money to put petrol in the...
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to answer 104272 of 14 January on Child Benefit, how many of the 5,637 enquiries which remained open have since been addressed; and what the outcomes were.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to answer 104272 of 14 January on Child Benefit, how many of the 5,637 enquiries which remained open have since been addressed; and what the outcomes were.
The latest data relating to Child Benefit compliance activity is being quality assured to ensure accuracy. HMRC will write to the Treasury Committee with an update when the work is completed.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is the total amount of Child Benefit paid to non-UK nationals since July 2024, broken down by month; and what proportion of that amount was paid for children who don’t reside in the UK.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is the total amount of Child Benefit paid to non-UK nationals since July 2024, broken down by month; and what proportion of that amount was paid for children who don’t reside in the UK.
HMRC no longer produce a breakdown of Child benefit claimed by nationality.
This release was discontinued following user consultation.
The latest publication was in August 2022. Income Tax, National Insurance contributions, Tax Credits and Child Benefit Statistics for Non-UK Nationals: 2019 to 2020 - GOV.UK
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of requiring parents to apply for Child Benefit on their eligibility to qualify for National Insurance credits.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of requiring parents to apply for Child Benefit on their eligibility to qualify for National Insurance credits.
DWP has not conducted such an assessment. Child Benefit is a benefit administered by HMRC.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 26 January 2026 to Question 107489 on Child Benefit: Maladministration, what records her Department holds on weekly management information and feedback from the compliance teams working the cases, in the context of page 10 of Data Protection Impact...
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 26 January 2026 to Question 107489 on Child Benefit: Maladministration, what records her Department holds on weekly management information and feedback from the compliance teams working the cases, in the context of page 10 of Data Protection Impact...
As set out in the Data Protection Impact Assessment, HMRC teams share management information and feedback on a weekly basis. This helps teams ensure that processes run as smoothly as possible.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people do not receive National Insurance credits through not applying for Child Benefit.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people do not receive National Insurance credits through not applying for Child Benefit.
It is estimated that 214 thousand people who qualified for Child Benefit in 2024-25 were not claiming it and missed out on National Insurance credits. This estimate excludes those who paid National Insurance contributions or who received credits via another route.
HMRC encourages parents and guardians to claim Child Benefit, even if their or their partner’s income means they may be liable to the High Income Child Benefit Charge. They can opt out of getting Child Benefit payments so they do not have to pay the charge and can still get National Insurance contributions to protect their State Pension.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 20 January 2026 to Question 105764 on Child Benefit: Maladministration, and with reference to the Data Protection Impact Assessment 15489, if she will make an assessment of why issues were not identified earlier, in the context of page...
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 20 January 2026 to Question 105764 on Child Benefit: Maladministration, and with reference to the Data Protection Impact Assessment 15489, if she will make an assessment of why issues were not identified earlier, in the context of page...
Of the 23,794 Child Benefit enquires opened between August and October 2025 to confirm claimant’s residency status, 346 (1.5%) were issued to Northern Ireland claimants.
HMRC does not hold a breakdown of the categories of error and fraud for those customers that were found to be non-compliant.
As HMRC has explained, when issues were identified it took swift action to resolve the position for affected customers and HMRC has also strengthened the process and safeguards going forward for this exercise.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many and what proportion of families, who had their child benefit reinstated following the review into those who were suspended during the period of data-sharing between HMRC and the Home Office, were found to be eligible as a result of PAYE checks.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many and what proportion of families, who had their child benefit reinstated following the review into those who were suspended during the period of data-sharing between HMRC and the Home Office, were found to be eligible as a result of PAYE checks.
As HMRC informed the Treasury Select Committee in its letter dated 14 November 2025, it is unable to completely disaggregate the number of cases where eligibility was confirmed via a subsequent PAYE check from those where evidence was provided by the customer.
The information from the pilot remains HMRC’s best assessment of the effectiveness of the activity using international travel data to reduce error and fraud.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 14 January 2026 to Question 104272 on Child Benefit, how many and what proportion of the 1,109 cases due to (a) fraud, (b) claimant error and (c) official error.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 14 January 2026 to Question 104272 on Child Benefit, how many and what proportion of the 1,109 cases due to (a) fraud, (b) claimant error and (c) official error.
Of the 23,794 Child Benefit enquires opened between August and October 2025 to confirm claimant’s residency status, 346 (1.5%) were issued to Northern Ireland claimants.
HMRC does not hold a breakdown of the categories of error and fraud for those customers that were found to be non-compliant.
As HMRC has explained, when issues were identified it took swift action to resolve the position for affected customers and HMRC has also strengthened the process and safeguards going forward for this exercise.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 14 January 2026 to Question 104272 on Child Benefit, how many and what proportion of the 23,794 cases relate to families in Northern Ireland.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 14 January 2026 to Question 104272 on Child Benefit, how many and what proportion of the 23,794 cases relate to families in Northern Ireland.
Of the 23,794 Child Benefit enquires opened between August and October 2025 to confirm claimant’s residency status, 346 (1.5%) were issued to Northern Ireland claimants.
HMRC does not hold a breakdown of the categories of error and fraud for those customers that were found to be non-compliant.
As HMRC has explained, when issues were identified it took swift action to resolve the position for affected customers and HMRC has also strengthened the process and safeguards going forward for this exercise.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the number of Child Benefit claims that were suspended by HM Revenue and Customs on the basis of suspected emigration and were subsequently found to be compliant; what assessment she has made of the potential merits of...
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the number of Child Benefit claims that were suspended by HM Revenue and Customs on the basis of suspected emigration and were subsequently found to be compliant; what assessment she has made of the potential merits of...
HMRC’s Chief Executive wrote to the Treasury Select Committee on 14 November 2025 about this matter including the corrective action that HMRC has taken and its approach to redress. This letter was subsequently published by the Committee on 18 November 2025.
For the number of Child Benefit claims I refer the Honourable Member to the answer I gave to Question 104272 on 14 January 2026.
Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, at what level was the decision made to remove the PAYE checks after the Child Benefit compliance pilot.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, at what level was the decision made to remove the PAYE checks after the Child Benefit compliance pilot.
As HMRC’s First Permanent Secretary explained to the Treasury Select Committee on 13 January, the PAYE check was removed to streamline the process at an operational level, with a view to employment status being tested as part of any subsequent customer enquiry.
The Department has apologised for removing the PAYE check and the impact on some of its customers of this change.
HMRC has taken swift action to reinstate the check, put things right for affected customers and make further improvements to the process. Lessons learned for the future include strengthening the governance from pilots to business as usual activities.
To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made towards (1) identifying, and (2) compensating, families affected by the inadvertent legislative change that was reversed by the Child Benefit (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2025 (SI 2025/818); and when they expect to complete the correction exercise.
To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made towards (1) identifying, and (2) compensating, families affected by the inadvertent legislative change that was reversed by the Child Benefit (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2025 (SI 2025/818); and when they expect to complete the correction exercise.
The correction exercise opened to claims for both Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit on 1 October 2025.
As affected individuals may not have had an active claim, HMRC is unable to identify affected individuals from its records and is reliant on them contacting HMRC. Prior to the launch, HMRC provided messaging directly to third-party welfare rights stakeholders to advertise the exercise and encourage claimants to self-identify. HMRC officials worked with the Department for Education and the Department for Work and Pensions to amplify this messaging through homeschooling networks and local authorities, respectively. The exercise also received national press coverage.
The communications campaign is expected to run until October 2026. HMRC will continue to publicise through stakeholders, and consider further press releases or targeted social media.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on what date (i) HMRC and (ii) ministers in her Department were notified of child benefit claimants incorrectly having benefits stopped due to data sharing with the Home Office.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on what date (i) HMRC and (ii) ministers in her Department were notified of child benefit claimants incorrectly having benefits stopped due to data sharing with the Home Office.
HMRC use international travel data and other checks to help tackle Child Benefit error and fraud, which is expected to save around £350 million over the next five years.
