www.hmrc.gov.

uk
Our helpline number:
0845 302 1444
Our textphone number:
0845 302 1474

Child Benefit claim form

- Getting it right
Use these notes to help you

CH2 Notes
 Introduction
About Child Benefit
Child Benefit is a tax-free benefit paid to people bringing up children. It isnt means tested so it doesnt matter
how much you earn or have saved.

Who is Child Benefit paid for?

Child Benefit can be paid for a child under the age of 16 or a young person up to the age of 20 if they are in
full-time non-advanced education or approved training.

Who should claim Child Benefit?

You should fill in this claim form if you are responsible for a child. You do not need to be the parent of the
child and you may be able to get Child Benefit even if the child does not live with you. Only one person can
receive Child Benefit for a child.
If you are bringing up children you may not be working or paying a National Insurance contribution. If you get
Child Benefit for a child under the age of 12 you will receive weekly National Insurance credits to protect your
future entitlement to the basic State Pension and the State Second Pension.
If you are a couple and one of you works and pays National Insurance contributions and the other one stays
at home to care for the child, the person who is not working could benefit from National Insurance credits by
claiming Child Benefit.

When to claim Child Benefit

You should claim Child Benefit as soon as:
your baby is born and registered
a child comes to live with you, or
you adopt a child.

We have a range of services for people with disabilities, including

guidance in Braille, audio and large print. Most of our forms,
leaflets and factsheets are also available in large print. Please
contact any of our phone helplines if you need these services.

Ffoniwch 0845 302 1489 i dderbyn fersiynau Cymraeg o ffurflenni a chanllawiau.

Page 2
Help with filling in your claim form

Questions 10 and 28 Where do I find my (or my partners) National Insurance number?

This will be on:

a P60 certificate from your employer
a PAYE Coding Notice or a letter from us
a payslip from your employer
any letter from the Department for Work and Pensions or Jobcentre Plus.

Example of a National Insurance number

National Insurance number

XX 99 99 99 X

Page 2 of your claim form

Help Question 18
If you need any help with
a question, please go to You are subject to immigration control if:
www.hmrc.gov.uk the Home Office says you can stay in the UK
or phone our helpline. (known as 'leave to enter or remain) but only if you don't claim certain
Phone 0845 302 1444 (UK) benefits, tax credits or housing help paid by the UK government
00 44 161 210 3086 (Overseas) (known as 'recourse to public funds), or
Textphone 0845 302 1474
you need permission to stay in the UK (known as 'leave to enter
or remain') but you don't have it.
If you are subject to immigration control, or not sure if you are, you might
still be able to get Child Benefit. Please phone our helpline and ask us.
Question 14
This question is about the
country you have always lived
in. The United Kingdom (UK) Section 1 About you continued
is England, Wales, Scotland and 12 Are you already getting Child Benefit? 18 Are you subject to immigration control now, or at any time For
office
use 2
in the last three months? See Notes, page 3
Northern Ireland. It does not No
No If No, go to question 20
include the Isle of Man or the Yes If Yes, please tell us the full name and date
of birth of the eldest child you are getting Yes
Channel Islands. Child Benefit for, then go to question 22
19 If you have been subject to immigration control in the
Childs surname
last three months, tell us the date your immigration status
It doesnt usually matter if you Childs first name was granted DD MM YYYY
Childs middle name(s)

sometimes go to other countries Childs date of birth DD MM YYYY Please send a copy of your Home Office documents to
us with this form.
on holiday or for work.
20 Are you now, or have you at any time in the last three
13 What is your nationality? months, worked in another country or received benefit
This is shown on your passport if you have one from another country?

No

14 Have you always lived in the United Kingdom? Yes If Yes, please tell us the name of the country
See Notes, page 3

Question 15 No
21 Are you a member of HM Forces or a civil servant
Yes If Yes, go to question 20 working abroad?

