Parents could be entitled to at least £1.4k a year from HMRC - what you need to know

Millions of families across the UK will see their Child Benefit payments rise in a matter of days, with HMRC announcing increases that could see some parents receive at least £1,400 a year. From April 6, families will get £27.05 per week for their eldest or only child - up from £26.05 - totalling £1,406.60 per year. Second children and onwards will qualify for £17.90 per week, or £930.80 per year, with no cap on the number of children parents can claim for. Despite over 6.9 million families receiving Child Benefit, statistics reveal only 72% claim it during their baby's first year. Thousands are missing out because claims can only be backdated for three months from the date HMRC receives the application. Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC's chief customer officer, said: "Looking after a child can be expensive, especially a newborn baby. It takes a few minutes to claim Child Benefit via the app, and doing so as soon as you can after your baby is born will ensure you don't miss out on vital financial support." The High Income Child Benefit Charge threshold has also increased to £60,000, meaning higher earners must pay back 1% of the benefit for every £200 earned above this amount. The charge only applies if one partner earns over £60,000, not based on the combined household income. Parents can apply online through HMRC, with over 928,000 already using the HMRC app to manage their accounts since April 2025. READ THE FULL STORY: HMRC Child Benefit rates going up from April 6 and how much you'll get