As HMRC scaled up the work through September and into October 2025, it came to HMRC’s attention in mid-October that the removal of the PAYE check had resulted in some customers being incorrectly included in the compliance campaign. HMRC took swift action to reinstate the PAYE check and apply it retrospectively, including no longer suspending payments at the outset of their enquiries. After understanding the issues, HMRC notified Treasury ministers in late October and have kept them fully informed throughout since.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the press release entitled Child Benefit action to save £350 million from claimants abroad, published on 22 August 2025, and to the correspondence from the Chief Executive and First Permanent Secretary of the Treasury to the Chair of the Treasury...
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the press release entitled Child Benefit action to save £350 million from claimants abroad, published on 22 August 2025, and to the correspondence from the Chief Executive and First Permanent Secretary of the Treasury to the Chair of the Treasury...
The projected savings for the residency compliance work are a component of a wider measure announced at Autumn Budget 24 and forms part of the overall forecast for Child Benefit expenditure. The estimate of £350 million over five years for the total saving from this measure will be reviewed and updated as part of a future fiscal event in the usual way and as more data becomes available.
From the c. 23,500 cases, 5,367 enquiries remained open on 31 December 2025. HMRC expects to have concluded these by the end of February 2026.
Resources used to review cases opened between August and October 2025 are those which are already allocated to this exercise through the funding announced at Autumn Budget 2024.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2025 to Question 103948 on Child Benefit: Fraud, if she will make an estimate of the cost to her Department of time spent reviewing old cases.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2025 to Question 103948 on Child Benefit: Fraud, if she will make an estimate of the cost to her Department of time spent reviewing old cases.
The projected savings for the residency compliance work are a component of a wider measure announced at Autumn Budget 24 and forms part of the overall forecast for Child Benefit expenditure. The estimate of £350 million over five years for the total saving from this measure will be reviewed and updated as part of a future fiscal event in the usual way and as more data becomes available.
From the c. 23,500 cases, 5,367 enquiries remained open on 31 December 2025. HMRC expects to have concluded these by the end of February 2026.
Resources used to review cases opened between August and October 2025 are those which are already allocated to this exercise through the funding announced at Autumn Budget 2024.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2025 to Question 103948 on Child Benefit: Fraud, when she estimates the c 23,500 cohort will have been fully reviewed.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2025 to Question 103948 on Child Benefit: Fraud, when she estimates the c 23,500 cohort will have been fully reviewed.
The projected savings for the residency compliance work are a component of a wider measure announced at Autumn Budget 24 and forms part of the overall forecast for Child Benefit expenditure. The estimate of £350 million over five years for the total saving from this measure will be reviewed and updated as part of a future fiscal event in the usual way and as more data becomes available.
From the c. 23,500 cases, 5,367 enquiries remained open on 31 December 2025. HMRC expects to have concluded these by the end of February 2026.
Resources used to review cases opened between August and October 2025 are those which are already allocated to this exercise through the funding announced at Autumn Budget 2024.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to answer 98955 of 16 December 2025 on Child Benefit, how many of the 7,781 enquiries which remained open have since been addressed; and what the outcomes were.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to answer 98955 of 16 December 2025 on Child Benefit, how many of the 7,781 enquiries which remained open have since been addressed; and what the outcomes were.
In total, of the 23,794 enquiries opened, 1,109 have been determined non-compliant. 5,637 remain open.
Two-Child Benefit Cap
The petition of residents of the constituency of York Central,
Declares that the Two Child Benefit Cap results in parents of families with three or more children born after April 2017 can only claim benefit for the first two children, unless they prove that further children have been conceived...
Two-Child Benefit Cap
The petition of residents of the constituency of York Central,
Declares that the Two Child Benefit Cap results in parents of families with three or more children born after April 2017 can only claim benefit for the first two children, unless they prove that further children have been conceived...
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many new enquiries were opened into child benefit claims which were suspended from claimants as a result of data-sharing between HMRC and the Home Office in the period 1 to 31 December 2025.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many new enquiries were opened into child benefit claims which were suspended from claimants as a result of data-sharing between HMRC and the Home Office in the period 1 to 31 December 2025.
There were no new Child Benefit compliance enquiries opened using Home Office international travel data in the period 1st to 31st December 2025. This is because HMRC's focus during that period was on reviewing the c. 23,500 cohort.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the number of households who will have child benefit reduced as a result of freezing of income tax thresholds.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the number of households who will have child benefit reduced as a result of freezing of income tax thresholds.
At Budget 2025, the Government announced that it will maintain the income tax Personal Allowance at £12,570 and higher rate threshold at £50,270 from April 2028 to April 2031. The additional rate threshold remains at £125,140 from April 2028 to April 2031. These decisions have no impact on entitlement to Child Benefit or liability to the High Income Child Benefit Charge.
To ask His Majesty's Government whether child benefit will be included in the proposals regarding public funds in A Fairer Pathway to Settlement, and Restoring Order and Control, published on 20 November.
To ask His Majesty's Government whether child benefit will be included in the proposals regarding public funds in A Fairer Pathway to Settlement, and Restoring Order and Control, published on 20 November.
Child Benefit is listed as a public fund in Section 115 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 and paragraph 6 of the Immigration rules.
The Fairer Pathway to Settlement consultation on earned settlement seeks views on whether the qualifying period for settlement should be increased by five or ten years if the applicant has claimed public funds and whether the law should be changed so that it would be possible to make settlement subject to a “no recourse to public funds” condition.
The consultation is open to anyone who wishes to share their views, including individuals, organisations, and other stakeholders who may be affected by or have an interest in the proposed changes.
As set out in the Restoring Order and Control statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy, published on 21 November 2025, access to taxpayer funded benefits will be prioritised for those making an economic contribution. A consultation is planned for this year.
On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. In a written answer on 9 December 2025 to a parliamentary question that I had submitted, the Treasury stated explicitly that it had not opened any new inquiries into child benefit eligibility in the context of the serious errors in a trial...
On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. In a written answer on 9 December 2025 to a parliamentary question that I had submitted, the Treasury stated explicitly that it had not opened any new inquiries into child benefit eligibility in the context of the serious errors in a trial...
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the accuracy of Home Office travel data used in determining immigration status; whether this has involved 24,000 families having their child benefit stopped; whether any failures in accurate determinations would breach the principles of accuracy, fairness and transparency set out...
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the accuracy of Home Office travel data used in determining immigration status; whether this has involved 24,000 families having their child benefit stopped; whether any failures in accurate determinations would breach the principles of accuracy, fairness and transparency set out...
HMRC do not use Home Office international travel data to determine immigration status. HMRC uses the data as a starting point for identifying potential unreported absences from the UK. Undetected changes to an individual’s residency status are a leading cause of Child Benefit error and fraud.
HMRC’s Chief Executive wrote to the Treasury Select Committee on 14 November 2025 about this matter including the corrective action that HMRC is taking. This letter was subsequently published by the Committee on 18 November 2025.
It was understood from the outset and made clear by the Home Office that its international travel data could not be used in isolation to determine Child Benefit entitlement, therefore requiring HMRC to conduct its own checks and enquires with recipients to establish eligibility. The same data was used during a pilot in 2024 which allowed HMRC to focus their enquiries on less than 2% of recipients while preventing £17m in incorrect payments. This led to the expansion of the measure and investment in an additional 180 counter-fraud staff, announced at the Budget in 2024 and is expected to save around £350 million over the next five years.
When using international travel data complemented by a check of UK employment using the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) system, HMRC will no longer suspend payments at the outset of its enquiries. Instead, recipients will be given at least one month to evidence their entitlement. HMRC will continue to iterate the process where its monitoring and learning suggests that it should make further changes.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that Child Maintenance Service liability accurately reflects actual care arrangements, including in cases where the paying parent has become the primary carer but Child Benefit remains registered to the other parent.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that Child Maintenance Service liability accurately reflects actual care arrangements, including in cases where the paying parent has become the primary carer but Child Benefit remains registered to the other parent.
To qualify for maintenance payments a child must meet the Child Maintenance Service's (CMS) criteria. They must be under 20 years of age and in full time non-advanced education or approved training, and eligible for Child Benefit. They must also be habitually resident in the UK and usually living in the same household as the receiving parent. Child maintenance defines a child the same way as Child Benefit does to offer consistency across rules.
