HMRC gives out urgent ‘apply now’ alerts to Brits – worth £1,406 and up | Personal Finance | Finance
New parents across the UK are being urged to act quickly and claim vital financial support worth £1,406.60 and over a year. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is warning that thousands of families are still missing out on payments during their baby’s first year. The alert comes after new figures revealed that more than one in three new parents are failing to claim Child Benefit in time.
While more than 6.8 million families claimed Child Benefit in the year to August 2025, only 68.8% did so before their child’s first birthday. That means over 30% of eligible parents are delaying or missing out entirely during a critical period of early childhood support. HMRC is urging parents who welcomed a baby this spring to claim now via the HMRC app or online at GOV.UK to ensure they get their payment as quickly as possible.
HMRC estimates that over 140,000 babies were born between April and June last year, highlighting how many households could be affected by delayed claims during what is often a financially demanding period for new parents.
Child Benefit is currently worth £27.05 per week, or £1,406.60 per year, for the eldest or only child, and £17.90 per week, or £930.80 per year for each additional child, with no limit on the number of children a family can claim for.
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s chief customer officer, 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.
“It is quick and easy to claim Child Benefit via the HMRC app at a time that suits you.”
Child Benefit can be claimed 48 hours after a baby’s birth has been registered, but payments can only be backdated for up to three months from the date HMRC receives the claim, meaning thousands of families are not getting what they’re entitled to receive.
HMRC also notes that growing numbers of parents prefer to manage tax affairs digitally, with a recent survey indicating that nearly half of parents with children under 18 would like to complete all tax matters online.
To make a claim, parents need to set up an account via GOV.UK or the HMRC app, along with their child’s birth or adoption certificate, bank details, and National Insurance numbers for themselves and their partner if applicable.
For children born outside the UK, additional identity documents such as a passport or travel document are required. Child Benefit payments are usually made automatically every four weeks once the claim is approved.
