Benefits and Children

If you have children you may be able to claim certain benefits to help with the cost of family life. On this page, you will find more information about child related benefits.

For further information on the child element of Universal Credit, click here.

Child Benefit

You can claim Child Benefit if you are responsible for a child or qualifying young person. Only one parent/carer can claim Child Benefit for each child, despite relationship status. It is recommended that the primary carer claims the benefit.

You can claim Child Benefit when:

A child is aged under 16
Aged 16 who has left education or training (until 31st August following child’s 16th birthday)
Aged 16 and 17 and has recently left education or training and is registered for work, education or training, not in paid work of 24 hours per week or more
Aged 16 or over but under 20 and in full time education or approved training
Aged 16 to 20 and has completed a full time non -advanced education or approved training and is enrolled or accepted in a continuing course before their 19th birthday
You may get a child benefit extension which starts on the Monday after education or training stops and lasts for 20 weeks, or up

You can make a claim for Child Benefit on the Gov.uk website

Child Tax Credits

Unless you are already receiving working tax credit you cannot make a new claim for child tax credit as this was one of the six benefits replaced by Universal Credit.

You must now apply for the child element on Universal Credit and may be able to claim back 85% of eligible childcare costs.

If you are already receiving child tax credits you will have to move to Universal Credit at some point in the future but you do not need to take any action until you are notified. For more information, see our Universal Credit section.