If the CMS is satisfied that both parents have equal day-to-day care for the child, in addition to sharing overnight care, there is no requirement for either parent to pay child maintenance. There is no statutory definition of day-to-day care; our definition is broadly aligned with that of Child Benefit, where an ‘overall care test’ is used. This provides consistency across government.
The CMS shared care rules are designed to reflect the financial responsibilities of both parents based on the care provided to the child. The inclusion of overnight stays as a measure of shared care is intended to offer a clear, administrable way to assess the level of care each parent provides.
CMS does not routinely contact local authorities or schools to verify care arrangements. Instead, it relies on evidence provided by parents and applies an “overall care test” aligned with Child Benefit principles. Receipt of Child Benefit is regarded as a strong indicator of entitlement but, in circumstances where parents dispute the level of shared care, caseworkers consider all relevant evidence. A decision is made on the balance of probability to determine who provides day-to-day care. Where this evidence indicates a change in primary care, the CMS will update and adjust maintenance liability, even if Child Benefit remains registered with the other parent.
Collection activity is not automatically paused during verification, but CMS can exercise discretion where there is clear evidence of a dispute over care arrangements.
Where payments have been made in error following an incorrect care-status determination, CMS has processes to refund overpayments to the paying parent and, where appropriate, to recoup funds from the receiving parent. Reimbursement decisions are discretionary and consider whether the overpayment resulted from CMS error and whether the paying parent has requested repayment.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the written answer of 9 December 25 to question 96953 on Child Benefit, how many of the 23,500 compliance enquiries (i) were confirmed to be eligible, (ii) were found to have been incorrectly receiving the benefit and (iii) are yet to...
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the written answer of 9 December 25 to question 96953 on Child Benefit, how many of the 23,500 compliance enquiries (i) were confirmed to be eligible, (ii) were found to have been incorrectly receiving the benefit and (iii) are yet to...
HMRC has now completed its review of Child Benefit compliance cases where a PAYE check had not been undertaken. As of 30 November 2025, out of the 23,794 cases opened between August and October 2025, 14,994 Child Benefit customers have been confirmed to be eligible to Child Benefit. Of the remaining 8,800 cases, 1,019, have been determined to have been incorrectly receiving Child Benefit, and 7,781 enquiries remain open as the customer has not yet provided evidence to enable a final determination of residency.
The data from the 23,794 cases is not comparable with the pilot. Recognising the issues with the implementation of the expansion, HMRC put in place an expediated process for customers that varied from the way it applied checks in the pilot. The information from the pilot remains HMRC’s best assessment of the effectiveness of the activity using international travel data to reduce error and fraud.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many new enquiries were opened into child benefit claims which were suspended from claimants as a result of data-sharing between HMRC and the Home Office in the period 1st to 30th November 2025.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many new enquiries were opened into child benefit claims which were suspended from claimants as a result of data-sharing between HMRC and the Home Office in the period 1st to 30th November 2025.
There were no new Child Benefit compliance enquiries opened using Home Office international travel data in the period 1st to 30th November 2025. This is because our focus during that time was on reviewing the c. 23,500 already opened.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of providing child benefits and child care support based on (1) joint household income and (2) parents individual earnings, given that currently a family of two parents earning £50,000 each may be eligible for a different level of support than...
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of providing child benefits and child care support based on (1) joint household income and (2) parents individual earnings, given that currently a family of two parents earning £50,000 each may be eligible for a different level of support than...
The current rules base the High Income Child Benefit Charge on the income of one parent or carer. Basing the charge on household income, or the individual incomes of both parents or carers, would come at a significant fiscal cost if we were to ensure that no families lose out.
Regarding the 30 hours childcare offer, the £100,000 earnings threshold for eligibility is currently assessed on a per parent basis, rather than household income for two main reasons. First, aligning to the existing boundary in the tax system makes it easy for parents to understand what they are entitled to. Second, this policy approach means there is no incentive for the lower earner in a household to reduce their income, for example through working fewer hours, to be eligible.
HMRC-administered benefits and rates for 2026/27: Child Benefit and Guardian’s Allowance: proposed rates from 6 April 2025. 1p.
HMRC-administered benefits and rates for 2026/27: Child Benefit and Guardian’s Allowance: proposed rates from 6 April 2025. 1p.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has conducted an equality impact assessment on the effect of school-attendance-linked Child Benefit rules on children with mental-health-related disabilities.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has conducted an equality impact assessment on the effect of school-attendance-linked Child Benefit rules on children with mental-health-related disabilities.
Child Benefit remains in payment until 31 August following a child’s 16th birthday. This applies without any conditions on education, so there is no impact on children of this age if they are unable to attend school for any reason.
For young people who are over 16 and under 20, Child Benefit remains payable if they continue in full-time non-advanced education or training. Legislation allows for Child Benefit to continue being paid when this education is interrupted. This can be for a period of up to six months, or for as long as is reasonable if it is attributable to the illness or disability of mind or body. Child Benefit can also still be paid in respect of young people who cannot attend education for an average of more than 12 hours per week due to an illness or disability.
The Government does not hold data on the number of families where Child Benefit has stopped because a young person over 16 has not been able to attend education due to mental ill health.
Where a young person is unable to return to education because of mental ill-health or trauma, disability benefits may provide a more suitable form of long-term support.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate her Department has made of the number of families who have had Child Benefit reduced or withdrawn because a child or young person has been unable to attend school due to mental ill-health.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate her Department has made of the number of families who have had Child Benefit reduced or withdrawn because a child or young person has been unable to attend school due to mental ill-health.
Child Benefit remains in payment until 31 August following a child’s 16th birthday. This applies without any conditions on education, so there is no impact on children of this age if they are unable to attend school for any reason.
For young people who are over 16 and under 20, Child Benefit remains payable if they continue in full-time non-advanced education or training. Legislation allows for Child Benefit to continue being paid when this education is interrupted. This can be for a period of up to six months, or for as long as is reasonable if it is attributable to the illness or disability of mind or body. Child Benefit can also still be paid in respect of young people who cannot attend education for an average of more than 12 hours per week due to an illness or disability.
The Government does not hold data on the number of families where Child Benefit has stopped because a young person over 16 has not been able to attend education due to mental ill health.
Where a young person is unable to return to education because of mental ill-health or trauma, disability benefits may provide a more suitable form of long-term support.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions her Department has had with the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department for Education on reforming Child Benefit rules to better support children experiencing mental-health crises who cannot attend school.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions her Department has had with the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department for Education on reforming Child Benefit rules to better support children experiencing mental-health crises who cannot attend school.
Child Benefit remains in payment until 31 August following a child’s 16th birthday. This applies without any conditions on education, so there is no impact on children of this age if they are unable to attend school for any reason.
For young people who are over 16 and under 20, Child Benefit remains payable if they continue in full-time non-advanced education or training. Legislation allows for Child Benefit to continue being paid when this education is interrupted. This can be for a period of up to six months, or for as long as is reasonable if it is attributable to the illness or disability of mind or body. Child Benefit can also still be paid in respect of young people who cannot attend education for an average of more than 12 hours per week due to an illness or disability.
The Government does not hold data on the number of families where Child Benefit has stopped because a young person over 16 has not been able to attend education due to mental ill health.
Where a young person is unable to return to education because of mental ill-health or trauma, disability benefits may provide a more suitable form of long-term support.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of Child Benefit cessation on families where a child or young person is unable to attend school as a result of clinically evidenced mental-health conditions or trauma.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of Child Benefit cessation on families where a child or young person is unable to attend school as a result of clinically evidenced mental-health conditions or trauma.
Child Benefit remains in payment until 31 August following a child’s 16th birthday. This applies without any conditions on education, so there is no impact on children of this age if they are unable to attend school for any reason.
For young people who are over 16 and under 20, Child Benefit remains payable if they continue in full-time non-advanced education or training. Legislation allows for Child Benefit to continue being paid when this education is interrupted. This can be for a period of up to six months, or for as long as is reasonable if it is attributable to the illness or disability of mind or body. Child Benefit can also still be paid in respect of young people who cannot attend education for an average of more than 12 hours per week due to an illness or disability.
