Parents have been left confused after receiving a child benefit payment earlier than scheduled, with no warning from HMRC.
People have been posting on social media questioning the payment.
Child benefits are typically paid in either weekly or monthly batches.
Recipients due to be paid on Monday have discovered the payment in their accounts on Friday.
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Why are child benefits being paid early?
The reason is due to the bank holidays for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee on Thursday and Friday next week.
An HMRC spokesperson said: “In short, it’s just processed and working them around the bank holidays, and nothing for customers to worry about.
“We usually process payments for customers on Thursday and Fridays for the following Monday and Tuesday. Of course, this isn’t possible because of the bank holidays falling on these two dates next week.
“Instead, we processed payments due Monday 30 and Tuesday 31 May earlier this week, so that we can process payments due on Monday 6 June early next week (as opposed to the usual Thursday/Friday). This will ensure customers receive payments due on Monday 6 and Tuesday 7 June on time.
“In terms of the split payments, there were some things that we needed to iron out to ensure customers receive their payments on time because of the double bank holiday, which is why they have been processed in this way.
“This however does not leave customers out of pocket as they will still receive the full amount on or before it is usually due.”
When will I get my payment?
Parents paid weekly on a Monday will receive payment on Friday 27 May instead of Monday 30 May.
That paid four-weekly will receive one week of child benefit on Friday 27 May and three weeks of child benefit on Monday 30 May.
People who are due weekly payments on Tuesday 31 May will receive them on Monday 30 May.
Those who receive monthly payments will receive one week’s payment on Monday 30 May and the remaining three weeks’ payment on Tuesday 31 May.
You get child benefit if you’re responsible for bringing up a child who is:
Under 16
Under 20 if they stay in approved education or training
Only one person can get child benefits for a child.
It’s typically paid every four weeks and there’s no limit to how many children you can claim for. They must live in the UK.
There are two child benefit rates. £21.80 per week for your first child, and 14.45 per week for each other child. It is usually paid every four weeks on a Monday or a Tuesday.
“We usually process payments for customers on Thursday and Fridays for the following Monday and Tuesday. Of course, this isn’t possible because of the bank holidays falling on these two dates next week.”
They explained that: “Instead, we processed payments due Monday and Tuesday, May 30 and 31 earlier this week, so that we can process payments due on Monday, June 6 early next week, as opposed to the usual Thursday/Friday.
“This will ensure customers receive payments due on Monday and Tuesday, June 6 and 7 on time.”
If you need additional help, you can contact the HMRC’s child benefit helpline on the phone number 0300 200 3100.
Have the payments been reduced?
Amid the ongoing cost of living crisis, every piece of income, no matter how small, is proving vital to many, so any reduction in payments such as child benefits could spell disaster for families.
The HMRC reassured claimants that the temporary change in payments would not be leaving anyone out of pocket.
They said: “In terms of the split payments, there were some things that we needed to iron out to ensure customers receive their payments on time because of the double bank holiday, which is why they have been processed in this way.
