Parents in the UK have been issued a warning from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). Child Benefit payments could be late over the festive period.

Child Benefit is an allowance paid to parents and guardians every four weeks. An amount is paid for every child you look after.

This includes any children under 16, or teenagers under 20 if they stay in approved education or training. Currently the weekly rate is £26.05 for your eldest child or an only child, and then £17.25 for every additional child.

However, you might see your payments made on a different date over Christmas.

In a post made to social media platform X, HMRC warned: “If you receive Child Benefit, your payment may arrive later than usual due to the upcoming bank holidays and local bank closures”

On GOV.UK, it says: “Your Child Benefit payment is usually paid on a different date than usual if it’s due on a bank holiday.”

Here is when you will be paid if your Child Benefit payment is due on any of the following dates:

• 29 December 2025 – it will be paid on 30 December (Northern Ireland only)
• 30 December 2025 – 31 December (Northern Ireland only)
• 5 January 2026 – 6 January (Scotland only)
• 17 March 2026 – 18 March (Northern Ireland only)
• 6 April 2026 – 2 April
• 4 May 2026 – 1 May
• 25 May 2026 – 22 May
• 13 July 2026 – 14 July (Northern Ireland only)
• 14 July 2026 – 15 July (Northern Ireland only)
• 3 August 2026 – 4 August (Scotland only)
• 4 August 2026 – 5 August (Scotland only)
• 31 August 2026 – 28 August
• 28 December 2026 – 24 December
• 29 December 2026 – 30 December (Northern Ireland only)

If you’re Scottish, your payment might be delayed because of local holidays if you live in the following places:

• Glasgow – local holiday on 28 September
• Edinburgh – local holiday on 21 September
• Dundee – local holiday on 5 October

To prove you qualify

You can normally use your Child Benefit award notice to prove you qualify for Child Benefit. Check with whoever is asking what proof they need and how up to date it has to be.

If you need other proof you qualify you may be able to:

• Use a bank statement showing Child Benefit going into your account
• Use the online service or the HMRC app to print your ‘proof of entitlement’ page or save it as a document to use as proof

If you use the online service you’ll need to sign in to use this service. If you do not already have sign in details, you’ll be able to create them.

You’ll be told when you sign in if you need to prove your identity. This is to keep your details safe and normally involves using photo ID like a passport or driving licence.

You can contact the Child Benefit Office for more information about getting proof. Visit GOV.UK for more details.