Child Benefit: how to report changes online in 2022

Do I need to report changes to my situation for Child Benefit? What is considered a change that I should report? How can I report changes online? If you get Child Benefit (or previously did), you likely should report changes in your situation. Otherwise, your payments could be reduced, or even stop. Your Benefits will tell you everything you need to know on how to report changes for Child Benefit online.

Child Benefit: do I need to report changes?

You may experience changes in your circumstance. If this is the case, you will need to report them to continue to get Child Benefit. Indeed, to report changes, you will need to notify the Child Benefit Office. This includes changes of circumstance in your family situation.

Note that you need to continue to report changes for Child Benefit, even if you stop receiving the benefit. Indeed, this is because you could be affected by the Child Benefit tax charge.

You may need your national insurance number. This is true for paying council tax, for education or training, especially before a child’s 16th birthday. You can then claim child benefit, especially if you are married or forms a civil partnership. Finally, you could get housing benefit or state pension. However, if your child leave school or your partner starts working, you may still be eligible.

How can I report changes for Child Benefit online?

You may report changes for Child Benefit on the Gov.UK website. Indeed, log in using your Government Gateway user ID and password. Then, you will be able to report changes on the online portal.

All of the changes listed in this article need to be reported to be able to keep receiving Child Benefit. In fact if you do not report changes as soon as you can, your Child Benefit payments may be reduced, or even cease.

However, you may instead contact them by post. Indeed, if this is the case, you will need to send your letter to the following address:

HM Revenue and Customs – Child Benefit Office
PO Box 1
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE88 1AA
United Kingdom

How do I report changes for Child Benefit if the circumstances of my family changes?

You may experience changes in your family. If this is the case, you need to report changes for Child Benefit straight away. Indeed, this is the case if the following happens to your family or yourself:

• You go to prison for a period longer than 8 weeks;
• You no longer have a right to reside in the United Kingdom;
• The immigration status that you had previously changes;
• You receive money from a local council (or another entity) to care for a child;
• There is a modification to how much you receive for a child that does not reside with you, or you cease to receive payments altogether;
• A child comes to reside with you, or you have a new baby;
• You move in or out of Northern Ireland;
• There is a posting abroad that you need to go to, and you are a Crown servant;
• Either your partner or yourself decide to move overseas for a period superior to 1 year, or permanently;
• You plan on going overseas for a period superior to 8 weeks;
• The parent of the child passed away;
• There is a change in your relationship (this can entail multiple things, like marrying someone else, or starting to live with a new individual);
• There is an end to your or the relationship of someone in your household (relevant for Child Benefit);
• You change to the opposite gender;
• You experience a change of address, name or bank account.

You may have a Post Office card account. If this is the case, you will no longer be able to receive benefit payments. Indeed, you need to make sure your bank account details are up to date by 5 April 2022. Otherwise, you will no longer get payments.You should have received a letter from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) which told you how to do this.

 How do I report changes for Child Benefit if there are changes to my child’s situation?

There could be changes to the situation of your child. Indeed, it’s important to note that Child Benefit payments end on 31 August or following the your child turning 16 years old. However, this is in the condition that they stop going to an approved training or education.

After your child turns 16, they may still be in an approved training or education. Furthermore, they may stay in it, but leave it later. In both cases, you need to let the Child Benefit Office know.

Additionally, there are certain situations where you would need to report changes to the Child Benefit Office as soon as possible. Indeed, this is if your child:

• Attends prison for a period superior to 8 weeks;
• Starts to get certain benefits (see below);
• You start to live in the same home as your partner, get in a civil partnership or get married;
• Is missing;
• Transition to the opposite gender;
• Legally change their name;
• Passes away;
• Attends residential care or a hospital for a period of more than 12 weeks;
• Moves in or out of Northern Ireland;
• Either lives abroad for a period superior to 12 weeks or in a permanent manner;
• Does not live with you for either more than 56 days in 16 weeks, or for 8 weeks consecutively;
• Works for an income for 24 hours weekly or more.

You will need to report changes for Child Benefit by including the date on which the change occurred. You may report these changes online, on the Gov.UK website, using your Government Gateway login information.

What benefits do I need to report changes for?

Your child may start to receive certain benefits. Indeed, they could start getting Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), tax credits, or Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA). Then, you would need to report changes to keep getting Child Benefit. This is also the case if they start receiving Universal Credit or Income Support.

What is Child Benefit?

In order to report changes for Child Benefit, you must have at least earned Child Benefit in the past. Indeed, as such, it is important to know what Child Benefit is. 

It may be awhile before you receive Child Benefit. Indeed, your claim could take up to 16 weeks to fully process. However, you can backdate your Child Benefit claim for up to 3 months.

How much Child Benefit could I get if I report changes?

If you report changes for Child Benefit properly, you should be able to continue to receive the rate that you previously got. Indeed, this is unless you had changes in your situation that prevents you from getting the payments that you received until now.

There are two different rates of Child Benefit that you could receive. Indeed, they are as follows:

If you have a child that you claim this benefit for, but also have another child that you want to add to your claim, you may do so.

Furthermore, if you have a child, there likely is a number of benefits that you could receive. Indeed, children often make you eligible for a number of payments. These might help you in paying for living costs, or even costs linked with their education, for example.

If you would like to increase the benefits that you receive, do not hesitate to read the numerous articles we have at your disposal. Additionally, we provide a free simulator which can show you exactly the benefits that you may be missing out on. Indeed, you could be entitled to a number of benefits and not know it. And again, it’s completely free.