Olivia and Muhammad may be the most popular baby names in England and Wales this year, but thousands of new parents are forgetting another piece of official paperwork – claiming child benefit – and missing out on hundreds of pounds as a result.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) figures show that only 69% of parents claim the allowance before their baby’s first birthday, meaning almost a third of eligible families fail to act in time. The benefit is currently worth £27.05 a week for the first child and £17.90 for each subsequent child, paid every four weeks. But it can only be backdated for three months from the date HMRC receives the claim, so delays can cost families hundreds of pounds.
“Only 69% of parents claim child benefit before child's first birthday, HMRC says, costing families hundreds.”
In the year to August 2025, more than 6.8 million parents received child benefit, but HMRC said many may have chosen not to claim because of the High Income Child Benefit Charge. Under that rule, payments start to reduce if one parent earns £60,000 a year and stop entirely when that income reaches £80,000.
There were 585,396 babies born in England and Wales last year, according to the Office for National Statistics, which also reported that Olivia held the top spot for girls’ names for the 10th year running and Muhammad topped the boys’ list for the third year. In Scotland, Freya replaced Olivia as the most popular girls’ name, while Noah remained top for boys.
To claim child benefit – which can be done 48 hours after the baby’s birth is registered – one parent needs the child’s birth or adoption certificate and the National Insurance numbers for themselves and their partner. The tax authority suggests the annual publication of baby names could serve as a useful reminder to complete the paperwork.
For new parents lost in the fog of sleepless nights, a few simple steps could mean the difference between receiving £27 a week and missing out entirely.