If your child dies before you make a claim for Child Benefit, you should still go ahead and make your claim. If the Child Benefit Office decides you qualify for Child Benefit you may also receive a Child Trust Fund payment providing you meet the “qualifying rules”.
There is a time limit for claiming and HMRC can backdate Child Benefit payments for 3 months only. This means that where a child has died a claim for Child Benefit must be made within 3 months of the date of death in order to receive the full 8 weeks payment. If you claim later than this but within 3 months of the beginning of the final week of the 8 week period you will receive payment for less than 8 weeks. If a claim is not made within this period then Child Benefit cannot be awarded. If you wish to speak someone please call the Child Benefit helpline on Tel: 0845 302 1444 or if you are in Northern Ireland 0845 603 2000.
Child Benefit cannot be claimed where a child is stillborn. This is because Child Benefit is payable only if the child has been alive at birth.
If Child Benefit is awarded for a child that has died the Child Benefit Office will automatically tell the Child Trust Fund Office. The Child Trust Fund Office will then write to you about making a direct Child Trust Fund payment. This can take up to 8 weeks. Or if you prefer you can contact the Child Trust Fund Helpline on 0845 302 1470 once you have received your Child Benefit Award Notice if you want to speak to someone directly.
