Last reviewed: May 2026
Key facts:- Child Benefit is administered by HMRC, not DWP, and queries go to the Child Benefit helpline operated under the HMRC contact framework.
- Most changes - new bank details, address change, child leaving education - can be reported online through the HMRC Personal Tax Account.
- The High Income Child Benefit Charge has changed in recent years and now uses an individual income threshold from April 2024 onwards.
UK Benefits and Financial Support › Child Benefit Contact Number
Child Benefit is a tax-free payment paid by HM Revenue and Customs to most people responsible for a child under 16, or under 20 if they remain in approved education or training. Queries about an existing claim go to the HMRC Child Benefit helpline rather than to DWP. Most account changes can be made online through the Personal Tax Account, which is the fastest route. This guide covers the contact options, the High Income Child Benefit Charge, and what to do when the helpline cannot resolve the issue.
Official HMRC Child Benefit Helpline
The HMRC Child Benefit helpline handles questions about an existing claim, requests for replacement payment books, changes of bank details, address changes, and disputes about overpayments or underpayments. The number is listed on the gov.uk Child Benefit contact page under the heading Contact Child Benefit Office.
When phoning, the caller needs the Child Benefit number (CHB number) and the National Insurance number ready. The CHB number is on the original award letter and on subsequent statements. Without it, the call still proceeds but additional identity verification questions are asked.
The helpline operates Monday to Friday during HMRC standard contact hours. Lines are closed on weekends and bank holidays. The textphone alternative and Relay UK route are listed on the same gov.uk contact page.
Managing Child Benefit Online
Most Child Benefit changes can be reported online through the Personal Tax Account, which is part of the HMRC online services suite. The Personal Tax Account is signed in to using the same Government Gateway credentials used for Self Assessment, PAYE or other HMRC services.
From the Personal Tax Account, the customer can change bank account details, update the address, tell HMRC a child is leaving education, request a replacement award letter, and view payment history. The online route is usually faster than phoning the helpline and avoids queues.
For new claims, the online claim form was rolled out across 2023 and 2024 and is now the standard route. Paper claim forms are still available for households without internet access. The first claim form is submitted with the original birth certificate or evidence of adoption.
Reporting Changes of Circumstances
Certain changes must be reported to HMRC promptly. These include a child leaving education or training, a change of address, a change of bank account, a partner moving in or out, a change in income that affects the High Income Child Benefit Charge, and the child going to live with someone else.
Failure to report a change can lead to overpayments that must be repaid, and in some cases to a penalty under the standard HMRC overpayment penalty regime. The 12-month time limit for telling HMRC about a change is set out in the Tax Credits Act 2002 and HMRC Child Benefit manual.
Where a child stays in approved education or training beyond 16, the parent must tell HMRC each year that the education is continuing. HMRC issues an annual reminder in the summer asking for confirmation. Failure to reply within the deadline leads to the payment being stopped.
High Income Child Benefit Charge
The High Income Child Benefit Charge applies where one partner in the household has income above a defined threshold. From April 2024 the threshold rose to 60,000 pounds, with the full clawback at 80,000 pounds. The charge is collected through Self Assessment by the higher-earning partner.
Households can choose either to receive Child Benefit and pay the charge through Self Assessment, or to opt out of receiving the payment and avoid the charge. The opt-out is available through the Personal Tax Account or by phoning the helpline. The National Insurance credit that goes with Child Benefit still accrues to the claiming parent even if payments are opted out of.
The interaction with Self Assessment means that even where Child Benefit is the only reason for Self Assessment, the higher earner must register for Self Assessment and file a return. HMRC has been progressively automating this process but the legal obligation rests with the taxpayer.
Other Routes - Post and Welsh-Language Helpline
Written correspondence about Child Benefit goes to the Child Benefit Office, HM Revenue and Customs, BX9 1AA. Letters should include the CHB number and National Insurance number, the date of birth, and a clear description of the issue. Replies typically take four to six weeks.
A separate Welsh-language Child Benefit helpline is available and listed on the gov.uk Welsh-language contact pages. The textphone, Relay UK and Sign Health video relay routes are also available for deaf and hard-of-hearing callers.
Where the dispute cannot be resolved through the helpline or by post, the next step is a formal complaint to HMRC. If that does not resolve the issue, the complaint can be escalated to the Adjudicator Office and then to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman through an MP referral.
Common Issues That End Up at the Helpline
Bank account changes. Many calls are about changing the bank account for payment. The Personal Tax Account is the fastest route but a small number of customers prefer to phone, particularly older customers. The change takes effect from the next payment date.
Child leaving education. The annual education confirmation is an important communication that often gets missed. Where a parent fails to confirm continued education within the deadline, the payment is stopped. Restarting the payment requires submission of evidence and can take several weeks.
High Income Charge confusion. Many higher-earning households are surprised by the High Income Child Benefit Charge. The threshold rose to 60,000 pounds from April 2024 but many households were never told. Calls about the charge typically focus on whether the household should opt out or continue receiving the benefit and pay the charge through Self Assessment.
