When to expect your first Child Benefit payment

The Child Benefit Office will try to give you a decision on your claim and pay you within 12 weeks.

What happens once you've made your claim?

When the Child Benefit Office receives your Child Benefit claim they'll work out whether you qualify.

Once they've worked this out, they'll send you an 'Award Notice' telling you how much you'll be paid and when. You might get your first payment before your Award Notice arrives.

If they cannot work out straightaway whether you qualify, they will get in touch with you for more information.

If you're a new arrival to the UK

There are special rules for paying Child Benefit to people who have just arrived in the UK.

The Child Benefit Office need to check things like where you intend to live and make sure you have the 'right to reside' in the UK.

So it may take a little while for them to check whether you qualify and to get a first Child Benefit payment to you.

• New arrivals to the UK and Child Benefit

If you want to check on the progress of your claim

If you think your first payment is taking longer than it should, you can check on your claim's progress by contacting the Child Benefit Office.

You can do this by sending a query online, writing in or calling the Child Benefit Helpline.

The Child Benefit Office can reply in a special format if you ask them to, such as Braille, audio cassette or large print.

• Send your Child Benefit enquiry online
• Contact details for the Child Benefit Office and Helpline

More useful links

• Understanding your Child Benefit Award Notice

Provided by HM Revenue and Customs