This question is about the 15 Do you usually live in the United Kingdom? No Yes
See Notes, page 3
country you live in most of the 22 What is your marital or civil partnership status?
No Please tick one box
time. The UK is England, Wales,
Yes If Yes, go to question 17
Married or in a civil partnership Go to question 23
Scotland and Northern Ireland. It 16 Which country do you usually live in? Living with a partner as if you

does not include the Isle of Man are married or a civil partner Go to question 23

Go to question 18 Widowed Go to question 31

or the Channel Islands.
17 Did you arrive in the United Kingdom in the last Separated Go to question 31
three months?
It doesnt usually matter if you Divorced Go to question 31

No Single Go to question 31
sometimes go to other countries
Yes If Yes, tell us the date you arrived

on holiday or for work. DD MM YYYY

Page 3
Pages 4 and 5 of your claim form

Help
If you need any help with
a question, please go to
www.hmrc.gov.uk
or phone our helpline.
Phone 0845 302 1444
Textphone 0845 302 1474

Questions 37 and 51
If you are not the childs parent but you are looking Questions
after the child, you can still claim Child Benefit. 39 and 53
Note. If you have a stepchild or a legally adopted child
If the child lives with
they are counted as your own.
someone else but you pay
towards the cost of looking
after them and both of
you claim the benefit, the
Section 3 Children you want to claim for continued person who the child lives
Child 1 Child 1 continued For
office
use 5
with will usually get the
32 Child's surname or family name 39 Does this child live with you? See Notes, page 4
As shown on the original birth or adoption certificate Child Benefit.
No

Yes If Yes, go to question 41

33 Child's first name and any middle name(s)
As shown on the original birth or adoption certificate 40 What is the name and address of the person this child
lives with?
First name

Middle name(s)
Name
Name Questions
Questions 34 Is this child male or female? 41 and 55
38 and 52 Male
Postcode
For
If the child lives with
office
Female
If the child lives with you
use 6

For
office 35 Childs date of birth DD MM YYYY
41 Has this child lived with anyone else in the last 12 months? more than one person,
use 3 See Notes, page 4
but Child Benefit is being each person can claim
No If No, go to question 44

paid to someone else, in 36 Has this child ever been known by any other name? Yes
Child Benefit for the same
some circumstances we No 42 What is the name and address of the person this child child. However, only one
lived with?
can transfer the benefit Yes If Yes, please write it below
Name
Name person can be paid
to you. For
Child Benefit.
office 37 Is this child your own? See Notes, page 4
use 4

If we do transfer the No Yes If two or more children

Postcode

benefit, you will not 38 Has anyone else ever claimed Child Benefit for this child? are being cared for,
See Notes, page 4 43 What date did the child come to live with you?
usually get a payment of DD MM YYYY
Child Benefit can be paid
No

Child Benefit until four Yes If Yes, please tell us their name, address and
to each person for a
Child Benefit number 44 Are you adopting or planning to adopt this child through
weeks (and in some cases Name
Name
a Local Authority? different child.
eight weeks) after you Name
No Yes
If you cannot agree
have made your claim. 45 Do you want to claim for any more children now?
which of you is to get the
No If No, go to question 60
Postcode Social worker
If someone else has Yes If Yes, go to question 46 Child Benefit, someone
C H B
claimed Child Benefit for If you don't know the Child Benefit number you should acting on behalf of the
still claim now.
the same child that you are Commissioners for
claiming for, we will get in HM Revenue & Customs
touch with you. Page 4 will decide.

Please note that these questions apply

to all children on this claim form

Page 4
 Page 6 of your claim form

Question 64
We can pay Child Benefit into an account that is in:
your name
the name of your husband, wife or partner if you have one
the names of you and your husband, wife or partner
the name of someone acting on your behalf, or
the names of you and a person acting on your behalf.

We cant pay into:

Question 60 an account that is in a childs name, or
more than one account.
Child Benefit is usually paid
every four weeks. However
Question 66
you can choose to get your
Child Benefit paid weekly if Make sure you enter the
you are bringing up children sort code shown on your
Section 4 Payment of Child Benefit
on your own, or you (or We normally pay Child Benefit every four weeks into a bank or building society account. bank card or statements
your partner if you have 60 Do you want to be paid Child Benefit every week? Please note from your bank or
Please read the Notes on page 5 We cant pay into an account that is in a child's name. For

one) are receiving: No If No, go to question 62

If you need help to fill in questions 64 to 68, see Notes,
office
use 11 building society.
page 5 or contact your bank or building society.