The Government does not hold data on the number of families where Child Benefit has stopped because a young person over 16 has not been able to attend education due to mental ill health.
Where a young person is unable to return to education because of mental ill-health or trauma, disability benefits may provide a more suitable form of long-term support.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to review Child Benefit eligibility rules linked to school attendance in relation to absence caused by severe mental ill-health or trauma.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to review Child Benefit eligibility rules linked to school attendance in relation to absence caused by severe mental ill-health or trauma.
Child Benefit remains in payment until 31 August following a child’s 16th birthday. This applies without any conditions on education, so there is no impact on children of this age if they are unable to attend school for any reason.
For young people who are over 16 and under 20, Child Benefit remains payable if they continue in full-time non-advanced education or training. Legislation allows for Child Benefit to continue being paid when this education is interrupted. This can be for a period of up to six months, or for as long as is reasonable if it is attributable to the illness or disability of mind or body. Child Benefit can also still be paid in respect of young people who cannot attend education for an average of more than 12 hours per week due to an illness or disability.
The Government does not hold data on the number of families where Child Benefit has stopped because a young person over 16 has not been able to attend education due to mental ill health.
Where a young person is unable to return to education because of mental ill-health or trauma, disability benefits may provide a more suitable form of long-term support.
My right honourable friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury (James Murray) has today made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
The Tax Credits Act 2002 and Social Security Administration Act 1992 place a statutory duty on His Majesty’s Treasury to review the rates of Child Benefit each year in line with...
My right honourable friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury (James Murray) has today made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
The Tax Credits Act 2002 and Social Security Administration Act 1992 place a statutory duty on His Majesty’s Treasury to review the rates of Child Benefit each year in line with...
The Tax Credits Act 2002 and Social Security Administration Act 1992 place a statutory duty on His Majesty’s Treasury to review the rates of Child Benefit each year in line with the general level of prices. There is a further statutory duty on the Treasury to increase Guardian’s Allowance in...
The Tax Credits Act 2002 and Social Security Administration Act 1992 place a statutory duty on His Majesty’s Treasury to review the rates of Child Benefit each year in line with the general level of prices. There is a further statutory duty on the Treasury to increase Guardian’s Allowance in...
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 3 October 2025 to Question 85934, if HMRC utilised or was given access to passenger name records as part of the Data Usage Agreement with the Home Office.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 3 October 2025 to Question 85934, if HMRC utilised or was given access to passenger name records as part of the Data Usage Agreement with the Home Office.
HMRC did not directly access passenger name records held by the Home Office as part of its efforts to reduce Child Benefit non-compliance. The process involves HMRC sharing a data set with the Home Office, which includes the Child Benefit claimant’s name. Matches returned by the Home Office also include the Child Benefit claimant’s name. Both data sets were assessed and agreed for data minimisation purposes.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 19 November 2025 to Question 89705 on Child Benefit, how many of the 23,500 enquiries excluded from the PAYE check were found to be eligible for reinstatement after the checks were completed on 14 November 2025.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 19 November 2025 to Question 89705 on Child Benefit, how many of the 23,500 enquiries excluded from the PAYE check were found to be eligible for reinstatement after the checks were completed on 14 November 2025.
HMRC’s Chief Executive wrote to the Treasury Select Committee on 14 November 2025 about this matter including the corrective action that HMRC is taking. This letter was subsequently published by the Committee on 18 November 2025. There are no plans to publish a report.
In the response to the Treasury Select Committee, HMRC provided figures for those customers subsequently confirmed as eligible through a PAYE check or customer contact up to and including 31 October 2025. This time period reflects that figures are only validated after the month end.
Where there was evidence that customers had continued UK employment, HMRC reinstated payments automatically without any need for customer contact and those payments have been backdated. By the end of November 2025, HMRC will have written to all customers who have not yet contacted them to provide a further 4 weeks in which to make contact.
HMRC holds information by postal address although HMRC would be unable to release to such a granular level due to the risk of breaching taxpayer confidentiality.
HMRC’s pilot last year using international travel data prevented around £17m in incorrect payments. This led to a wider rollout and investment in an additional 180 counter-fraud staff, announced at the Autumn Budget 2024, which is expected to save around £350 million over the next five years.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 19 November 2025 to Question 89705 on Child Benefit, whether HMRC plans to publish a report on a) the circumstances of the error and b) lessons learned from the review into suspended Child Benefit claims, including methodology, criteria...
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 19 November 2025 to Question 89705 on Child Benefit, whether HMRC plans to publish a report on a) the circumstances of the error and b) lessons learned from the review into suspended Child Benefit claims, including methodology, criteria...
HMRC’s Chief Executive wrote to the Treasury Select Committee on 14 November 2025 about this matter including the corrective action that HMRC is taking. This letter was subsequently published by the Committee on 18 November 2025. There are no plans to publish a report.
In the response to the Treasury Select Committee, HMRC provided figures for those customers subsequently confirmed as eligible through a PAYE check or customer contact up to and including 31 October 2025. This time period reflects that figures are only validated after the month end.
Where there was evidence that customers had continued UK employment, HMRC reinstated payments automatically without any need for customer contact and those payments have been backdated. By the end of November 2025, HMRC will have written to all customers who have not yet contacted them to provide a further 4 weeks in which to make contact.
HMRC holds information by postal address although HMRC would be unable to release to such a granular level due to the risk of breaching taxpayer confidentiality.
HMRC’s pilot last year using international travel data prevented around £17m in incorrect payments. This led to a wider rollout and investment in an additional 180 counter-fraud staff, announced at the Autumn Budget 2024, which is expected to save around £350 million over the next five years.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 19 November 2025 to Question 89703 on Child Benefit, if she can advise what is the most localised level for which data is available.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 19 November 2025 to Question 89703 on Child Benefit, if she can advise what is the most localised level for which data is available.
HMRC’s Chief Executive wrote to the Treasury Select Committee on 14 November 2025 about this matter including the corrective action that HMRC is taking. This letter was subsequently published by the Committee on 18 November 2025. There are no plans to publish a report.
In the response to the Treasury Select Committee, HMRC provided figures for those customers subsequently confirmed as eligible through a PAYE check or customer contact up to and including 31 October 2025. This time period reflects that figures are only validated after the month end.
Where there was evidence that customers had continued UK employment, HMRC reinstated payments automatically without any need for customer contact and those payments have been backdated. By the end of November 2025, HMRC will have written to all customers who have not yet contacted them to provide a further 4 weeks in which to make contact.
HMRC holds information by postal address although HMRC would be unable to release to such a granular level due to the risk of breaching taxpayer confidentiality.
HMRC’s pilot last year using international travel data prevented around £17m in incorrect payments. This led to a wider rollout and investment in an additional 180 counter-fraud staff, announced at the Autumn Budget 2024, which is expected to save around £350 million over the next five years.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 19 November 2025 to Question 89705 on Child Benefit, what steps HMRC will take to ensure that customers affected by the suspension of Child Benefit payments are formally notified of the apology issued and compensated for any financial...
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 19 November 2025 to Question 89705 on Child Benefit, what steps HMRC will take to ensure that customers affected by the suspension of Child Benefit payments are formally notified of the apology issued and compensated for any financial...
HMRC’s Chief Executive wrote to the Treasury Select Committee on 14 November 2025 about this matter including the corrective action that HMRC is taking. This letter was subsequently published by the Committee on 18 November 2025. There are no plans to publish a report.
In the response to the Treasury Select Committee, HMRC provided figures for those customers subsequently confirmed as eligible through a PAYE check or customer contact up to and including 31 October 2025. This time period reflects that figures are only validated after the month end.
Where there was evidence that customers had continued UK employment, HMRC reinstated payments automatically without any need for customer contact and those payments have been backdated. By the end of November 2025, HMRC will have written to all customers who have not yet contacted them to provide a further 4 weeks in which to make contact.
