Claim and deal with Child Benefit for someone else
Appointees
You can apply for the right to deal with the Child Benefit of someone who cannot manage their own affairs, for example because they’re mentally incapable or severely disabled.
This is called becoming an ‘appointee’.
You can apply as an individual or as a voluntary organisation.
You cannot act as an appointee for a Child Benefit claimant if you’re being paid to deal with someone else’s claims (known as a ‘paid agent’). Paid agents can only deal with High Income Child Benefit Charge matters.
You’re not an appointee if you just help someone complete their claim form.
How to become an appointee
Contact the Child Benefit Office to apply. They’ll discuss if becoming an appointee is the best option and tell you what you need to do.
Your responsibilities
As an appointee, you must do things like:
- complete the claim form
- deal with any letters from the Child Benefit Office
- report any changes that affect Child Benefit
- stop or restart payments where the person or their partner is affected by the High Income Child Benefit Charge
The Child Benefit will be paid into either:
- your - or your organisation’s - bank account
- the claimant’s bank account
Stop or change an appointee
Write to the Child Benefit Office within one month of when you want to stop or change the appointee.