Latest news with #ChildBenefit
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Child Benefit error means hundreds of families are owed £2,600 from HMRC
You could be owed money if you were the parent of a child aged between 16 to 19 who continued their education or training outside of regular schools between April 2014 and August 2025 Hundreds of families could be in line for payouts from HMRC following a major Child Benefit error. It is estimated that around 500 families missed out on Child Benefit they were entitled to. You could be owed money if you were the parent of a child aged between 16 to 19 who continued their education or training outside of regular schools between April 2014 and August 2025. The correction exercise is expected to cost £1million, with families potentially owed £2,600 each. HMRC expects to have issued all the payouts by October 2026. New amendments to Child Benefit regulations will take effect from September 2025 to correct the error. This will remove the requirement that if education is provided outside a school or college, it must have begun before the person turned 16. 'Full time' education can also be less than 12 hours a week if that is the maximum that a person can study due to illness or disability. An HMRC spokesperson said: "About seven million families received child benefit last year. We have identified that a very small number, about 500 over 10 years, may not have been paid their correct entitlement. We are working with stakeholders to help reach them and will share details on how they can claim soon." Child Benefit is worth £26.05 a week for your first child, then £17.25 for any additional child. You can claim Child Benefit if you're responsible for a child under the age of 16, or if they are under the age of 20 and still in approved education or training. If they are continuing with education or training after the age of 16, then you need to notify HMRC and update your benefit claim. This is because your Child Benefit will automatically stop on August 31 on or after your child's 16th birthday. You also need to let HMRC know if your child leaves their approved education or training before the course is complete. Approved education or training can include A-Levels, NVQs or even home education, but it does not include university or BTEC qualifications. Child Benefit is claimed by more than seven million families. It is paid every four weeks, on a Monday or Tuesday, by HMRC. In order to be eligible for Child Benefit, your child normally has to live with you, or you pay at least the same amount as Child Benefit toward looking after them. If you, or your partner, are on a high income, then you may have to pay back some of your Child Benefit. If either you earn over £60,000, you have to pay back 1% of your Child Benefit for every £200 you earn over £60,000.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Households on Universal Credit can claim £300 cash this summer holiday – will you get a boost?
Plus, we reveal more local authorities giving away free cash including one East Midlands council issuing grants worth up to £320 CASH IN Households on Universal Credit can claim £300 cash this summer holiday – will you get a boost? Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HOUSEHOLDS on Universal Credit can claim up to £300 in cash this summer. Hard-up families can claim support through the government's Household Support Fund. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Households can get support through the government's household support fund Credit: Alamy The scheme has been extended multiple times, with the latest round running between April 2025 and March 2026. Each council has a share of £742million which it can dole out to residents in need. Eligibility criteria varies but help is usually offered to those on low income or claiming benefits. Households in Doncaster can apply for cost of living cash worth up to £300 to help with a supermarket shop. You must have dependent children to qualify for the support. A dependant child is a child for whom you receive Child Benefit. For example, if you have one dependent child you will receive £100. This rises to £200 if you are a household with two dependent children. If you have three or more kids the amount you receive is £300. To be eligible for the support you must be claiming Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, means tested free school meals or council tax reductions. Families can get FREE washing machines, fridges and kids' beds or £200 payments this summer – and you can apply now If you previously applied for the support, a payment will be made to the bank account using information you previously provided. If you have not submitted an application before you can do so online by visiting, Elsewhere, residents of North Northamptonshire can apply for supermarket vouchers worth up to £320 on August 4. A person who lives alone will be given a voucher worth £150. Meanwhile, a house with two residents could receive £260 for their food shop. If you live in a home with three residents or more you will receive a voucher worth £320. Does every council offer support? The £742million Household Support Fund has been shared between all councils in England. So, if you don't live in this area but are struggling financially or are on benefits you will likely be eligible for help. This is because the fund was originally set up to help those on low incomes or classed as vulnerable. What type of help you can get will vary but it could range from a free cash payment to supermarket vouchers. For example, residents in Worcestershire can apply for support worth up to £500 to help with water and energy costs. Devon County Council has also issued supermarket vouchers worth more than £90 to 22,000 families with children on free school meals. The £90 is equivalent to £15 per week for the six week school holiday. Households in Redcar & Cleveland can also now apply for support worth up to £230.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
DWP full list of August 2025 benefit and pension payments ahead of date change
