HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has issued a warning for Child Benefit claimants about a temporary disruption to its online services scheduled for Wednesday, 9 September 2026. A notice posted on 3 September states that due to planned maintenance, access to the online Child Benefit service will be unavailable from 6:30pm until 11pm on that evening.
During this five-hour period, parents attempting to register a newborn or make a new claim will need to wait until the system is restored. Users may also experience difficulties logging in to update bank details, check payment dates, or download proof-of-entitlement documents. Nonetheless, automatic Child Benefit payments will continue without interruption.
Child Benefit is typically paid every four weeks directly into bank accounts. Many parents manage their Child Benefit claims through the HMRC app, which allows users to make new claims, update personal or bank information, add children to claims, and access proof-of-entitlement documents. Since April 2025, over 928,000 parents have utilised the app to manage their Child Benefit accounts.
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To make a Child Benefit claim, parents must set up an online HMRC account. Claims can be submitted 48 hours after registering a child’s birth or when a child comes to live with the claimant. Claims can be backdated for up to three months from the claim date.
Only one person can claim Child Benefit for each child, so parents are advised to consider carefully which of them should make the claim. The claimant receives National Insurance credits that contribute towards their state pension, helping to fill gaps in their record if they are not currently working or earning enough to pay contributions. Couples living together can both claim Child Benefit for different children, but only one parent can claim the higher rate for the eldest child in the household. Claiming the higher rate by both may result in repayment requirements.
Occasionally, claimants may receive incorrect benefit amounts. In response to concerns raised by Kim Johnson, Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside, Dan Tomlinson, Exchequer Secretary, affirmed that HMRC regularly runs communications campaigns to raise awareness about claiming Child Benefit. Last year alone, over 500,000 flyers containing QR codes linking directly to the Child Benefit claim page were distributed to new parents. Further guidance on appeals and decisions relating to Child Benefit is available on the gov.uk website.
Claimants are encouraged to visit the official government website for detailed information on how to apply for and manage Child Benefit.