Child Benefit
Child Benefit is a tax-free benefit which is paid to people who are bringing up a child under 16, or a young person aged under 20 if they are in full-time non-advanced education, or an approved training course. You can claim Child Benefit for each child for whom you are responsible, unless you are being paid a fostering allowance for that child.
You do not have to be a parent of the child to be awarded Child Benefit, but only one person can be awarded Child Benefit for a particular child. If more than one person claims Child Benefit for the same child, the person the child lives with will have priority.
You get a Child Benefit application form by phoning the Child Benefit Office on 0845 302 1444. You can also pick up a form from HM Revenue and Customs enquiry centres or Jobcentre Plus offices. You can download this form from HM Revenue and Customs website at www.hmrc.gov.uk/childbenefit.
Child Tax Credit
Child Tax Credit is a payment for people who are bringing up a child, or young person aged under 20 who is in full-time non-advanced education or an approved training course. It is paid by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
You can get Child Tax Credit whether or not you are working. Payments depend on your family circumstances and your annual income, but not your savings. You can get extra Child Tax Credit for a child who is getting Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or is registered blind.
The HMRC website has an online calculator at www.hmrc.gov.uk which you can use to find out whether you qualify for Child Tax Credit and how much you should get.
To apply for Child Tax Credit, contact the tax credit helpline for an application pack. The helpline number is 0845 300 3900.
Guardian’s Allowance
Guardian’s Allowance is a benefit paid to people who look after a child whose parents are both dead, or one parent is dead and the other parent can’t be found or the parents were divorced and the surviving parent isn’t paying maintenance. It can also be paid to people who look after a child who has lost a parent, and the other parent has been sentenced to prison for two years or more, or is detained in hospital under a court order.
You can check if you can get Guardian’s Allowance, and get a claim pack by phoning the Guardian’s Allowance Unit on 0845 302 1464 or by going to www.hmrc.gov.uk.
Disability Living Allowance
If you are looking after a disabled child, they may be entitled to Disability Living Allowance – see our page on Benefits for people with an illness or disability.
Useful factsheet
