CH2: Child Benefit claim form
Form CH2 is the paper claim for Child Benefit, used when you cannot claim online or through the HMRC app. Download the official PDF below.
This is the genuine HMRC PDF, unmodified. Source: HMRC official page.
What is CH2?
Child Benefit is paid to someone responsible for a child, and claiming it also protects your State Pension by giving National Insurance credits, which is why HMRC asks you to claim even if you choose not to receive the payments. CH2 collects your details, your partner’s details where relevant, the details of each child, and the bank account for payments.
HMRC points out that claiming online or through the app is quicker, with a first payment possible in as little as three days, and that CH2 is for people who cannot use those routes. Claims can only be backdated up to three months, so HMRC advises sending the claim now and following up with any missing documents rather than waiting. Guidance is published in the separate CH2 Notes booklet.
Who files CH2?
- Parents and guardians claiming Child Benefit for a child they are responsible for
- People who cannot claim online or through the HMRC app
- Parents who do not want the payments but want the National Insurance credits that protect their State Pension
- Anyone adding a child to an existing Child Benefit claim by post
How to fill out CH2
- Read the CH2 Notes first, then answer the questions about yourself and your partner, writing clearly in capital letters.
- Give the details of each child you are claiming for. If you are claiming for more than two children, add the CH2 (CS) continuation sheet.
- Answer the High Income Child Benefit Charge question. If your or your partner’s individual Adjusted Net Income is over £60,000, the higher earner may have a tax charge on some or all of the benefit.
- Say whether you want to be paid, and give the bank or building society account details if you do, then complete the declaration on page 8.
- Send the form with the documents HMRC asks for, plus the CH3 address label if you want documents returned, to Child Benefit Office (GB), Washington, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE88 1ZD. The envelope needs a stamp with the correct postage.
Get CH2
HMRC publishes CH2 as a flat PDF with no built-in form fields, so there is no quick-fill form here. Open it in the editor to type directly onto the pages, tick boxes and sign, or download the official blank and complete it in your PDF reader or by hand.
Frequently asked questions
How far back can a Child Benefit claim be backdated?
Up to three months. That is why HMRC tells you to claim now rather than waiting for documents such as a birth certificate, and to send those on as soon as you can.
What is the High Income Child Benefit Charge?
If either you or your partner has an individual Adjusted Net Income above £60,000, the higher earner may have to pay a tax charge on some or all of the Child Benefit received. It can be paid through a PAYE tax code or a Self Assessment return. Check the current thresholds on gov.uk.
Should I still claim if I do not want the payments?
Yes. Claiming and answering no to the payment question still gives you the National Insurance credits that protect your State Pension, without receiving the money.