What Child Benefit needs to know#
GOV.UK's guidance on Child Benefit changes has two lists. The first is about your family's circumstances, and among moving home, a change of bank account and earning more than £60,000 it names a change of your name or gender. The second is about your child, and it says to tell HMRC if your child changes their name by deed poll, gets married or forms a civil partnership, or moves in with a partner.
The reason to report is the same as for any change: GOV.UK says that if you do not, you may not get all the money you are entitled to, or you may be overpaid and have to pay it back. A name mismatch is a common cause of a payment being held while HMRC checks who it is paying.
Who can report it#
Only the person claiming Child Benefit can tell HMRC about a change of circumstances. If the claim is in your partner's name and it is your name that has changed, your partner makes the report. If the claim is yours and your child's name has changed, you make it.
How to report it#
The "tell HMRC if you change your name" link on the Child Benefit page leads to HMRC's change of personal details service. Sign in with your Government Gateway details, or create them, and record the new name; the HMRC app does the same. GOV.UK says you will be told when you sign in if you need to prove your identity, which usually means photo ID such as a passport or driving licence, and that it is done to keep your details safe. There is no fee and nothing to post unless HMRC asks.
For your child's new name, report it the same way and keep the deed poll to hand in case HMRC asks to see evidence of the change. If you have already reported a change and are waiting to hear back, GOV.UK has a page that says when to expect a reply.
Payments and the name on your bank account#
Child Benefit is paid into a bank or building society account. If you change the name on that account, GOV.UK says to sign in and tell HMRC the account details have changed. Doing the bank first, then Child Benefit, keeps the two names the same and avoids a payment being queried.
Children who change their own name#
A child aged 16 or 17 can make their own deed poll, and a child under 16 has their name changed by a parent with the agreement of everyone with parental responsibility. Either way, the Child Benefit claimant reports the new name; the child does not. Changing a child's name explains who has to agree and what the deed poll involves.
