Child benefit

Once your baby has arrived, you can claim Child Benefit, which is the only State benefit that’s given to every family in the UK, regardless of your individual circumstances. You’ll receive weekly payments of £20.30 for your oldest child and £13.40 for each of your other children.

To claim it, you will need to have your child’s original birth certificate and a Child Benefit claim form. You should find one of these in the ‘Bounty Pack’ that every new mother receives when they’re in hospital or you can download a form from www.hmrc.gov.uk/childbenefit/forms.htm.