HMRC holds information by postal address although HMRC would be unable to release to such a granular level due to the risk of breaching taxpayer confidentiality.
HMRC’s pilot last year using international travel data prevented around £17m in incorrect payments. This led to a wider rollout and investment in an additional 180 counter-fraud staff, announced at the Autumn Budget 2024, which is expected to save around £350 million over the next five years.
Two-child benefit cap
I rise to present a petition on the two-child benefit cap. Tomorrow we all trust will be a turning point for children living in poverty, as the third child and subsequent children in a family have been denied vital support since 2017 unless proved to be conceived by...
Two-child benefit cap
I rise to present a petition on the two-child benefit cap. Tomorrow we all trust will be a turning point for children living in poverty, as the third child and subsequent children in a family have been denied vital support since 2017 unless proved to be conceived by...
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what response she has to the recommendation of the October 2025 final report of the Poverty Strategy Commission that parents with No Recourse to Public Funds conditions who have children who are British citizens should have access to child-related public funds, including Child...
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what response she has to the recommendation of the October 2025 final report of the Poverty Strategy Commission that parents with No Recourse to Public Funds conditions who have children who are British citizens should have access to child-related public funds, including Child...
Child Benefit is a payment made to individuals who are responsible for a child or children irrespective of the child’s nationality. No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) is a standard condition applied to most categories of temporary immigration permission. Those with NRPF do not generally have access to public funds, including Child Benefit. The expectation of the Government is that in general migrants coming into the UK should be able to maintain and accommodate themselves and their dependents without recourse to public funds.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether HMRC plans to publish the findings of its review into suspended child benefit payments.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether HMRC plans to publish the findings of its review into suspended child benefit payments.
As part of its ongoing efforts to reduce error and fraud in the Child Benefit system, HMRC undertook a pilot last year using international travel data. This pilot saw thousands of people who had left the UK but carried on claiming Child Benefit removed from the system, preventing around £17m in incorrect payments. This led to the expansion of the measure and investment in an additional 180 counter-fraud staff, announced at the Autumn Budget 2024, and is expected to save around £350 million over the next five years.
In expanding the process over the past few months, a check of HMRC PAYE systems to look for continuing UK employment was excluded on around 23,500 enquiries in order to streamline the process, with a view to employment status being tested as part of any subsequent customer enquiry. We have apologised for this.
Following concerns being raised, swift action was taken to improve the processes. A decision was made on 29 October to reinstate the employment check for all cases with immediate effect, meaning that HMRC’s risking has a higher success rate for identifying ineligible claims.
HMRC reviewed all compliance cases already opened and conducted a PAYE check. These checks were completed for all customers on 14 November. Where there was evidence that customers had continued UK employment, HMRC reinstated payments automatically without any need for customer contact and those payments have been backdated.
By the end of November, HMRC will have written to all customers who have not yet contacted them to provide a further 4 weeks to make contact.
HMRC will also be responding to the Treasury Select Committee to outline the steps it has taken in relation to this issue.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many child benefit claims have been suspended from claimants as a result of data-sharing between HMRC and the Home Office in Fylde constituency since September 2025.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many child benefit claims have been suspended from claimants as a result of data-sharing between HMRC and the Home Office in Fylde constituency since September 2025.
It is not possible to provide the information requested for the Fylde constituency since September 2025. This is because HMRC do not hold the information at a constituency level.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential impact of the suspension of child benefit payments on families also receiving other forms of social security support.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential impact of the suspension of child benefit payments on families also receiving other forms of social security support.
No assessment has been made.
Child Benefit, administered by His Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC), is not taken into account as income when calculating a Universal Credit award or other means-tested benefits. It is used to assess benefit levels for the purpose of determining whether to apply the benefit cap which limits the amount of social security benefits a working age household can receive. The benefit cap is applied through Housing Benefit and Universal Credit.
The Department will continue to work closely with HMRC on all relevant matters.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of suspended child benefit payments on (a) Universal Credit and (b) other means-tested benefits.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of suspended child benefit payments on (a) Universal Credit and (b) other means-tested benefits.
No assessment has been made.
Child Benefit, administered by His Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC), is not taken into account as income when calculating a Universal Credit award or other means-tested benefits. It is used to assess benefit levels for the purpose of determining whether to apply the benefit cap which limits the amount of social security benefits a working age household can receive. The benefit cap is applied through Housing Benefit and Universal Credit.
The Department will continue to work closely with HMRC on all relevant matters.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when she expects HMRC to complete its review of suspended child benefit claims.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when she expects HMRC to complete its review of suspended child benefit claims.
As part of its ongoing efforts to reduce error and fraud in the Child Benefit system, HMRC undertook a pilot last year using international travel data. This pilot saw thousands of people who had left the UK but carried on claiming Child Benefit removed from the system, preventing around £17m in incorrect payments. This led to the expansion of the measure and investment in an additional 180 counter-fraud staff, announced at the Autumn Budget 2024, and is expected to save around £350 million over the next five years.
In expanding the process over the past few months, a check of HMRC PAYE systems to look for continuing UK employment was excluded on around 23,500 enquiries in order to streamline the process, with a view to employment status being tested as part of any subsequent customer enquiry. We have apologised for this.
Following concerns being raised, swift action was taken to improve the processes. A decision was made on 29 October to reinstate the employment check for all cases with immediate effect, meaning that HMRC’s risking has a higher success rate for identifying ineligible claims.
HMRC reviewed all compliance cases already opened and conducted a PAYE check. These checks were completed for all customers on 14 November. Where there was evidence that customers had continued UK employment, HMRC reinstated payments automatically without any need for customer contact and those payments have been backdated.
By the end of November, HMRC will have written to all customers who have not yet contacted them to provide a further 4 weeks to make contact.
HMRC will also be responding to the Treasury Select Committee to outline the steps it has taken in relation to this issue.
To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to reporting by The Guardian on 30 October that HMRC had sent more than 23,000 letters about stopping child benefit following overseas travel, what data sources they used; what checks they made about the legality of this use; and whether a sudden rise...
To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to reporting by The Guardian on 30 October that HMRC had sent more than 23,000 letters about stopping child benefit following overseas travel, what data sources they used; what checks they made about the legality of this use; and whether a sudden rise...
Child Benefit is paid to over 6.9 million families, supporting 11.9 million children. It is one of the most widely accessed benefits in the UK.
As part of ongoing efforts to reduce error and fraud in the Child Benefit system, HMRC ran a pilot from March 2024 to December 2024 using international travel data, provided by the Home Office, to identify Child Benefit claimants who may no longer satisfy residency-related eligibility criteria. This pilot saw thousands of people who had left the UK but carried on claiming Child Benefit removed from the system, preventing around £17m in incorrect payments.
This led to the expansion of the measure and investment in an additional 180 counter-fraud staff, announced at the Autumn Budget 2024. This is expected to save £350 million over the next five years.
The legal basis for disclosing information between HMRC and the Home Office for the purpose of tackling fraud is in Chapter 4 of the Digital Economy Act (“DEA”) 2017. HMRC has robust governance processes in place to assess its legal use of these powers to disclose and receive information from other public bodies.
In expanding the process over the past few months, a check of HMRC PAYE systems to look for continuing UK employment was excluded on around 23,500 enquiries. HMRC has now reinstated the employment check, conducted the check on all open cases, reinstated payments automatically without any need for claimant contact and backdated those payments.
HMRC is asking claimants under enquiry who believe they are still eligible to call the number in the letter they received. HMRC has set up a dedicated team to handle cases swiftly. Where eligibility is confirmed, payments will resume and HMRC will make backdated payments, so there will be no loss of entitlement. By the end of November, HMRC will have written to all claimants who have not yet made contact to provide them with a further 4 weeks to make contact.
