Child Benefit

Millions will see benefit payments, such as universal credit and child benefit, rise from today under an uplift for the new financial year. If your family income is under £30,000 and you're not in receipt of any state support - it's worth spending 10 minutes to check if you're due benefits.

Some 100,000 low income households and pregnant women currently in receipt of 'NHS Healthy Start' vouchers need to actively apply for a new prepaid card to receive their payments from 10 March, as the scheme will stop sending out paper vouchers.  

Around 200,000 parents risk losing £1,000s from their future state pension because they don't earn enough to pay national insurance contributions and their partner – who does earn enough – is claiming the family's child benefit. That's according to new data released this week – here's how to check if your family is affected, and transfer national insurance credits across if needed.

Applications are now open for a new £250 payment for low-income families in Scotland, which is paid when your child is old enough to start school. 

HMRC has cancelled penalties for more than 6,000 parents and guardians who were fined for not registering for the high income benefit charge.

Tens of thousands of households are entitled to a refund from the Government after missing out on tax credits for disabled children – those affected may be owed up to £4,368 for the current tax year, but you won't be able to backdate refunds.

If your first child was born since 2013 and you don't bother claiming child benefit because of means-testing rules, you could be putting your state pension at risk – act NOW to protect it.

Parents whose children are heading off to college for A-levels, further education or approved training courses must tell HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) or risk losing out on child tax credits and child benefit.

Frustrated callers tweeted HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) more than 11,500 times over the past year to complain about long waits to be answered, according to a charity.

Parents who fail to pay child maintenance could find they're rejected when applying for credit cards, mortgages and mobile phone contracts as non-payment and arrears information may be shared with credit reference agencies, the Government announced today.