Are you a parent missing out on £27 a week? Here's how to check

Thousands of new parents may be missing out on child benefit payments worth up to £27 a week, according to HMRC, after failing to claim in time to receive the full amount available.

The issue affects families who do not submit a claim soon enough after a child is born. HMRC says some parents only apply later, which can mean they lose access to money they were otherwise entitled to receive for part of the child’s early life. The amount at stake can add up over time, especially for households balancing the costs that come with a new baby.

Child benefit is a regular payment made to eligible families, and HMRC’s warning highlights how easy it can be for new parents to overlook the claim process during an already busy period. The problem is not that families are necessarily ineligible, but that delays in applying can leave some of the money unclaimed.

The BBC Business report, based on a monitored public feed, says thousands of parents are affected by this missed timing issue. HMRC is encouraging people to check whether they are entitled and to make a claim as early as possible so they do not lose out on payments they could receive.

For families who are unsure whether they qualify, the key step is to review their circumstances and submit a claim promptly if eligible. In many cases, the decision to apply sooner rather than later can determine whether the full benefit is paid or whether some of it is lost.

The latest warning comes as household budgets remain under pressure, making even modest weekly support more important for many parents. While £27 a week may not seem large on its own, over months and years it can make a meaningful difference to day-to-day spending on children.

This report is based on a monitored public feed and is attributed to BBC Business.

Source: BBC Business - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz9l993wj5ko?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss