Thousands due child benefit compensation – find out how to claim

Earlier this month more than half a million parents were left without their child benefit payment after a ‘processing error’.

They eventually received their money two days later than they should leaving many struggling for money.

Hundreds took to social media to complain when they realised their payment was missing, with one saying: “What about the kiddies going hungry till Wednesday? Or have no electricity to heat water for their baths? In this current cost of living crisis people are relying on these what may seem small to others payments just to get by.”

HMRC has now said it will compensate those left out of pocket or who were caused distress.

Its compensation includes covering expenses incurred because payments were late e.g., you were charged for using an overdraft or a payment failed.

And it is also offering up to £50 for anyone who experienced distress. HMRC says it will assess this by looking at whether the claimant is deemed vulnerable and the distress that would have been caused by going without payment, as well as how long the issue lasted before it was resolved.

HMRC won’t contact you directly. You’ll need to make a claim for redress or compensation by visiting Make a complaint about HMRC - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) and filling in the form. You’ll need evidence of any charges you incurred because of the delayed payment. What you’ll get will depend on your circumstances as HMRC is assessing each claim on a case-by-case basis.