Death of the primary carer. Where the parent receiving Child Benefit dies, the surviving parent or carer can take over the claim. The transfer is done through the helpline. Death certificates and confirmation of the surviving carer relationship to the child are needed.
Where to Get Free Independent Help
Citizens Advice provides free face-to-face, phone and online help with child benefit contact number. The Citizens Advice website at citizensadvice.org.uk has detailed guides written specifically for UK users. Local Citizens Advice offices can also help with completing forms, gathering evidence and challenging decisions where needed.
MoneyHelper is the consumer-facing service operated by the Money and Pensions Service, the government-backed body that brings together the old Money Advice Service, Pension Wise and the Pensions Advisory Service. The MoneyHelper website has explainer guides for child benefit contact number and a confidential phone line for one-to-one help.
Turn2us is a national charity that helps people in financial hardship access benefits, grants and other support. Its grant search tool identifies charitable trusts that may be able to provide help in specific circumstances. It is particularly useful where mainstream benefits do not cover the need.
For local council-administered schemes such as council tax support, discretionary housing payments and the Household Support Fund, the council own benefits team is the entry point. The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman handles complaints about council services where they cannot be resolved through the council own complaints procedure.
Welfare rights advisers at law centres, advice agencies and some trade unions can also help with child benefit contact number. The Law Centres Network maintains a directory of local centres that may take on benefits casework. Some larger trade unions provide welfare rights services to members as part of the membership package.
For formal challenges to decisions, the mandatory reconsideration route through DWP is the first step, followed by appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Social Security and Child Support). The tribunal is free, accessible to litigants in person and decides by reference to the same evidence as DWP. Most successful appeals result in the original decision being changed.
Putting It All Together
The rules above set out the legal framework, the practical steps and the support routes available. Where the situation is straightforward, the gov.uk pages and the official tools should be enough to act on. Where the situation is more complex, the free advice services listed in the previous section can usually clarify the position and identify the right next step. Many issues that look intractable at first turn out to be resolvable once the right service is engaged.
Keeping written records of communications and decisions throughout is good practice. Where a decision needs to be challenged later - through an internal complaint, an ombudsman, a tribunal or a court - the quality of the contemporaneous record often decides the outcome. Dates, names, reference numbers and copies of correspondence are the building blocks of any later dispute. The gov.uk advice pages and the relevant ombudsman or tribunal websites all set out the evidence they consider when reviewing decisions, and gathering that evidence from the start is one of the most effective protections available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Child Benefit helpline free to call?
Standard HMRC contact charges apply. The number is normally an 0300 number, which is charged at the same rate as a local landline call, with most mobile and landline tariffs treating it as inclusive minutes.
What are the opening hours?
Monday to Friday during HMRC standard contact hours. The lines are closed at weekends and on bank holidays. Around Christmas and New Year, opening hours are reduced and published in advance on gov.uk.
How do I tell HMRC about a child leaving school?
Through the Personal Tax Account online, by phone via the helpline, or by post. HMRC sends an annual reminder before the school leaving age cut-off. Failing to respond leads to payments stopping automatically.
Can I change my bank account online?
Yes. The Personal Tax Account has a Child Benefit section that allows the customer to update bank account details. The change usually takes effect from the next payment date.
What is the high income charge?
A tax charge that applies where one partner has individual income above 60,000 pounds. The charge rises proportionally until full clawback at 80,000 pounds. It is collected through Self Assessment by the higher-earning partner.
What if I cannot get through on the phone?
The Personal Tax Account, webchat where available, and postal correspondence are alternatives. Webchat opening hours are published on the gov.uk contact page. Most non-urgent issues can be handled online.
How do I switch Child Benefit to a new partner?
Either partner can complete form CH2 to claim Child Benefit. Where two people qualify, they should agree which one claims, because only one can claim per child. Disputes are resolved by HMRC through a tie-break rule based on usual care.
Can a non-resident parent claim Child Benefit?
Only the person responsible for caring for the child can claim. Where parents share care, the parent with whom the child stays for the majority of the time is normally the primary carer for Child Benefit purposes.
What if HMRC starts deducting Child Benefit because of the High Income Charge?
HMRC does not deduct Child Benefit because of the charge. The full Child Benefit continues to be paid; the charge is recovered through Self Assessment paid by the higher-earning partner. The household should not see a reduction in payments.
Can I claim Child Benefit for a baby born outside the UK?
Generally only if the child is in the UK. The qualifying conditions are residence-based. Specific rules apply to families with cross-border connections.
How We Verified This
Information is taken from the HMRC Child Benefit pages on gov.uk, the Tax Credits Act 2002 on legislation.gov.uk, the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 sections governing the High Income Child Benefit Charge, and the HMRC Personal Tax Account user guidance. Specific phone numbers are not quoted in the body because they can change without notice.