Martin Lewis’ MSE reveals how parents left out of pocket over delayed child benefit payments can claim
Martin Lewis’ MSE has revealed how thousands of parents whose child benefit payments were missed can claim money back.
Around 500,000 child benefit claimants didn’t receive their monthly or weekly payments on June 3.
The money specialist team has confirmed that parents who missed the payment will get it this Wednesday.
However, Martin Lewis’ MSE added that they are entitled to submit a claim for redress if they’ve been left out of pocket.
The HMRC has said anyone who faced direct financial difficulties because of the delayed payment can submit a claim.
It’s my daughter’s birthday tomorrow and I really needed it today
Jo Hill
Parents should make note of any costs incurred and then complain using an online complaints form at the top of this Gov.uk page.
Payments for a bill bouncing due to not having child benefit payment in their account is an example of a claim parents can make.
However, the HMRC initially stated that no one would be able to claim redress until they received their benefit payment, the money-saving team claimed.
The issue was first highlighted when Martin Lewis, MSE founder, conducted a poll on X after spotting complaints on social media.
More than 8,000 people responded to the poll with the vast majority claiming they had not received any money.
Around 76 per cent of parents could’ve missed their payment due on June 3, according to the poll.
However, the HMRC confirmed this to be 30 per cent of claimants.
This still meant a “huge number of people” had been negatively impacted as the department later confirmed 500,000 people had missed out on their payment.
Hundreds of nervous parents left comments on the post as they feared whether they’d receive their cash.
One parent said: “What about people who are sitting without being able to top energy up?
“My supplier won’t help and also need food shopping and can’t get anywhere as don’t have transport.
“Anxiety through the roof.”
An X user called, Jo Hill added: “My payment was due today and not arrived.
“It’s my daughter’s birthday tomorrow and I really needed it today.”
There were over 6million families receiving child benefit payments from August 2023, according to HMRC’s latest figures.
The Non-Ministerial Department struggled to fix the issue at the time and blamed it on a “processing error”.
Claimants expecting a payment today will receive their child benefits on time.
It comes after Martin Lewis’ MSE revealed exactly who will get a free £100 one-off payment.
And the money speciality team shared how Ikea shoppers can use old furniture to get gift cards with a “little-known trick”.