Child Benefit

(asked on 18th April 2019) - View Source

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department has plans to ensure equity in the high-income child benefit charge in relation to a (a) one-earner couple and (b) two-earner couple.


Answered by
Elizabeth Truss Portrait
Elizabeth Truss
This question was answered on 29th April 2019

The Government introduced the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC) from January 2013 to ensure that support is targeted at those who need it most. It applies to anyone with an individual income over £50,000, who claims Child Benefit or whose partner claims it, regardless of the make-up of their household.

If total household income was taken into account, information on the incomes of everyone in each of the eight million households receiving Child Benefit would need to be collected and would effectively introduce a new means test. The Government’s approach withdraws Child Benefit from those on high incomes, whilst having no impact on the majority of claimants.

The charge increases gradually for taxpayers with incomes between £50,000 and £60,000. Families in which at least one taxpayer has an income over £60,000 can choose not to receive Child Benefit, which means they do not have to pay the charge.

Parents who are entitled to Child Benefit should still complete the Child Benefit claim form as this will help them to qualify for National Insurance Credits and thereby protect their entitlement to the State Pension and other contributory benefits.

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