Households across the UK are set to get a financial boost from April when weekly child benefit payments will rise.

Child benefit is available to families with dependents up to the age of 16 - or 20 if they are in full-time education or registered on a government-approved training course

The government subsidy, designed to help with the costs associated with a dependent, is rising to £21.15 per week for the first child.

Those with more than one child will receive £14 per week from April 12.

The benefit is paid monthly, either on a Monday or a Tuesday, and there is no limit to how many children a parent or guardian can claim for.

The new financial year starts on April 6 and brings with it a whole host of payment changes for those receiving benefits.

As well as child support, the state pension will rise by 2.5% and Universal Credit 0.5% - although this could theoretically fall with the £20 uplift to be scrapped, the Mirror reports.

How is child benefit changing?

For an eldest or only child, households currently receive £21.05 per week plus £13.95 for any additional kids.

From April 12, this will increase to £21.15 per week and £14.00 per week for additional children.






High Income Child Benefit Charges explained

In 2013, former chancellor George Osborne introduced new rules to child benefits.


However, critics say the cap penalises households where one parent earns the most money.

This is because it is based on the highest earner's salary rather than the family income.

For example, a family where one parent earns £50,000 and the other earns nothing would be immediately subject to the tax.

But if both parents earned £25,000 each, they wouldn't have to pay child benefit back, even though the household income is the same as where one parent is working.

Even more confusingly, a family where both parents earn £49,999 would get full child benefit, even though the family income is almost £100,000.

If you're earning over the threshold, you need to complete a self-assessment at the end of each tax year. HMRC will then calculate how much you owe, and bill you for the outstanding balance. Even though the money is returned, you'll still get a national insurance credit towards your state pension.

However, be careful when you opt out as you could risk your state pension credits.

If you earn above the threshold (£60,000), you must opt out officially to avoid losing any credits.

When you receive the form for child benefit, you have two options.



More stories from Cornwall:


Tripadvisor names two Cornwall beaches among Europe's best