HMRC is taking further steps to strengthen the process for this exercise and will no longer suspend payments at the outset of an enquiry. HMRC will give all claimants at least one month to evidence their entitlement first. Claimants will then be given a further month to respond before a decision to terminate their award is considered. HMRC has also introduced an upfront check to identify claimants from Northern Ireland whose exit from the UK was to the Republic of Ireland and will not issue enquiries on these claimants as part of this exercise. HMRC will streamline what is asked of claimants during these enquiries to confirm their ongoing eligibility for Child Benefit, and will continue to iterate the process where its monitoring and learning suggests that it should make further changes.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of data-sharing protocols between Departments following the suspension of child benefit payments by HMRC.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of data-sharing protocols between Departments following the suspension of child benefit payments by HMRC.
HMRC uses Home Office international travel data as a starting point for identifying potential unreported absences from the UK. Undetected changes to an individual’s residency status are a leading cause of Child Benefit error and fraud.
The legal basis for disclosing information between HMRC and Home Office for the purpose of tackling fraud is Chapter 4 of the Digital Economy Act (“DEA”) 2017. The exchange of data between HMRC and the Home Office continues to work as expected and agreed.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what she is taking to ensure that UK residents are not mistakenly recorded as having left the UK and subsequently have their child benefit stopped by HMRC.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what she is taking to ensure that UK residents are not mistakenly recorded as having left the UK and subsequently have their child benefit stopped by HMRC.
As part of its ongoing efforts to reduce error and fraud in the Child Benefit system, HMRC undertook a pilot last year using international travel data. This pilot saw thousands of people who had left the UK but carried on claiming Child Benefit removed from the system, preventing around £17m in incorrect payments. This led to the expansion of the measure and investment in an additional 180 counter-fraud staff, announced at the Autumn Budget 2024, and is expected to save around £350 million over the next five years.
In expanding the process over the past few months, a check of HMRC PAYE systems to look for continuing UK employment was excluded on around 23,500 enquiries in order to streamline the process, with a view to employment status being tested as part of any subsequent customer enquiry. We have apologised for this.
Following concerns being raised, swift action was taken to improve the processes. A decision was made on 29 October to reinstate the employment check for all cases with immediate effect, meaning that HMRC’s risking has a higher success rate for identifying ineligible claims.
HMRC reviewed all compliance cases already opened and conducted a PAYE check. These checks were completed for all customers on 14 November. Where there was evidence that customers had continued UK employment, HMRC reinstated payments automatically without any need for customer contact and those payments have been backdated.
By the end of November, HMRC will have written to all customers who have not yet contacted them to provide a further 4 weeks to make contact.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the number of people who have been mistakenly recorded as having left the UK and subsequently had their child benefit stopped by HMRC in the last 12 months.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the number of people who have been mistakenly recorded as having left the UK and subsequently had their child benefit stopped by HMRC in the last 12 months.
As part of its ongoing efforts to reduce error and fraud in the Child Benefit system, HMRC undertook a pilot last year using international travel data. This pilot saw thousands of people who had left the UK but carried on claiming Child Benefit removed from the system, preventing around £17m in incorrect payments. This led to the expansion of the measure and investment in an additional 180 counter-fraud staff, announced at the Autumn Budget 2024, and is expected to save around £350 million over the next five years.
In expanding the process over the past few months, a check of HMRC PAYE systems to look for continuing UK employment was excluded on around 23,500 enquiries in order to streamline the process, with a view to employment status being tested as part of any subsequent customer enquiry. We have apologised for this.
Following concerns being raised, swift action was taken to improve the processes. A decision was made on 29 October to reinstate the employment check for all cases with immediate effect, meaning that HMRC’s risking has a higher success rate for identifying ineligible claims. HMRC reviewed all compliance cases already opened and conducted a PAYE check.
These checks were completed on 14 November. As of 31 October 2025, 3,673 out of 23,794 customers who have had a compliance enquiry opened following the expansion of the pilot have had their eligibility subsequently confirmed. Where there was evidence that customers had continued UK employment, HMRC reinstated payments automatically without any need for customer contact and those payments have been backdated. By the end of November, HMRC will have written to all customers who have not yet contacted them to provide a further 4 weeks to make contact.
HMRC has also responded to the Treasury Select Committee to outline the steps it has taken in relation to this issue.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential reasons for recent trends in the levels of people that have been mistakenly recorded as having left the UK and subsequently had their child benefit stopped by HMRC.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential reasons for recent trends in the levels of people that have been mistakenly recorded as having left the UK and subsequently had their child benefit stopped by HMRC.
As part of its ongoing efforts to reduce error and fraud in the Child Benefit system, HMRC undertook a pilot last year using international travel data. This pilot saw thousands of people who had left the UK but carried on claiming Child Benefit removed from the system, preventing around £17m in incorrect payments. This led to the expansion of the measure and investment in an additional 180 counter-fraud staff, announced at the Autumn Budget 2024, and is expected to save around £350 million over the next five years.
In expanding the process over the past few months, a check of HMRC PAYE systems to look for continuing UK employment was excluded on around 23,500 enquiries in order to streamline the process, with a view to employment status being tested as part of any subsequent customer enquiry. We have apologised for this.
Following concerns being raised, swift action was taken to improve the processes. A decision was made on 29 October to reinstate the employment check for all cases with immediate effect, meaning that HMRC’s risking has a higher success rate for identifying ineligible claims. HMRC reviewed all compliance cases already opened and conducted a PAYE check.
These checks were completed on 14 November. As of 31 October 2025, 3,673 out of 23,794 customers who have had a compliance enquiry opened following the expansion of the pilot have had their eligibility subsequently confirmed. Where there was evidence that customers had continued UK employment, HMRC reinstated payments automatically without any need for customer contact and those payments have been backdated. By the end of November, HMRC will have written to all customers who have not yet contacted them to provide a further 4 weeks to make contact.
HMRC has also responded to the Treasury Select Committee to outline the steps it has taken in relation to this issue.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of HMRC's Child Benefit verification checks on the timelines of Self Assessment tax repayments.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of HMRC's Child Benefit verification checks on the timelines of Self Assessment tax repayments.
Child Benefit is a non-means tested benefit payable to families as a contribution towards the cost of raising children. It is claimed through the Child Benefit service, which is separate to Self Assessment, so for the majority of families Child Benefit checks should have no impact on the timelines of Self Assessment tax repayments.
There are no further impacts anticipated.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Cabinet Office's press release entitled Child Benefit action to save £350 million from claimants abroad, published on 22 August 2025, for what reason her Department chose international travel data to monitor whether a claimant was outside of the UK...
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Cabinet Office's press release entitled Child Benefit action to save £350 million from claimants abroad, published on 22 August 2025, for what reason her Department chose international travel data to monitor whether a claimant was outside of the UK...
As part of its ongoing efforts to reduce error and fraud in the Child Benefit system, HMRC ran a pilot last year using data on international travel and UK employment for a random sample of 200,000 Child Benefit records. This was to identify and remove people from the system who had left the UK for more than twelve weeks but continued to claim Child Benefit despite no longer being eligible.
The pilot used Home Office data on international travel as the best starting point for indicating potential unreported absences in the UK. From this data, HMRC undertook checks of PAYE systems to look for continuous UK employment before sending compliance enquiries. No Child Benefit awards were ended without attempting contact with claimants first, to clarify their residency status.
HMRC’s evaluation of the pilot showed that, of the 3,656 customers that were sent enquiry letters, 933 were confirmed to be eligible, with nearly three-quarters found to be non-compliant. In all, the pilot had prevented around £17m in wrongful payments. This led to a wider rollout announced at the Autumn Budget 2024, which is expected to save £350 million over the next five years. Using PAYE and international travel data in this way is considerably more proportionate than requesting all claimants reconfirm their eligibility to HMRC frequently. It is in line with HMRC’s risk-based approach to compliance.
In expanding the process last month, the PAYE check that had been present in the pilot was inadvertently omitted on around 23,500 enquiries. Based on the insight from the pilot, HMRC expect that most of these cases will have been correctly suspended.
HMRC has taken immediate corrective action to resolve this issue. The employment check has been reinstated for all future cases, meaning fewer people will be sent letters in the first instance. HMRC will also perform further checks, including against PAYE records for enquiries already opened, before formally terminating awards.
In addition, HMRC will no longer suspend payments at the outset and will give customers one month to evidence their continued entitlement first. Together, these changes ensure a proportionate approach for customers while balancing the need to protect against losses to the taxpayer.