Income Support Yes 64 Whose name is the account in? See Notes, page 5
If it is a joint account please tell us both names
For

income-based 61 Please tick all boxes which apply to you office

use 12

I am a single parent Question 67

Jobseekers Allowance
I am receiving one or more of the following: 65 Name of your bank or building society
Pensions Credit, or Income Support If you have a Post Office card account write Post Office Your account number
income-based Jobseekers Allowance

income-related Pensions Credit is usually eight digits

income-related Employment and Support Allowance.

Employment and Support My partner is receiving one or more of the following:

66 Your branch sort code. See Notes, page 5
and is shown on your

Income Support
Allowance. income-based Jobseekers Allowance
statements or cheque
Pensions Credit 67 Your account number. See Notes, page 5

If you want Child Benefit to income-related Employment and Support Allowance.

For
book. Please include any
office

zeros for example,

use 13
62 Do you already get Child Benefit?
be paid weekly, tell us on 68 If your account is with a building society tell us the roll
No If No, go to question 64 or reference number if you have one. See Notes, page 5
page 6 of the claim form 00123456.
Yes For
office

why you qualify. 63 Do you want to change the bank or building society we pay
69 If you do not have an account that
use 14

we can pay into please put an X in the box

your Child Benefit into?
If you qualify and choose to
get your Child Benefit paid
No If No, please go straight to the Declaration
Please now complete the declaration below Question 68
Yes

weekly, you must tell us If your account is with a

Declaration
immediately if you stop: Please read the declaration below, tick the boxes that apply to you, then sign this form to claim Child Benefit.
building society or a bank
bringing up children on that was a building society
I am sending the birth certificate(s) or other documents that you need with this form.

your own, or If you dont have the documents you should still send your claim form to us. Do not send photocopies.
For
you may have an
office

getting at least one of the I declare that the information I have given on this form is correct and complete.
use 15
additional reference
If I give information which I know is not correct or complete, you may take action against me.

above benefits. number. This number may

This is my claim for Child Benefit. Your claim will be delayed if you do not sign this form.
be called:
If this happens, we may stop Signature

a roll number
paying your Child Benefit
an account reference, or
weekly and change it to Date DD MM YYYY

an account number.
four weekly payments. Page 6

If you are not sure which

numbers to enter,
check with your bank
or building society.

If too much Child Benefit is paid into your account you will
have to pay back any money you should not have been paid.
For example, if you tell us something that affects how much we
pay you and we do not have time to change your payment, you
will have to pay back any money you should not have been paid.

Page 5
 Other money you may be entitled to
Child Trust Fund
Child Trust Fund is a savings investment account for children. Every child born on or after 1 September 2002
will receive a 250 voucher to start their account as long as they live in the United Kingdom, are not subject to
immigration control and Child Benefit is paid for them. The account belongs to the child and cant be touched
until they are 18. There is no form to fill in to claim Child Trust Fund. We will write to you a few weeks after you
start getting Child Benefit. If you want to know more about Child Trust Fund please go to www.childtrustfund.gov.uk
or phone 0845 302 1470.

Tax credits
Working Tax Credit is for working people on a low income.
Child Tax Credit is for people bringing up children.
To find out what you could get, go online at www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits or phone us on 0845 300 3900.

Other things you might need to know

National Insurance (NI) credits
Before 6 April 2010, if you received Child Benefit for a child under 16, you automatically qualified for a scheme
called Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP), which helped to protect your basic State Pension.
From 6 April 2010, for each week that you get Child Benefit for a child under 12, you will receive weekly
NI credits to protect your future entitlement to basic State Pension.
If you reach State Pension age on or after 6 April 2010, any complete tax years of HRP you have already built
up before 2010 will be converted into qualifying years. Up to 22 years of HRP can be converted into qualifying
years for basic State Pension.