Your DWP benefit payment date may change next month due to two bank holidays in August - here is everything you need to know More than 20 million people across the UK claim some sort of benefit payment from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or HMRC. If you're due a benefit payment next month, your money may arrive on a different day due to the upcoming bank holidays. There is a bank holiday on Monday, August 25. This means instead of receiving your benefit payment on this date, you would normally expect to receive it the previous working day, so Friday, August 22. If you live in Scotland, there is another bank holiday earlier in the month on Monday, August 4. This will also impact your benefit payments. If you are due to receive Child Benefit on this day, your payment will arrive a day later on Tuesday, August 5. DWP and HMRC benefit payments in August You can find a full list of some of the most common benefit payments below, plus how often they are normally paid: Attendance Allowance - Usually every four weeks Carer's Allowance - Weekly in advance or every four weeks Child Benefit - Usually every four weeks, or weekly if you're a single parent or you or your partner get certain benefits Disability Living Allowance - Usually every four weeks Employment and Support Allowance - Usually every two weeks Income Support - Usually every two weeks Jobseeker's Allowance - Usually every two weeks Pension Credit - Usually every four weeks Personal Independence Payment - Usually every four weeks State Pension - Usually every four weeks Tax credits - Every four weeks or weekly Universal Credit - Every month State pension payment dates in August The day your state pension is paid depends on the last two digits of your National Insurance number - you can see which days correlate to which day of the week below. The state pension is normally paid every four weeks. 00 to 19: Monday 20 to 39: Tuesday 40 to 59: Wednesday 60 to 79: Thursday 80 to 99: Friday What if I don't get paid? If you don't get your benefit payment when you expected to, you should contact the relevant helpline. Do keep in mind these are unlikely to be open on bank holidays, so you may have to wait until the next working day. Universal Credit: Call for free: 0800 328 9344 Welsh speaking: 0800 012 1888 Textphone: 0800 328 1344 Child benefit: Call for free: 0300 200 3100 Outside UK: +44 161 210 3086 Tax credits: Call HMRC for free: 0345 300 3900 From outside the UK: +44 2890 538 192 Jobseeker's Allowance, Income Support, Incapacity Benefit and Employment and Support Allowance: Call for free: 0800 169 0310 Textphone: 0800 169 0314 Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 169 0310
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Child Benefit payments will stop for thousands of parents unless they act now
You can claim Child Benefit if you're responsible for a child under the age of 16, or if they are under the age of 20 and still in approved education or training Thousands of parents will have their Child Benefit payments stopped next month unless they update their claim. Child Benefit is worth £26.05 a week for your first child, then £17.25 for any additional child. You can claim Child Benefit if you're responsible for a child under the age of 16, or if they are under the age of 20 and still in approved education or training. If they are continuing with education or training after the age of 16, then you need to notify HMRC and update your benefit claim. This is because your Child Benefit will automatically stop on August 31 on or after your child's 16th birthday. You also need to let HMRC know if your child leaves their approved education or training before the course is complete. Approved education or training can include A-Levels, NVQs or even home education, but it does not include university or BTEC qualifications. Child Benefit is claimed by more than seven million families. It is paid every four weeks, on a Monday or Tuesday, by HMRC. In order to be eligible for Child Benefit, your child normally has to live with you, or you pay at least the same amount as Child Benefit toward looking after them. You can claim Child Benefit if you fostered a child, as long as the local council is not paying anything towards their accommodation or maintenance, or if you adopted your child. You may also be entitled if you're looking after a child for a friend or relative. There is no limit for how many children you can claim Child Benefit for, but if two people look after a child, only one person can claim Child Benefit. If you, or your partner, are on a high income, then you may have to pay back some of your Child Benefit. If either you earn over £60,000, you have to pay back 1% of your Child Benefit for every £200 you earn over £60,000. This is known as the High Income Child Benefit Charge. Once you earn over £80,000, you pay back 100% of your Child Benefit. The upcoming bank holiday on Monday, August 25 means some Child Benefit payments will be issued on a different day. If you're due a Child Benefit payment on Monday, August 25, you'll receive your money on Friday, August 22 instead. The amount you get paid will not change. If you live in Scotland, there is another bank holiday on Monday, August 4. Those who are due a Child Benefit payment on this date will be paid later, on Tuesday, August 5, instead.
Irish Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Business
- Irish Daily Mirror
Reduction of 9% VAT rate for restaurants would cost the State €674 million
Reducing the VAT rate for restaurants in Budget 2026 would cost the State €674.6 million annually, the latest Tax Strategy Group papers show. This comes as ministers are considering holding off on a cut to 9 per cent VAT for the sector until the middle of next year, especially with looming US tariffs. Published by the Department of Finance every year, these papers drawn up by civil servants outline options that should be considered for the Budget. The hospitality sector has been lobbying for a reduction in VAT to 9 per cent ever since it was reinstated to 13.5 per cent after a relief during the pandemic. The Covid-19 tax relief applied to all businesses within the sector, however, in Budget 2026 the government is considering a reduction just for food and catering. However, the papers noted that other sectors - such as hairdressing - are facing similar challenges to the hospitality industry, in particular with regard to labour costs. The current 9 per cent VAT rate for gas and electricity is also set to end in October, as a further one year extension would cost the State €198m. In its Social Protection Budget Package, the Tax Strategy Group recommended a second tier child benefit to "deal with deprivation". It suggests a means tested payment on top of the Child Benefit to families on social welfare or working family payments. However, the report noted that this is "a complex issue that would need to be fully understood before any new second tier payment is introduced". The papers also show that a tax relief for gym and sports club membership is unlikely in Budget 2026. Public Expenditure Minister, Jack Chambers. (Image: PA Wire/PA Images) It was suggested by Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers, but the Tax Strategy Group said it would be a "deadweight" measure. The report said a relief on gym memberships "would not necessarily have direct correlation to improved public health and activity levels". It would cost the State €65m if the objective was to add 100,000 new members to the already existing 550,000 gym users. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