HMRC has set up a dedicated team to quickly unsuspend payments, where it is able to confirm with the customer that they remain entitled to Child Benefit. This includes where HMRC had failed to first check for UK employment, which led to enquiries being issued in error. Customers affected by the issue who believe they are still eligible should call the number on the letter they received, so that this dedicated team can handle their cases swiftly. Where eligibility is confirmed, payments will resume and HMRC will make backdated payments, so no one is left out of pocket.
HMRC has reinstated payments for 589 claimants, as at 28 October. This includes 134 cases for customers in Northern Ireland where employment checks were retroactively applied. HMRC has also reinstated payments for a further 46 Northern Ireland customers while their residency status is confirmed.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Cabinet Office's press release entitled Child Benefit action to save £350 million from claimants abroad, published on 22 August 2025, how many Child Benefit claimants were erroneously identified as having been outside of the UK for more than eight...
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Cabinet Office's press release entitled Child Benefit action to save £350 million from claimants abroad, published on 22 August 2025, how many Child Benefit claimants were erroneously identified as having been outside of the UK for more than eight...
As part of its ongoing efforts to reduce error and fraud in the Child Benefit system, HMRC ran a pilot last year using data on international travel and UK employment for a random sample of 200,000 Child Benefit records. This was to identify and remove people from the system who had left the UK for more than twelve weeks but continued to claim Child Benefit despite no longer being eligible.
The pilot used Home Office data on international travel as the best starting point for indicating potential unreported absences in the UK. From this data, HMRC undertook checks of PAYE systems to look for continuous UK employment before sending compliance enquiries. No Child Benefit awards were ended without attempting contact with claimants first, to clarify their residency status.
HMRC’s evaluation of the pilot showed that, of the 3,656 customers that were sent enquiry letters, 933 were confirmed to be eligible, with nearly three-quarters found to be non-compliant. In all, the pilot had prevented around £17m in wrongful payments. This led to a wider rollout announced at the Autumn Budget 2024, which is expected to save £350 million over the next five years. Using PAYE and international travel data in this way is considerably more proportionate than requesting all claimants reconfirm their eligibility to HMRC frequently. It is in line with HMRC’s risk-based approach to compliance.
In expanding the process last month, the PAYE check that had been present in the pilot was inadvertently omitted on around 23,500 enquiries. Based on the insight from the pilot, HMRC expect that most of these cases will have been correctly suspended.
HMRC has taken immediate corrective action to resolve this issue. The employment check has been reinstated for all future cases, meaning fewer people will be sent letters in the first instance. HMRC will also perform further checks, including against PAYE records for enquiries already opened, before formally terminating awards.
In addition, HMRC will no longer suspend payments at the outset and will give customers one month to evidence their continued entitlement first. Together, these changes ensure a proportionate approach for customers while balancing the need to protect against losses to the taxpayer.
HMRC has set up a dedicated team to quickly unsuspend payments, where it is able to confirm with the customer that they remain entitled to Child Benefit. This includes where HMRC had failed to first check for UK employment, which led to enquiries being issued in error. Customers affected by the issue who believe they are still eligible should call the number on the letter they received, so that this dedicated team can handle their cases swiftly. Where eligibility is confirmed, payments will resume and HMRC will make backdated payments, so no one is left out of pocket.
HMRC has reinstated payments for 589 claimants, as at 28 October. This includes 134 cases for customers in Northern Ireland where employment checks were retroactively applied. HMRC has also reinstated payments for a further 46 Northern Ireland customers while their residency status is confirmed.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps, with reference to the Cabinet Office's press release her Department is taking to rectify data on people erroneously identified as having been outside of the UK for more than eight weeks for Child Benefit purposes.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps, with reference to the Cabinet Office's press release her Department is taking to rectify data on people erroneously identified as having been outside of the UK for more than eight weeks for Child Benefit purposes.
As part of its ongoing efforts to reduce error and fraud in the Child Benefit system, HMRC ran a pilot last year using data on international travel and UK employment for a random sample of 200,000 Child Benefit records. This was to identify and remove people from the system who had left the UK for more than twelve weeks but continued to claim Child Benefit despite no longer being eligible.
The pilot used Home Office data on international travel as the best starting point for indicating potential unreported absences in the UK. From this data, HMRC undertook checks of PAYE systems to look for continuous UK employment before sending compliance enquiries. No Child Benefit awards were ended without attempting contact with claimants first, to clarify their residency status.
HMRC’s evaluation of the pilot showed that, of the 3,656 customers that were sent enquiry letters, 933 were confirmed to be eligible, with nearly three-quarters found to be non-compliant. In all, the pilot had prevented around £17m in wrongful payments. This led to a wider rollout announced at the Autumn Budget 2024, which is expected to save £350 million over the next five years. Using PAYE and international travel data in this way is considerably more proportionate than requesting all claimants reconfirm their eligibility to HMRC frequently. It is in line with HMRC’s risk-based approach to compliance.
In expanding the process last month, the PAYE check that had been present in the pilot was inadvertently omitted on around 23,500 enquiries. Based on the insight from the pilot, HMRC expect that most of these cases will have been correctly suspended.
HMRC has taken immediate corrective action to resolve this issue. The employment check has been reinstated for all future cases, meaning fewer people will be sent letters in the first instance. HMRC will also perform further checks, including against PAYE records for enquiries already opened, before formally terminating awards.
In addition, HMRC will no longer suspend payments at the outset and will give customers one month to evidence their continued entitlement first. Together, these changes ensure a proportionate approach for customers while balancing the need to protect against losses to the taxpayer.
HMRC has set up a dedicated team to quickly unsuspend payments, where it is able to confirm with the customer that they remain entitled to Child Benefit. This includes where HMRC had failed to first check for UK employment, which led to enquiries being issued in error. Customers affected by the issue who believe they are still eligible should call the number on the letter they received, so that this dedicated team can handle their cases swiftly. Where eligibility is confirmed, payments will resume and HMRC will make backdated payments, so no one is left out of pocket.
HMRC has reinstated payments for 589 claimants, as at 28 October. This includes 134 cases for customers in Northern Ireland where employment checks were retroactively applied. HMRC has also reinstated payments for a further 46 Northern Ireland customers while their residency status is confirmed.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether with reference to the Cabinet Office's press release her Department has carried out an assessment of the pilot scheme to stop Child Benefit payments where a claimant had been outside the UK for more than eight weeks.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether with reference to the Cabinet Office's press release her Department has carried out an assessment of the pilot scheme to stop Child Benefit payments where a claimant had been outside the UK for more than eight weeks.
As part of its ongoing efforts to reduce error and fraud in the Child Benefit system, HMRC ran a pilot last year using data on international travel and UK employment for a random sample of 200,000 Child Benefit records. This was to identify and remove people from the system who had left the UK for more than twelve weeks but continued to claim Child Benefit despite no longer being eligible.
The pilot used Home Office data on international travel as the best starting point for indicating potential unreported absences in the UK. From this data, HMRC undertook checks of PAYE systems to look for continuous UK employment before sending compliance enquiries. No Child Benefit awards were ended without attempting contact with claimants first, to clarify their residency status.
HMRC’s evaluation of the pilot showed that, of the 3,656 customers that were sent enquiry letters, 933 were confirmed to be eligible, with nearly three-quarters found to be non-compliant. In all, the pilot had prevented around £17m in wrongful payments. This led to a wider rollout announced at the Autumn Budget 2024, which is expected to save £350 million over the next five years. Using PAYE and international travel data in this way is considerably more proportionate than requesting all claimants reconfirm their eligibility to HMRC frequently. It is in line with HMRC’s risk-based approach to compliance.
In expanding the process last month, the PAYE check that had been present in the pilot was inadvertently omitted on around 23,500 enquiries. Based on the insight from the pilot, HMRC expect that most of these cases will have been correctly suspended.
HMRC has taken immediate corrective action to resolve this issue. The employment check has been reinstated for all future cases, meaning fewer people will be sent letters in the first instance. HMRC will also perform further checks, including against PAYE records for enquiries already opened, before formally terminating awards.