Earnings Factor credit

Before 6 April 2010, if you received Child Benefit for a child under 6, you automatically built up entitlement to
an additional pension through State Second Pension.
From 6 April 2010, for each week that you get Child Benefit for a child under 12, you will receive weekly
Earnings Factor credits to protect your future entitlement to the State Second Pension.
You will be able to combine National Insurance and Earnings Factor credits with other qualification routes, such
as NI contributions, in order to build up a year of entitlement.

For further information

go to www.direct.gov.uk/pensions, or
phone the Pension Service Helpline on 0845 606 0265 or textphone on 0845 606 0285.
You can also:
go to www.hmrc.gov.uk, or
phone the National Insurance Helpline on 0845 302 1479.

These notes are for guidance only and reflect the position
at the time of writing. They do not affect any right of appeal.
Customer Information Team
December 2009 Crown Copyright 2009
HMRC 12/09

Page 6
 Additional children - Please complete and attach to the Child Benefit claim form
f

Child 3 Child 3 continued office

Please tear off here

use 18

1 Child's surname or family name 8 Does this child live with you? See Notes, page 4
As shown on the original birth or adoption certificate
No

Yes If Yes, go to question 10

2 Child's first name and any middle name(s)
As shown on the original birth or adoption certificate 9 What is the name and address of the person this child
f

lives with?
First name
Name
Name
Middle name(s)

3 Is this child male or female?

Male
Postcode

Female office
use 19
10 Has this child lived with anyone else in the last 12 months?
office 4 Childs date of birth DD MM YYYY See Notes, page 4
use 16

No If No, go to question 13

5 Has this child ever been known by any other name? Yes

No 11 What is the name and address of the person this child

lived with?
Yes If Yes, please write it below
Name
Name

office 6 Is this child your own? See Notes, page 4

use 17

No Yes
Postcode

7 Has anyone else ever claimed Child Benefit for this child?
f

See Notes, page 4 12 What date did the child come to live with you?
Please tear off here

DD MM YYYY
No

Yes If Yes, please tell us their name, address and

Child Benefit number 13 Are you adopting or planning to adopt this child through
a Local Authority?
Name
f

No Yes

14 Do you want to claim for any more children now?

No If No, please tear off this sheet then go to

Postcode
question 60 of your claim form

C H B Yes If Yes, please turn over

If you don't know the Child Benefit number you should
still claim now.
Remember to send this sheet with your claim form

Page 7
 Additional children - Please complete and attach to the Child Benefit claim form
Child 4 Child 4 continued office
use 22

1 Child's surname or family name 8 Does this child live with you? See Notes, page 4
As shown on the original birth or adoption certificate
No

f
Yes If Yes, go to question 10

Please tear off here

2 Child's first name and any middle name(s)
As shown on the original birth or adoption certificate 9 What is the name and address of the person this child
lives with?
First name
Name
Middle name(s)

f
3 Is this child male or female?

Male
Postcode

Female office
use 23
10 Has this child lived with anyone else in the last 12 months?
office
4 Childs date of birth DD MM YYYY See Notes, page 4
use 20

No If No, go to question 13

5 Has this child ever been known by any other name? Yes

No 11 What is the name and address of the person this child

lived with?
Yes If Yes, please write it below Name

office
6 Is this child your own? See Notes, page 4
use 21

No Yes
Postcode

7 Has anyone else ever claimed Child Benefit for this child?
See Notes, page 4 12 What date did the child come to live with you?
DD MM YYYY
No

Yes If Yes, please tell us their name, address and

f

Child Benefit number 13 Are you adopting or planning to adopt this child through
a Local Authority?
Please tear off here

Name

No Yes

14 Do you want to claim for any more children now?

No If No, please tear off this sheet then go to

Postcode question 60 of your claim form
f

C H B Yes If Yes, please answer questions 1 to 13 on a

If you don't know the Child Benefit number you should separate sheet of paper or download our
still claim now. additional child form by going to
www.hmrc.gov.uk/findaform and look for
CH2(CS) within the Search facility.

Remember to send this sheet with your claim form

Page 8