Money Lesson Couple

The gap nobody sees

One of you earns too much for Child Benefit to be worth taking, so you never claimed it.

The claim was never really about the money: it is the only thing crediting the parent at home with a State Pension. What does the form nobody filled in actually cost?

Welfare Employment Child ISA Investments Expenses

Register the claim in her name

2 Goals

Claim Child Benefit in the name of the parent at home, decline the money, and let every year at home build her State Pension.

Try this plan

Welfare Employment Child ISA Investments Expenses

Never claim at all

2 Goals

Skip the form, because the charge would take the money back anyway, and let her National Insurance record stop where it is.

Try this plan

Register the claim in her name Never claim at all

Registering the claim in the name of the parent at home, and taking none of the money, leaves this family ~£287k better off.