According to HMRC, the adjustment affects households receiving regular Child Benefit support, which is typically paid every four weeks on a Monday or Tuesday. The revised payment date comes as the late May bank holiday alters standard banking operations across the country.
Families claiming Child Benefit receive £27.05 per week for their eldest or only child, equivalent to £108.20 every four weeks. For each additional child, payments are set at £17.90 per week, or £71.60 every four weeks. HMRC said the early payment arrangement is intended to ensure claimants are not delayed by the holiday closure of banks and payment systems.
The update arrives alongside renewed calls from HMRC for eligible parents to make claims promptly, particularly during a child’s first year. Recent figures released by the department suggest a significant number of families may still be missing out on available support.
HMRC Confirms Revised Payment Date for Child Benefit Recipients
According to HMRC, anyone expecting a Child Benefit payment on Monday, 25 May, should now receive the money on Friday, 22 May instead. The department noted that payment dates are routinely adjusted whenever they fall on a bank holiday.
Child Benefit remains one of the UK’s most widely claimed family support payments, with around 6.8 million families currently receiving assistance. Eligibility generally applies to people responsible for raising a child under the age of 16, or under 20 if they remain in approved education or training.
Only one person can claim Child Benefit for each child, although there is no limit to the number of children included in a claim. HMRC also confirmed that Child Benefit payments count towards the benefit cap. Households affected by the cap still receive the full Child Benefit amount, though other benefits may be reduced.
The department also reiterated the income thresholds linked to the High Income Child Benefit Charge. According to government guidance, the threshold is set at £60,000 for tax years beginning from 2024 to 2025. For earlier tax years up to and including 2023 to 2024, the threshold remains £50,000.
HMRC states that adjusted net income calculations include taxable income such as savings interest and dividends, before personal allowances are applied and after certain tax reliefs are deducted.
HMRC Urges New Parents to Claim Support Sooner
Alongside the payment update, HMRC has warned that many new parents are delaying Child Benefit claims during their baby’s first year. According to figures cited by the department, more than 30 per cent of new parents are missing out on payments they may be entitled to receive.
The data relates to babies born between April and June last year, with more than 140,000 births recorded during that period. HMRC said thousands of families could be losing access to financial support simply by postponing their application.
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Chief Customer Officer, encouraged parents to submit claims as soon as possible. She said: “Spring is a wonderful time to welcome a baby and claiming Child Benefit as soon as possible means your family can benefit from much-needed financial support.”
She also noted that applications can now be completed through the HMRC mobile app. According to HMRC, the digital process is designed to allow parents to make claims at a convenient time without relying on paper forms or lengthy processing delays. Claimants whose income exceeds the relevant threshold can still choose to receive Child Benefit payments and pay the associated tax charge, or opt out of receiving payments entirely.
