New Child Benefit Rules

[mikey4444]

I have heard this on the Today Program ....can't find a link though.

Child Benefit for the 3rd child will be stopped. Not those already here, but any child born from today onwards.

[mikey4444]

I may have heard this wrong....still not sure :::

http://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/Benefit_Changes_April_2017

[fiction-factory]

Is this just about the child addition which forms part of the Housing Benefit calculation which will be limited to 2 children. This is not a new announcement.
I think many will say this should have been done years ago- and should go further- perhaps stop/reduce child benefit altogether for all but the third child (for new births after say June 2018)

[naomi24]

//For the first time tax credits and family benefits under Universal Credit will be limited to the first two children only. //

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-33429390

Good.

[mikey4444]

Could be FF....I am not against this in principle.

[fiction-factory]

Yes, it was about UC benefits. I heard some of it but couldn't really follow it as the lady being interviewed who was completely against the idea didn't answer the questions and kept repeating the same things

[ummmm]

I also agree with it.

Some people attitudes to CB are a bit strange. The CB I receive for my son doesn't even cover his school dinner money yet people think it encourages some to keep having children.

[Old_Geezer]

Hardly discourages it. Tacit approval to have kids in an overpopulated society.

Sounds like a step in the right direction.

[mikey4444]

If you had three kids, then CB equals just over £200 a month, tax free. Not a fortune but not inconsiderable either.

In the 1950's and 1960's. my Mum used to look forward to getting her child allowance from the Post Office every Tuesday, in cash, as it helped her to stretch her housekeeping money a little farther until Friday.

[mikey4444]

And in those days, it wasn't paid for the first child !

[ummmm]

I have 3 children and they are expensive little things.

You have to remember though that CB replaced tax breaks. The main bread winner used to get tax breaks but they switched it to CB which was paid to the main carer.

[naomi24]

//yet people think it encourages some to keep having children.//

I think it does encourage some people – those who don’t do anything for a living – to have more children. A figure of £200 a month has been quoted. Added to other benefits £200 a month for each additional child is not an inconsiderable sum – and I’m guessing that those children are not expected to pay for school dinners.

[ummmm]

It's £80 per month for the eldest child. Less for younger siblings.

[mikey4444]

I am now unsure if this applies to Child Benefit at all.

[Islay]

For 3 children it is approx. £187 every 4 weeks which is the payment schedule.
Not a vast amount considering.

[Cloverjo]

Naomi, Mikey's quoted figure of nearly £200 per month is for three children.
Any subsequent children would entitle someone to the princely sum of £13.70 per week.
As ummmm said, not enough to keep a child in school meals.

[ummmm]

It doesn't go very far but is a help for those on low working incomes.

[Islay]

If you read the article it appears that in some cases it will be new claimants that will be restricted if you are already claim say tax credits and the children were born before April 17 and you have 9 children you can still claim for 9 children

[mikey4444]

I now realise that this isn't about Child Benefit....its about a change to Housing Benefit apparently:::

Housing Benefit change

"From 6 April 2017 the child addition which forms part of the Housing Benefit calculation will be limited to 2 children. This means that if you already have 2 or more children you will not be entitled to a child addition for any subsequent children born on or after 6 April 2017 when calculating your Housing Benefit. You can still receive a child addition for more than 2 children if the children were born before 6 April 2017"

Something similar is happening to Child Tax Credit.

My apologies for misleading people in the OP !

[fiction-factory]

Yes, I think that's been factored in to the replies, Islay. mikey's question did say "Not those already here, but any child born from today onwards"

[Islay]

I apologise FF - I will now take myself off to a darkened corner and beat myself soundly!!!