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Why you might need your Child Benefit number

If you have received Child Benefit for your child in the past and are now making a new claim for them, it helps if you can provide the Child Benefit number you had at the time. This will make it easier for the Child Benefit Office to find your records, and you won’t have to send in your child’s birth or adoption certificate again.

You will also need your Child Benefit number if you have to tell HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) about a change that could affect your Child Benefit.

If you are making a separate claim for tax credits, it helps if you can provide your Child Benefit number on the claim form. This should mean you won’t need to send in your child’s birth or adoption certificate with your tax credits claim form.

Why you might need proof you’re getting Child Benefit

Sometimes the amount you get for Child Benefit is taken into account if you’re claiming some other types of benefit. You might also simply have to prove where your child lives or that you're responsible for them.

You might have to give proof that you're getting Child Benefit if you wanted to claim benefits like:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Pension Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Council Tax discount
• certain local council benefits - like a clothing grant, or free school meals

You might also need this information if you're applying for a loan or you want to show that you're in a school's catchment area.

What proof you might need to provide

You might have to fill in a form if you're going to claim any other benefits or grants. Ask the organisation you're applying to for help with what you need to provide. For example, they might want:

• your Child Benefit Award Notice
• your Child Benefit number
• proof that you’re still getting Child Benefit
• confirmation of the amount of Child Benefit you're getting
  

Where you can get your Child Benefit number or the proof you qualify

You'll be able to get your number or the sort of evidence you need from your Child Benefit paperwork:

• your Award Notice tells you that you qualify for Child Benefit, it also tells you which children you are getting Child Benefit for and how much for each child
• any letter from the Child Benefit Office shows your Child Benefit number
• you'll get a letter every year telling you about the increase in Child Benefit you'll get - this is evidence that you get Child Benefit and also shows how much
• your bank statement shows your Child Benefit payment going into your account - it might also show your Child Benefit number

How long should you keep the paperwork for?

It's up to you how long you keep the paperwork but it would be useful to keep the Award Notice and any other important letters until you stop getting Child Benefit.

If you can’t find your paperwork

You can contact the Child Benefit Office if you can’t find any of the paperwork you need or if you want your Child Benefit number. You can do this by sending HMRC a query online using the link below or you can phone the Child Benefit Helpline on 0845 302 1444 or textphone 0845 302 1474. It's open between 8.00 am and 8.00 pm, seven days a week, except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.

If your preferred language is Welsh you can call on 0845 302 1489, and if you’re calling from outside the UK + 44 161 210 3086.

• Send HMRC your Child Benefit query online Opens new window

More useful links

• Understanding your Child Benefit Award Notice Opens new window
• Find out how you might qualify for other benefits if you get Child Benefit Opens new window