Support for new parents

Child Benefit

Did you know you can claim your Child Benefit online or via the HMRC app? More than one million parents have claimed in this way since the new digital service was launched earlier this year.

Child Benefit is worth £1,331 a year for the first child and £881 a year for each additional child. It can be claimed just 48 hours after registering a baby’s birth and parents typically receive their first payment within three working days. Claims can be backdated by up to 12 weeks, so the sooner families claim, the better. Child Benefit is typically paid every four weeks.

Downloading the free HMRC app makes managing claims even easier too. Families can use the app to track payments and update their details on the go – from changing their address or bank details, to seeing when their next payment is landing.

To make a claim online, visit: Child Benefit: Make a claim - GOV.UK or via the HMRC app, visit: Download the HMRC app - GOV.UK

Healthy Start supports families in need

If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4 you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk.

If you’re eligible, you’ll be sent a Healthy Start card with money on it that you can use in some UK shops. Your benefit will be added onto your card every four weeks.

You can use your card to buy:

• plain liquid cow’s milk
• fresh, frozen, and tinned fruit and vegetables
• fresh, dried, and tinned pulses
• infant formula milk based on cow’s milk

You can also use your card to collect:

• Healthy Start vitamins – these support you during pregnancy and breastfeeding
• vitamin drops for babies and young children – these are suitable from birth to 4 years old

To find out about applying for Healthy Start, visit: Applying for Healthy Start – Get help to buy food and milk (Healthy Start)

or how you can use Healthy Start, visit Using Healthy Start – Get help to buy food and milk (Healthy Start)