Report changes that affect your Child Benefit

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1. If your child’s circumstances change

Report any changes that could affect your Child Benefit to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). If you do not, you may not get all the money you’re entitled to, or you may be overpaid and have to pay money back.

Only the person claiming Child Benefit can tell HMRC about a change of circumstances.

If you’ve already reported a change and you’re waiting to hear back, check when you should expect a reply.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

Tell HMRC if your child:

  • starts getting Universal Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • changes their name by deed poll
  • gets married or forms a civil partnership
  • moves in with their partner
  • goes missing

If your child stays in or leaves education

Child Benefit stops on 31 August on or after your child’s 16th birthday if they leave approved education or training.

Tell HMRC if your child stays in education or training after turning 16, or later leaves education or training.

If your child moves away from home

Tell HMRC if your child:

  • will live away from you for either 8 weeks in a row or more than 56 days in a 16-week period
  • will go abroad for more than 12 weeks
  • moves to or from Northern Ireland
  • goes to prison or youth custody for more than 8 weeks

If your child goes into hospital or care

Tell HMRC if your child goes into care or residential accommodation for more than 8 weeks, or hospital for more than 12 weeks.

If your child changes their gender

HMRC will usually be told automatically if your child gets a Gender Recognition Certificate to change their gender. If they have not changed their gender legally you do not need to tell HMRC.

If your child dies

Tell HMRC if your child dies.

Other ways to report changes

You can also call or write to HMRC.

2. If your circumstances change or you need to update your details

Report any changes that could affect your Child Benefit. If you do not, you may not get all the money you’re entitled to, or you may be overpaid and have to pay money back.

Only the person claiming Child Benefit can tell HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) about a change of circumstances.

If you’ve already reported a change and you’re waiting to hear back, check when you should expect a reply.

Report the change to your family circumstances if:

If you do not report a change to your address and HMRC is not able to contact you, your payments will stop.

If you start to earn more than £60,000

If you or your partner earn more than £60,000 you may have to pay the High Income Child Benefit Charge.

You must still report changes even if you’ve stopped getting Child Benefit because of the Child Benefit tax charge.

If your bank or building society account changes

Tell HMRC if your bank or building society account details have changed by signing in to Government Gateway. You’ll need your Government Gateway user ID and password.

You’ll be able to register for Government Gateway if you have not used it before.

You can also tell HMRC using the HMRC app.

If you change your name or gender

Tell HMRC if you change your name or change your gender.

If you start to care for another child

If you have a baby or start to care for a child you can make a new claim for Child Benefit.

If you’re paid to look after a child by a local council or agency (for example fostering) tell HMRC.

If you move abroad or to Northern Ireland

Report the change to your family circumstances if:

  • you intend to go abroad for more than 8 weeks
  • you or your partner intend to move abroad for more than a year
  • you’re a Crown servant leaving the UK for a posting abroad
  • you move to or from Northern Ireland

If a parent dies

Tell HMRC if either of the child’s parents have died.

Other ways to report changes

You can also call or write to HMRC.