How to Claim Child Benefit for the First Time – A Parent’s Guide

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If you’ve just had a baby or become responsible for a child, you should claim Child Benefit as soon as possible. Here’s how.

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Register your child’s birth (you need a birth certificate)
  2. Download and complete the CH2 form from the HMRC website
  3. Send it to the Child Benefit Office
  4. Wait 6–12 weeks (faster if it’s your second or third child)

Online Claiming

If you live in England or Wales and registered your child’s birth online, you may be able to claim online too. This is usually available for babies under 6 months old.

Claiming Late?

You can backdate your claim for up to 3 months. So even if you missed the initial period, you may still get paid for earlier months.

👉 Use the Child Benefit Calculator to see how much you can get.