Child Benefit Christmas Payment Dates – Benefits & Eligibility

Child Benefit payments are typically made every four weeks on Monday or Tuesday, ensuring timely financial assistance for eligible families. Due to bank holidays, the payment date will be December 22, 2023, for Christmas.

Child Benefit Christmas Payment Dates

Child Benefit is financial support available to parents or guardians responsible for children under 16 or under 20 if they are in approved education or training. 

The current rate is £21.80 per week for the first child and £14.40 per week for subsequent children. The payment is typically made every four weeks on a Monday or Tuesday, but due to bank holidays, the payment date will be December 22, 2023.

Who is eligible for Christmas 2023 Child Benefit?

The program is available to individuals:

Basic Requirements:

• Grocery Rebate Canada 2024
• CRA Payments
• Dates for ODSP payments
• IRS Free Tax Filing 2024
• CPP payment dates
• Disability Cost of Living Paymеnt
• maximum Social Security tax for 2023

• Per child, Child Benefit claims can only be made by one person.

• You typically qualify if you’re responsible for a child under 16 living in the UK.
• “Being responsible” can mean either:
  • Living with the child
  • Paying at least the equivalent of Child Benefit towards their care (e.g., food, clothes, pocket money)

Special Cases:

• Children 16 or older: Child Benefit continues if the child is under 20 and in approved education or training.
• Fostered children: You can claim if the local council isn’t contributing to their care.
• Adopted children: Claim as soon as the child lives with you, even before adoption finalization.
• Caring for someone else’s child: You may be eligible for informal arrangements, but not if the local council contributes to their care.
• Split households: If you share responsibility, agree on who claims. If not, HMRC decides.
• Living abroad: You may qualify in certain countries or as a Crown servant.

No limit exists on the number of children you can claim for. This means you can receive support for multiple children residing with you.

Child Benefit Christmas Payment Dates

Child benefit is typically paid every four weeks. However, due to bank holidays, the payment date may be adjusted to ensure you receive it on a working day. Here are the standard payment dates:

• Payment is due on: Monday, 25 December 2023
• Payment date: Friday, 22 December 2023

This means that if your child benefit payment is normally due on Christmas Day, you will receive it three days earlier, on Friday, 22 December.

Additional Payment Date Changes:

• Payment is due on: Tuesday, 26 December 2023
• Payment date: Friday, 22 December 2023

Similarly, if your payment is due on Boxing Day, it will also be paid early on Friday, 22 December.

If your payment falls on Wednesday, 27 December, it will be paid on the same date.

• Payment is due on: Monday, 1 January 2024
• Payment date: Friday, 29 December 2023

If your payment falls on New Year’s Day, you will receive it two days earlier, on Friday, 29 December.

• Payment is due on: Tuesday, 2 January 2024
• Payment date: Tuesday, 2 January 2024

For payments falling on Tuesday, 2 January, you will receive it on the actual date.

Checking Your Child Benefit Christmas Payment Dates

You can find your exact child benefit payment date by:

• Checking your award notice.
• Logging into your online account.
• Contacting the Child Benefit Office.

Child Benefit Rates and Payment Information

The payment rates are as follows:

Child Benefit Rates:

• Eldest or only child: £24.00 per week
• Additional children: £15.90 per week, per child

Payment Frequency:

• Typically paid every 4 weeks on Monday or Tuesday
• Weekly payments are available for single parents or those receiving specific benefits like Universal Credit

Families Splitting Up:

• £24.00 per week for the eldest child
• Both parents receive £24.00 per child if each child lives with a different parent
• Only one claim per child is allowed
• Subsequent children receive £15.90 per week

Families Joining Together:

• An eldest child receives £24.00 per week
• Subsequent children receive £15.90 per week

High Income Child Benefit Charge:

• Applies to families with an adjusted net income exceeding £50,000 per year
• Charge calculated based on taxable income before personal allowances and deductions like Gift Aid

Claiming Child Benefit Christmas payment 

Here are the ways to claim your Christmas child benefit payment:

Starting Your Claim:

• You can claim Child Benefit 48 hours after registering your child’s birth or when a child comes to live with you.
• Claims can be filed up to three months in advance.

Before You Start:

• Gather the following:
  • Child’s birth or adoption certificate
  • Bank or building society details
  • National Insurance numbers (yours and your partner’s if applicable)
• Order a new birth or adoption certificate if needed.

Special Case: Child’s Birth Registered Outside the UK:

• Submit:
  • Child’s original birth or adoption certificate
  • Child’s passport or travel document used to enter the UK
• Documents will be returned within 4 weeks.
• If you lack the required certificate, claim now and submit it once obtained.