Form

Tell the Child Benefit office about a child being looked after by a local authority

Use form CH193 to tell the Child Benefit office that a child is being looked after by a local authority for 8 weeks or more.

• From: HM Revenue & Customs
• Published: 4 April 2014
• Last updated: 14 January 2026 — See all updates

Documents

Tell HMRC online

https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/submissions/composite-auth/auth-selection-form/tell-hmrc-about-child-looked-after-by-local-authority?continue=%2Fsubmissions%2Fnew-form%2Ftell-hmrc-about-child-looked-after-by-local-authority

Details

As a local authority, you must tell HMRC as soon as you know that a child will be looked after by you, for 8 weeks or more. You must do this using the online service.

You’ll need the:

• child’s given names and any other names the child is known by
• date the child started being looked after by the local authority
• contact details of the social worker, locum, duty social worker or clerk attached to the child

How to use the online form

You can either:

• sign in to apply online — if you do not already have sign in details, you’ll be able to create them
• use your email address to get a confirmation code that you can use to sign in

Email HMRC to ask for this form in Welsh (Cymraeg).

Related forms and guidance

Child Benefit for children in hospital or care
Guidance on Child Benefit when a child goes into care, hospital or residential care.

Published 4 April 2014

Last updated 14 January 2026 + show all updates

1. 14 January 2026

   The email form CH193 has been replaced with an online service.

2. 31 May 2016

   An online forms service is now available.

3. 4 April 2014

   First published.