In addition, HMRC will no longer suspend payments at the outset and will give customers one month to evidence their continued entitlement first. Together, these changes ensure a proportionate approach for customers while balancing the need to protect against losses to the taxpayer.
HMRC has set up a dedicated team to quickly unsuspend payments, where it is able to confirm with the customer that they remain entitled to Child Benefit. This includes where HMRC had failed to first check for UK employment, which led to enquiries being issued in error. Customers affected by the issue who believe they are still eligible should call the number on the letter they received, so that this dedicated team can handle their cases swiftly. Where eligibility is confirmed, payments will resume and HMRC will make backdated payments, so no one is left out of pocket.
HMRC has reinstated payments for 589 claimants, as at 28 October. This includes 134 cases for customers in Northern Ireland where employment checks were retroactively applied. HMRC has also reinstated payments for a further 46 Northern Ireland customers while their residency status is confirmed.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Cabinet Office's press release entitled Child Benefit action to save £350 million from claimants abroad, published on 22 August 2025, what steps her Department is taking to identify people who were erroneously identified as fraudulently claiming Child Benefit on...
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Cabinet Office's press release entitled Child Benefit action to save £350 million from claimants abroad, published on 22 August 2025, what steps her Department is taking to identify people who were erroneously identified as fraudulently claiming Child Benefit on...
As part of its ongoing efforts to reduce error and fraud in the Child Benefit system, HMRC ran a pilot last year using data on international travel and UK employment for a random sample of 200,000 Child Benefit records. This was to identify and remove people from the system who had left the UK for more than twelve weeks but continued to claim Child Benefit despite no longer being eligible.
The pilot used Home Office data on international travel as the best starting point for indicating potential unreported absences in the UK. From this data, HMRC undertook checks of PAYE systems to look for continuous UK employment before sending compliance enquiries. No Child Benefit awards were ended without attempting contact with claimants first, to clarify their residency status.
HMRC’s evaluation of the pilot showed that, of the 3,656 customers that were sent enquiry letters, 933 were confirmed to be eligible, with nearly three-quarters found to be non-compliant. In all, the pilot had prevented around £17m in wrongful payments. This led to a wider rollout announced at the Autumn Budget 2024, which is expected to save £350 million over the next five years. Using PAYE and international travel data in this way is considerably more proportionate than requesting all claimants reconfirm their eligibility to HMRC frequently. It is in line with HMRC’s risk-based approach to compliance.
In expanding the process last month, the PAYE check that had been present in the pilot was inadvertently omitted on around 23,500 enquiries. Based on the insight from the pilot, HMRC expect that most of these cases will have been correctly suspended.
HMRC has taken immediate corrective action to resolve this issue. The employment check has been reinstated for all future cases, meaning fewer people will be sent letters in the first instance. HMRC will also perform further checks, including against PAYE records for enquiries already opened, before formally terminating awards.
In addition, HMRC will no longer suspend payments at the outset and will give customers one month to evidence their continued entitlement first. Together, these changes ensure a proportionate approach for customers while balancing the need to protect against losses to the taxpayer.
HMRC has set up a dedicated team to quickly unsuspend payments, where it is able to confirm with the customer that they remain entitled to Child Benefit. This includes where HMRC had failed to first check for UK employment, which led to enquiries being issued in error. Customers affected by the issue who believe they are still eligible should call the number on the letter they received, so that this dedicated team can handle their cases swiftly. Where eligibility is confirmed, payments will resume and HMRC will make backdated payments, so no one is left out of pocket.
HMRC has reinstated payments for 589 claimants, as at 28 October. This includes 134 cases for customers in Northern Ireland where employment checks were retroactively applied. HMRC has also reinstated payments for a further 46 Northern Ireland customers while their residency status is confirmed.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that HMRC’s fraud detection systems do not incorrectly suspend child benefit payments for claimants that travel through the Republic of Ireland.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that HMRC’s fraud detection systems do not incorrectly suspend child benefit payments for claimants that travel through the Republic of Ireland.
Child Benefit is paid to over 6.9 million families, supporting 11.9 million children. It is one of the most widely accessed benefits in the UK.
As part of its ongoing efforts to reduce error and fraud in the Child Benefit system, HMRC undertook a pilot last year using international travel data. This pilot saw thousands of people who had left the UK but carried on claiming Child Benefit removed from the system - preventing around £17m in wrongful payments. This led to a wider rollout and investment in an additional 180 counter-fraud staff, announced at the Autumn Budget 2024 and is expected to save £350 million over the next five years.
In expanding the process last month, a check of HMRC systems to first look for continuing UK employment was inadvertently omitted on around 23,500 enquiries. While evidence from the pilot suggests that most of these cases will have been correctly suspended, the omission of the check has meant that HMRC will have incorrectly suspended payments in some instances.
HMRC has taken immediate corrective action to resolve this issue. The employment check has been reinstated for all future cases meaning fewer people will be sent letters in the first instance. In addition, HMRC has retrospectively applied this check to the 346 Northern Ireland customers, resulting in reinstated payments for 134 cases. HMRC have also reinstated payments for a further 46 Northern Ireland customers while we clarify their residency status.
HMRC has taken steps to improve the process. HMRC will no longer suspend payments at the outset and will give customers time to evidence their entitlement first. Together these changes will reduce error and ensure fair treatment of claimants.
Customers affected by the issue who believe they are still eligible should call the number on the letter they received. HMRC have set up a dedicated team to handle their cases swiftly.
Where eligibility is confirmed, payments will resume and HMRC will make backdated payments, so no-one is left out of pocket.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she is considering changing the child benefit taper system to reflect household rather than individual income.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she is considering changing the child benefit taper system to reflect household rather than individual income.
The Government understands the concerns that have been raised about basing the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC) on individual rather than household incomes. However, basing the charge on household rather than individual incomes would come at a significant fiscal cost if we were to ensure that no families lose out.
By withdrawing Child Benefit from high-income parents where the higher earner earns £60,000 or more, the HICBC helps to ensure the sustainability of the public finances and protect our vital public services.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will take any steps to replace the high income child benefit charge with a system based on total household income.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will take any steps to replace the high income child benefit charge with a system based on total household income.
The Government understands the concerns that have been raised about basing the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC) on individual rather than household incomes. However, basing the charge on household rather than individual incomes would come at a significant fiscal cost if we were to ensure that no families lose out.
By withdrawing Child Benefit from high-income parents where the higher earner earns £60,000 or more, the HICBC helps to ensure the sustainability of the public finances and protect our vital public services.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has assessed the potential merits of replacing the High Income Child Benefit Charge with a child benefit system based on total household income.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has assessed the potential merits of replacing the High Income Child Benefit Charge with a child benefit system based on total household income.
The Government understands the concerns that have been raised about basing the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC) on individual rather than household incomes. However, basing the charge on household rather than individual incomes would come at a significant fiscal cost if we were to ensure that no families lose out.
By withdrawing Child Benefit from high-income parents where the higher earner earns £60,000 or more, the HICBC helps to ensure the sustainability of the public finances and protect our vital public services.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many child benefit claims were cancelled because the claimant was found to be living abroad in each year since 2020.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many child benefit claims were cancelled because the claimant was found to be living abroad in each year since 2020.
From administrative data, the number of Child Benefit awards terminated by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) through compliance activity per year, due to customers no longer meeting the Child Benefit residency criteria is provided below: ·
- 2020-21 = 113 awards
- 2021-22 = 269 awards
- 2022-23 = 762 awards
- 2023-24 = 1,030 awards
- 2024-25 = 3,017 awards
The increase in terminated awards over this period has resulted from incremental improvements in HMRC’s utilisation of available data sources. In 2024-25 a proof of concept used Home Office travel data as a risk indicator for when customers may no longer satisfy Child Benefit residence criteria. Following the success of this exercise, the government announced at Autumn Budget 24 investment in an additional 180 welfare counter fraud staff in HMRC to tackle fraud and error in Child Benefit. This is expected to save £350 million over the next five years.