Thousands of UK parents are missing out on £27 per week in child benefit, highlighting a significant uptake gap in government support
Executive summary: HMRC reported that thousands of new parents in the UK have not claimed child benefit, missing out on up to £27 per week. The unclaimed benefit represents lost household income and highlights gaps in benefit uptake that could affect child poverty metrics.
Who is involved: UK parents, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), and the Department for Work and Pensions (which administers child benefit).
Likely next: HMRC may increase outreach efforts or simplify claiming procedures to improve uptake, though no specific timeline was given.
According to HMRC, many new parents fail to claim child benefit in time, losing out on weekly payments that can amount to over £1,400 annually per child. The issue points to administrative or awareness barriers that prevent eligible families from accessing the benefit. While the financial impact is concentrated on households, it also reflects broader challenges in welfare uptake and outreach. No immediate policy changes were announced in the report.
Timeline
- — Are you a parent missing out on £27 a week? Here's how to check (BBC Business)