Child Benefit
You get child benefit if you're responsible for a child under 16 (or under 20 if they stay in approved education or training). You get a tax-free payment for each child.
Only one person can get Child Benefit for a child. Child Benefit rates are fixed until 2014. You must report any changes of circumstance to the Child Benefit office.
How Child Benefit is paid?
Child benefit is paid into your bank account every 4 weeks. You can get it paid weekly if you're a single parent or getting certain other benefits, e.g. Income Support
Working Tax Credit
You could get working tax credit if:
- You're aged 16 or over
- You work a certain number of hours per week
- You get paid for the work you do (or expect to)
Child Tax Credit
Child tax credit is a weekly payment to help towards your living costs if you're 16 or over and have full responsibility for looking after a child.
You could get Child Tax Credit for each child you're responsible for if they're:
- Under 16
- Under 20 and in approved education or training
You don't need to be working to claim Child Tax Credit. You get money for each child that qualifies and Child Tax Credit won't effect your Child Benefit.