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Child Benefit if your child dies or the claimant dies - report the death, when to make a new claim, arrears

• If a child dies

  You’ll usually get Child Benefit for 8 weeks after the child dies. If they…

• If one or both parents die

  You may be able to get Child Benefit if you become the main carer for the…

• Report a death to the Child Benefit Office

  Phone or write to report the death of a child or parent who was claiming…

The adoption process - eligibility, assessment, adoption agencies, adoption court orders, overseas adoptions and the rights of birth parents.

• Overview

  To be adopted, a child must: be under the age of 18 when the adoption…

• Early stages of adoption

  To adopt a child you can go through either: an adoption agency that’s part…

• Adoption assessment

  Once the agency gets your application it will do the following: Invite you…

• Applying for an adoption court order

  To make an adoption legal, you need to apply for an adoption court order.…

• Adopting a stepchild

  You need to tell your local council if you want to adopt your spouse’s or…

• Adopting a child from overseas

  You can adopt a child from overseas if: they cannot be cared for in a safe…

• Birth parents: your rights

  For another couple (or person) to adopt your child, you normally have to…

Guardian's Allowance help if you're looking after a child who is not your own - rates, eligibility, how to claim, appeal a decision.

• Overview

  You could get Guardian’s Allowance if you’re bringing up a child whose…

• What you'll get

  The Guardian Allowance rate is: £22.10 a week per child tax-free paid on…

• Eligibility

  To get Guardian’s Allowance all of the following must apply: you’re…

• How to claim

  To avoid losing money, claim Guardian’s Allowance as soon as the child…

• Changes to your circumstances

  If your circumstances change, your entitlement to Guardian’s Allowance…

How and when to report changes that affect your Child Benefit payments, such as earnings going above £60,000. How to update a change of address or bank details.

DNA testing can be used in child maintenance or inheritance disputes, or applications for contact with a child or for a child to settle in the UK

Find out how to register a birth - who can register, birth certificates

Employer guide to Statutory Adoption Pay and Leave - entitlement, eligibility, notice period, proof of adoption, recover statutory pay

Information for existing and new Universal Credit claimants with more than 2 children.

• Updated: 12 December 2025

These statistics provide detailed annual estimates of the number of families and children claiming Child Benefit on 31 August of the year of analysis.

• Updated: 23 April 2025

This form must be completed by someone that knows you and the child. Send it with your application to enrol the child's change of name to the Royal Courts of Justice.