Are you a parent missing out on £27 a week? Here's how to check
Thousands of new parents fail to claim child benefit until it is too late to receive some of the money, HMRC says.
Many parents could be missing out on a weekly payment of £27, an allowance designed to help with the costs of raising children. Thousands more families might be eligible to receive this sum simply by completing the necessary paperwork soon after their baby's arrival.
Child benefit currently provides £27.05 each week for the first child and £17.90 weekly for every subsequent child. Official figures indicate that parents of nearly one-third of children who qualify for child benefit do not submit a claim before their baby's first birthday.
Since payments can only be backdated for a maximum of three months, some families may be forfeiting hundreds of pounds during the often overwhelming period of new parenthood. The annual release of the most popular baby names could serve as a timely reminder for some parents about other essential official documents that need to be completed.
To receive child benefit, which is disbursed every four weeks, one parent must submit a claim. This parent will also accrue National Insurance credits, contributing towards their state pension.
The required documents for making a claim include:
* Your child's birth or adoption certificate
* Your bank details
* Your National Insurance number, and your partner's if applicable
Child Benefit can be claimed as early as 48 hours after a baby's birth is registered. However, it can only be backdated for up to three months from the date HM Revenue and Customs (H